90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?'s Manuel Velez marks a new milestone after considering return to Ecuador

Manuel Velez, a 36-year-old from Ecuador, who appeared on 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?, has recently marked a significant milestone in his life in the United States where he obtained a driver's license and drove on his own.

This comes after earlier statements on the 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? Tell All special which aired in August this year, where he suggested he might return to Ecuador if his relationship with Ashley Michelle, his wife, did not improve.

Despite their struggles, Manuel and Ashley have now been married for over two years.

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Manuel Velez's journey before and after 90 Day Fiancé

Manuel Velez's achievement of independence

One of the latest achievements for Manuel Velez has been his ability to drive independently in the United States. Manuel posted a video on social media showing himself driving a car, which marks a notable development in his capacity to manage life and growing freedom since his arrival in the United States.

The video shared by Manuel shows him driving, wearing a seat belt, and enjoying music in the car, suggesting a level of comfort. An Instagram user, @calf_ross, commended him on this, writing,

"I love seeing you more independent!!! The beginning is always hard and only the one who goes through it understands it… Lots of good vibes 🙌"

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The relationship between Manuel and Ashley

Manuel and Ashley’s relationship has been featured on multiple seasons of 90 Day Fiancé, where they navigated several challenges, including issues with communication and financial disagreements.

Their journey began in 90 Day Fiancé season 10, where they faced difficulties adjusting to each other's lifestyles, but despite these struggles, they eventually married at the end of the season. In an Instagram post dated February this year when they got married, he captioned:

"A very special day for our life... I love you and life will teach us to love each other more😍😘until the last breath 😊🥰"

However, their relationship continued to face difficulties, and in Happily Ever After? season 8, Manuel criticized Ashley for delays in his visa paperwork, which he claimed affected his independence in the U.S.

During a tense moment in the season, Manuel even threatened to return to Ecuador if the relationship did not improve. Despite these challenges, the couple continued to be together, with Manuel sharing recent moments of their life.

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The couples' social media updates

Manuel Velez has shared several updates on his Instagram @jesusnegritovelezrojas, providing insights into his personal life and his relationship with Ashley. On November 10, he posted a video featuring Ashley and friends at a Lasertron event in the United States.

He also posted a video on November 6 from a beach trip with Ashley, captioning it:

“Beautiful day 😊😎.”

In October, Manuel shared another video with scenic views, writing,

“Happy day.”

Additionally, Ashley also shared an update on her Instagram @ashleymichelle_90day on November 24. She posted about her participation in the Summer Shredding Houston contest where Manuel supported her. She wrote,

“The Texas Vlog is up!!! It was Manuel’s first time in TX and the whole crew came out to watch me hit the stage for the first time!!!”

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Manuel Velez’s recent achievement of gaining independence through driving in the U.S. represents a significant personal milestone.

His journey, both personally and with Ashley, is ongoing as fans continue to follow his story. Tune in on 90 Day Fiancé: Before The 90 Days every Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on TLC.