United States of Al

Marine veteran Riley, home at last after serving in Afghanistan, is happily reunited with his friend Awalmir, who goes by Al, the interpreter with his unit, after a long struggle to get him a visa to travel to the United States from Afghanistan.

Al uses his skills as a translator to try and repair the tense relationship between Riley and his estranged wife, Vanessa. Also, Lizzie is heartbroken when she is at a party and loses her late fiancé's dog tags.

Al becomes flustered when he goes to the DMV to take his driver's license test and the female instructor is wearing shorts, something he is unaccustomed to seeing.

Al is exasperated by Riley's parenting style with Hazel, so he attempts to teach Hazel to be more deferential to her elders; Riley contemplates taking over the family business.

Riley, Art and Vanessa attempt to help Al feel better when he becomes homesick for his family and traditions.

Art asks Riley and Al to make speeches at a fundraiser for interpreters that are waiting for visas; Riley comes face to face with Vanessa's new boyfriend.

After Al and Riley negotiate a deal for Al's new car, they learn the hard way that they are not adept at finances and contracts.

Al meets Ariana, an Afghan woman he wants to date, but is dismayed to learn she has a negative opinion of Afghan interpreters who worked for the United States.

When Hazel starts planning her 11th birthday party, she learns that Al doesn't know when his birthday is so she invites him to share the day with her. Also, Riley tries to find a way to deal with Vanessa's new boyfriend.

Al and Riley get the sense that Art might be lonely and missing his late wife so they play matchmaker for him.

Al fears the worst when he doesn't hear from his family in Afghanistan for a few days. Also, Riley realizes how hard it must have been for his own family while he was deployed.

Riley and Hazel bring home a lost dog with the hope of keeping it, which doesn't sit well with Al; Art goes on his first date with Lois.

As Riley continues to struggle with acclimating to civilian life, Al and Vanessa work together to convince him to accept the help and benefits he earned for his military service.