Four years after arriving in the U.S. and in Iowa Falls, Zalmay Niazy is still waiting for his visa. The Afghan native worked as an interpreter for the U.S. military and had to flee for his life in 2014.

While in Afghanistan, Niazy says he’d been shot twice and survived a roadside bombing. His family is still in Afghanistan and he’d like his parents to move to America.

Niazy says he’s very grateful to his adopted community for being so hospitable.