I have never had a problem with the translation services our office uses. My practice includes many under- served communities. I even have quite a few deaf patients which require a translator to sign. It is actually the provider that foots the bill for the translation service and we are not reimbursed by insurance or the patient for the service. It is not necessary for the translator to have any training in Optometry as they are only translating word for word what I am telling the patient or what the patient is asking me. The translator is not making a diagnosis or giving any medical information to the patient that wasn't said by the Doctor so no medical knowledge is necessary - only knowledge of HIPPA and other privacy requirements by law. There are plenty of ATA certified translation services to choose from. As far as the urgency of "low vision" - there is none. Low vision by definition refers to vision loss that cannot be corrected by medical or surgical treatments or conventional eyeglasses. It is a rehab service to help patients use their remaining vision to perform daily tasks. Yes it is caused by progressive eye disease but theses diseases would have been diagnosed and treated before the patient is referred for low vision. I am not trying to argue with you I am hoping to give you information that you can use to realistically figure out what your fiance can do with her training once she moves here as she will not be able to volunteer or practice any form of optometry - low vision or even the dreaded vision training until she has a doctorate degree from an accredited US university, passed all 4 years of the NBEO exams and sits for the state exams. I suggest that once she gets her EAD she first get a job as an ophthalmic technician. (we have a couple of bilingual techs that are an awesome asset) so she can work in the field of optometry/ophthalmology while she pursues her education if she wants to practice Optometry. I am actually trying to help you here. I have done medical missions (its how I met my husband) and have been thru the immigration process with him. Unfortunately there is nothing quick and easy about the process and no one wants to be separated from their loved one for the length of time it takes but use that time to plan ahead for what your fiance may need to work in her field.