Thought I'd introduce myself :)

[jaycali 415]

Hi everyone,

I've been a member on this site for a couple months now, but I visited frequently ever since my wife and I got engaged over a year ago.

I'm from Norway, and she's a Korean-born USC. We met in California in early 2009 while I was an F-1 student on my last year out of 4 total. I graduated in December 2009 and was on OPT from February 2010. Our relationship grew stronger and towards the end of 2010 I proposed.

We weren't planning on getting married before my OPT expired, instead we were going to go back to Norway for a while, since they recognize cohabitation for immigration purposes. However, towards the very end of my OPT we spent 6 weeks together in Hawaii (she was working there) and just decided that was it, perfect place, perfect time.

For about a week, we were going to file for adjustment of status, but decided to instead go with our old plans, and she came to Norway with me. My family loved her, but due to Norway's visa policies being just about as strict, complicated and long as America's, it's been 9 months of short trips and visits back and forth.

We finally decided for good in September, that we were going to file for my CR-1 since I speak perfect English, and she speaks zero Norwegian. That, and Norwegian winters are too hard on my Hawaiian wifey

Due to Hawaii's health department spending about 4 months getting us our marriage certificate (maybe overload of a certain person's birth certificate inquiries?), we weren't able to finish the I-130 package until January this year, and finally got it shipped out 3 days ago - 10 months after our wedding.

To say the least.. We've got a long road ahead of us. Our record time apart was 4 months last summer.. Looks like it'll be at least 4 months this time too, twice. I'm planning a short trip to the US in May.

Just wanted to thank everyone on here for sharing their stories and knowledge. We were close to spending $4,000 on a lawyer, but visajourney saved me that money. Also, I think this site and its members have prepared me in a way that not even a lawyer could!

[Ashlee and Bjørn 6]

Hi, and welcome!

I always thought that there could be no more different place from Norway than Arizona, but I guess that Hawaii is even more of an opposite.

I was in Norway in December, and I couldn't believe how cold it was. I am going back next month, and Bjørn said that the weather is going to be more or less the same. Not looking forward to that.

[jaycali 415]

Haha.. Try the summer for a change. It's actually livable between May and September!

[mounir412 101]

welcome to VJ !!!

[Ashlee and Bjørn 6]

Haha.. Try the summer for a change. It's actually livable between May and September!

Yeah, the first time I visited was in August and it was really nice.