"Getting into europe on a marriage visa is impossible these days
really? How come my wife is here then? as are a few other foreign spouses I know? Clearly it's possible..."
Not going to get into a tedious debate....your wife is from USA I understand.
Obviously peeps from "1st world countries" get in easier, especially if they have a EU spouse with a job...
here's a sample of what people have to go through to be together when they are from different countries