Camryn Bynum seeks visa help for wife in the Philippines in recent post-game interview
Photo from Camryn Bynum/Instagram
The toughest problems athletes face don’t always involve their own areas of expertise. For Filipino-American NFL player Camryn Bynum, his most recent dilemma revolved around a personal and sentimental matter outside the playing field.
On Oct. 23, Bynum led the Minnesota Vikings to a 22-17 win against the San Francisco 49ers. However, his priority at the post-game interview wasn’t his team’s latest feat. Before recalling the Vikings’ newest win, he took the opportunity to help bring his wife Lalaine Haddad to the US after several visa issues kept her in the Philippines.
Bynum shared that they’ve been working on her visa approval process, only for it to get denied multiple times.
He aimed to use his platform as a major league athlete in a beneficial light that didn’t just address the Vikings’ most recent win. “My wife, she’s in the Philippines working on her visa. It’s been getting denied, so if anybody out there can help with the visa process, I’d greatly appreciate it.”
Camryn Bynum always plays for his family’s country, the Philippines. His wife is currently stuck there because of visa issues.
Bynum just saved a huge #Vikings win over the #49ers — and asked in our unique @nflnetwork postgame interview for any help to get her to the U.S. pic.twitter.com/iiYBBHhfoT
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 24, 2023
Bynum followed up his post-game interview with another request for help. He explained that he and his wife have been denied a tourist visa twice so far. Reposts and leads to the US immigration office would help “until she’s home.”
His meaningful way of using screen time shows how athletes aren’t just in it for the games and glory, but for the pride they bring their loved ones as well.
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He may wear the Philippine flag proudly on his helmet, but Bynum doesn’t just pay homage to his roots through football. He also started the Bynum Faith Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to promote Filipino culture around the world and support calamity-stricken communities in the Philippines.
In July, the foundation partnered with New Life Community Care for an outreach in Baybay, Leyte, where Bynum helped provide relief goods for multiple families and over a thousand children.
