Dan & Juan

The best way to answer a question from CO is always truthfully. Never try to answer with what you think the CO wants to hear. Always be truthful. 

I was married in China then filed the CR-1 4 years ago when there was no electronic filing and it took all of 9 months to have the visa in hand. As soon as I got back from my trip getting married I researched coverage for my wife on our benefit plans as a "life event aka married" and was told the second she was here she would be covered. With that said I will stress what others have said. It takes a long time and effort to go through the immigration process and is horribly stressful even when you both are physically and mentally well. If you think you can get through with the added worries (when you did your internet search about liver problems with limited information and panicked immediately, think of that exact moment and that stress will be multiplied)
The most important thing is finding out facts and not letting worry and imagination run away. I have to be blunt.. You say you care deeply for her but define that you don't want to have to pay an arm or a leg for treatments. I guess I have to ask.. Does money really matter when it comes to health? I mean is that even worth considering for the person you want to marry to be well? Money is only money health is the only thing that matters.
I really think positive thoughts your way please please take care of her and find out what is going on. You are in the place to be for medical treatment. Good luck and we all are with you hoping the best!

When it comes to immigration I am a bottom line kind of guy. Without VJ and all the information and experiences posted thousands of times over, I would not be ready to celebrate my 4th anniversary with the 10 year green card and my true love. Yes you need a filter on information but listen to what people say here period. You need to be HUMBLE and take this as the fight of your life.
I will be blunt as others have: Follow the advice here shut your yapper its not a time to be sensitive be strong for your family your future. We only wish you the very best luck but luck ain't gonna solve this proven advice will

When it comes to immigration I am a bottom line kind of guy. Without VJ and all the information and experiences posted thousands of times over, I would not be ready to celebrate my 4th anniversary with the 10 year green card and my true love. Yes you need a filter on information but listen to what people say here period. You need to be HUMBLE and take this as the fight of your life.
I will be blunt as others have: Follow the advice here shut your yapper its not a time to be sensitive be strong for your family your future. We only wish you the very best luck but luck ain't gonna solve this proven advice will

When it comes to immigration I am a bottom line kind of guy. Without VJ and all the information and experiences posted thousands of times over, I would not be ready to celebrate my 4th anniversary with the 10 year green card and my true love. Yes you need a filter on information but listen to what people say here period. You need to be HUMBLE and take this as the fight of your life.
I will be blunt as others have: Follow the advice here shut your yapper its not a time to be sensitive be strong for your family your future. We only wish you the very best luck but luck ain't gonna solve this proven advice will

When it comes to immigration I am a bottom line kind of guy. Without VJ and all the information and experiences posted thousands of times over, I would not be ready to celebrate my 4th anniversary with the 10 year green card and my true love. Yes you need a filter on information but listen to what people say here period. You need to be HUMBLE and take this as the fight of your life.
I will be blunt as others have: Follow the advice here shut your yapper its not a time to be sensitive be strong for your family your future. We only wish you the very best luck but luck ain't gonna solve this proven advice will

I am not sure why there is so much pressure to immediately sync together in harmony.
God it's hard enough to adjust with out adding pressure. I don't know how many times the bags were packed and fighting and emotions kicked in at first.
We were married and apart for over a year, and weeks after approval I had a heart attack, she had family member severe illness to deal with, and then suddenly move to a foreign country on top of her marrying a lifelong bachelor who really didn't know what to expect and who really didn't have a clue.
Welcome to America now be happy dammit.
Point is there HAS to be time to adjust and a plan and a vision. It is not about being happy in 2 weeks it is about a future vision and goals and baby steps along the way.
Real measurable goals that can give a feeling of independence and time getting to know each other all over again. Everyone needs space and understanding and patience.
I am in Columbus and this is the 15th largest city in the USA. There are networks and support and social circles for most people. No there is not a huge Asian concentrated community where one stop happiness stores line the tree lined boulevards.
I don't know every simple answer to tell you about being happy, I do know goals and results. She has a driver's license and her own car. She completed 32 hours community college ESL classes with 3.68 GPA, She has started prerequisites for masters degree and teaching certificate, she has worked a service job for a year after being a teacher for 8 years which in theory is a slap to anyone's face. But that leads to another better position, independence, sense of worth and contribution to society and not feeling trapped in a prison.
In the first 2 weeks I would have given us less than 50% odds to succeed but it's not about instant gratification it is about communication and support and just getting used to each other without the weight of the world on your head.
She sacrificed her whole life to be with you, but she is not shut off from her family and friends, if she can just find the way to try, it might be easier every day.

Since my wife is from Guiyang we were fortunate enough to be a bus ride away from really beautiful areas. I might suggest
Huangguoshu Waterfall is located in Southwest of An Shun City in Guizhou Province. As the largest waterfall in China
Of course china is vast and has many beautiful areas the most important thing is your time together cherish wherever you go it is a lifetime of memories so sometimes it's not the destination that matters it's the journey

I never heard someone excited to ARRIVE in Pittsburgh, only to leave :devil:
Seriously congratulations after experiencing this with my wife coming to USA it never gets old hearing others joy and finally being with their hunnys
Rest and don't worry so much about being in forms and process mode, you deserve to enjoy your new life a little before real life kicks in!
(F) (F) (F) (F) (F) (F)

Just keep in mind that scheduling airline tickets and weddings before the visa is in your hands can be foolish if there are any circumstances that delay the process.
Good luck and lifetime of happy wishes !!

Just keep in mind that scheduling airline tickets and weddings before the visa is in your hands can be foolish if there are any circumstances that delay the process.
Good luck and lifetime of happy wishes !!

It has been awhile since my constant interaction with NVC, but I imagine the system is still designed for quantity information on the phone, a info mill. Because of the need for consistent and lots of answers, the operators are made to answer any questions with stock responses that to them answer the question, but to the caller seem almost ridiculous. I was sick and tired of hearing "wait 6 weeks for an answer and then if you don't hear anything call back anytime"
6 weeks or 30 days wait seemed to be the only answer they would give. They would often read answers that matched the online FAQ which sure was something I combed through. Do they think I really wanted to go through a bunch of phone menus and wait sometimes an hour to get the same information I read myself a hundred times?
So I found that when I REALLY needed to have specific up to date information it was necessary to escalate the call to the next level. These supervisors have access to more information and more time to deal with specific questions and give advice on how to proceed through the crushing frustration that is our lives and futures. BUT... these are real people with education and training and experience and a real desire to disseminate good and timely information to the Citizen on the phone they are sworn to serve. So this goes beyond being angry at Macy's because they double charged you for some bermuda shorts and calling and ranting. Citizen callers need to understand that their frustration with the system is not the responsibility of the supervisor to solve one way and one way only. I found that maybe 20 times that I called and escalated calls (out of HUNDREDS of calls to NVC in general), I found that the way to gain ground and make an efficient interaction with this supervisor was to
1) be prepared with every piece of information to offer
2) be patient with the process of questions and answers, this person has access to all your information, but they don't know you from ronald mcdonald
3) write out your questions and possible answers in a way that makes a smooth flow. When you are caught umming and ahhing and expressing frustration in the first 5 seconds it gives the impression you are just calling to complain at anyone you can get on the phone and complain from emotions not wanting to solve anything just to complain.
4) give the supervisor time to answer fully, this poster said the supervisor kept interrupting with the same answer over and over.. well who was interrupting who? sometimes people will not let an answer come out if its not what they want to hear.
5) accept the answers that the supervisor gives and TAKE notes and build that conversation into a series of conversations that you know can help eliminate frustration because you can steer the conversation the way you want by showing that you know the system more than just a complainer.
6) phrase your questions with a statement that you know is true providing a base for the supervisor to confirm your facts and work with you on making the questions clear and concise and not loaded or leading
7) Keep this conversation short. If you ask the same question over and over do you expect a different answer? It is not going to solve anything to badger the same question. take the information you have gained and move on
8) DO get the name of the person you are speaking and use the name when talking. They know your name and will call you by it, if you also do the same it develops a tone that really does help.
9) they are not having a power trip to make people miserable, they are well trained and have wide discretion to assist when they can. If they are not giving you a the answer you think on one question, move on at least get what you can.
10) use alternate communications as mentioned already, write a detailed complete email with everything you have learned not only about your case, but the process and system.
11) all else fails if you make an infopass you might have at least some satisfaction about being heard
12 READ the forums here and elsewhere, there is always someone who has gone through this before you. We are going through removal of conditions now, and tell you what, we sailed through our interview because of this forum but leading up to that I also benefited greatly from here along every step, even when it was uber slow and frustrating.
I know it is hard to be patient but you sometimes have no choice during some steps.
GOOD LUCK hope you can move along your journey smoothly. This is your life and your future it is worth the time and fight! Assertive communication is vital