Any old timers still around?

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Yeah, I'm one of those guys who just stopped posting here. You new guys probably think us old timers stop posting when our marriages go sour. Not in my case. Still happily married to Phuong! Just not dealing with immigration much these days, now that Phuong and the kids have their unconditional green cards. I still come back occasionally when I get a PM notice, and lurk a little bit.

Anybody else who was around when there was no such thing as an "I-821D"? Anybody else around who remembers eating at "The Big Grill" in Saigon? Does DQ still troll this forum? C'mon! What's the gossip?

[Highyella72 11]

its funny i was just thinking the same thing....smiles. i spy here every week or so but rarely post. still with mine. he has been here since june 2013. been hard times in the adjustment period but still going strong......

[kevinbui86 0]

Hey Jim,

I still occasionally lurk the forum. My wife received her citizenship in Jan 13. The journey is pretty much over for us. I come on sometime to see what the HCM consulate is up to. Is the Big Grill still around? I thought Ralph closed it

[christeen 966]

I remember u posting back in the day... although we were IR1 and not Vietnam... I got back into posting when the hubby was going through citizenship last year and I was helping a few crew members with their immigration packages... I been laid up and need another hip revision surgery so I have a lot of time on my hands at the moment.. It keeps me occupied... Glad to hear ur doing good. So few come back to post when things are going good!

[quann 26]

hey jim,

first time i've popped back in a while. my wife is filing for ROC, not sure if 2011 is an old-timer hehe. we just had our 2nd child in december. i wonder how the other people are doing?

Edited February 20, 2014 by quann

[jac_chappin 24]

Hi! I'm not sure if signing up in 2011 makes me an old timer but things are going great and happily married.

My wife is working and going to school. I submitted ROC in December 2013, Bio done, and now just waiting.

Good hearing from the old-timers!

[Pitaya 2,577]

Hey Jim,

Good to hear that all is well with you and your family. Congrats on family's successful ROC. There are a couple of folks that I haven't seen posting in awhile and you were one of them. Your immigration acumen certainly helped me navigate my wife and stepson's K1 and K-2 visas through the AOS phase. Xie xie.

We are currently enjoying our 21-month post-AOS vacation from USCIS. Our ROC window is fast approaching.

Take care and happy trails......

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Good to hear from you Jim,

and to answer one of your questions - one post by a newly created (I suppose in your honour) duplicate troll account of the still persistent DQ has been removed and that account permanently banned.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Is the Big Grill still around? I thought Ralph closed it

Yeah, he and Hanh closed the restaurant because she eventually did get her IR1 visa. They lived on the east coast for a while, but now they've moved over here to the west coast so that she can be near her family in the US. They're both living in San Jose. We see them occasionally. They came to a barbecue at our house last summer. A few weeks later we went to a club to see Ralph's band perform. I went to Anaheim for a big music merchants conference last month. Ralph and Hanh just happened to be going to SoCal at the same time for a holiday - Disneyland and Little Saigon. Typical holiday for a couple that includes a Viet Kieu. Phuong and I met up with them and celebrated Ralph's birthday at a Japanese buffet in Long Beach. It was lots of fun!

Your immigration acumen certainly helped me navigate my wife and stepson's K1 and K-2 visas through the AOS phase. Xie xie.

I'm glad if I was able to help! My "acumen" is a little rusty these days as I haven't read the law or new policies in quite a while. I've been buried in other projects. Still, I'm reminded that I haven't forgotten everything when I see idiotic shows like "90 Day Fiancee". It doesn't make it any easier for K1's in the real world to overcome the mail order bride syndrome with ridiculous shows like that giving people the impression that guys are picking brides from a lineup and then have 90 days to decide whether or not to go through with the wedding.

Good to hear from you Jim,

and to answer one of your questions - one post by a newly created (I suppose in your honour) duplicate troll account of the still persistent DQ has been removed and that account permanently banned.

Hah! I guess I should feel honored that I attracted his attention!

[Tighfield 3]

I'm glad if I was able to help! My "acumen" is a little rusty these days as I haven't read the law or new policies in quite a while. I've been buried in other projects. Still, I'm reminded that I haven't forgotten everything when I see idiotic shows like "90 Day Fiancee". It doesn't make it any easier for K1's in the real world to overcome the mail order bride syndrome with ridiculous shows like that giving people the impression that guys are picking brides from a lineup and then have 90 days to decide whether or not to go through with the wedding.

There's a show called that!?! I don't have cable TV for this very reason! I have had some people ask me after my trip, "So when is your mail order bride coming here?" That really rubs me the wrong way. People are so ignorant.

On a brighter note, I just want to say I appreciate the old timers sharing their stories and advice for us newbies.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Howdy Jim. Great to see you ae doing well. Samo here with me. I pop in now and again but usually post in OT or Politics as usual. Hope all stays well.

Yeah, I'm one of those guys who just stopped posting here. You new guys probably think us old timers stop posting when our marriages go sour. Not in my case. Still happily married to Phuong! Just not dealing with immigration much these days, now that Phuong and the kids have their unconditional green cards. I still come back occasionally when I get a PM notice, and lurk a little bit.

Anybody else who was around when there was no such thing as an "I-821D"? Anybody else around who remembers eating at "The Big Grill" in Saigon? Does DQ still troll this forum? C'mon! What's the gossip?

[JRF 117]

Yeah, I'm one of those guys who just stopped posting here. You new guys probably think us old timers stop posting when our marriages go sour. Not in my case. Still happily married to Phuong! Just not dealing with immigration much these days, now that Phuong and the kids have their unconditional green cards. I still come back occasionally when I get a PM notice, and lurk a little bit.

Anybody else who was around when there was no such thing as an "I-821D"? Anybody else around who remembers eating at "The Big Grill" in Saigon? Does DQ still troll this forum? C'mon! What's the gossip?

Hi Jim

I refer back to your old postings for information on a regular basis. Glad to hear you are well, and thank you for sharing all you learned.

JF

[BimnKay 5]

Good to see everyone doing well, life is definitely busy with our seven moth old son but all is well.

[TBoneTX 45,284]

Jim, you're missed here more than words can describe.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

I'm glad if I was able to help! My "acumen" is a little rusty these days as I haven't read the law or new policies in quite a while. I've been buried in other projects. Still, I'm reminded that I haven't forgotten everything when I see idiotic shows like "90 Day Fiancee". It doesn't make it any easier for K1's in the real world to overcome the mail order bride syndrome with ridiculous shows like that giving people the impression that guys are picking brides from a lineup and then have 90 days to decide whether or not to go through with the wedding.

That show is such drivel. I watched the first episode out of pure curiosity, and I can see why that stuff killed the cat. That show greatly annoyed me. It was so bad I could not imagine sitting through more than the one show I saw.

I miss seeing your accurate, informative posts around here. Yours were some of the few that I knew I could count on for the correct info when my husband and I were dealing with getting him the K-1.