Look what retrogession did to me

[gcaa]

After waiting for 5 years especially thru the great 2 1/2 year retrogession which involved anxious waits and speculations for visa bulletin every month, I got GC in June 07. But since the retrogession was so long, gazing thru forums, waiting for visa bulletin have become a habit and I am not able to let go of it even after 2 months after getting GC. Whats the best way to reduce, if not avoid this habit...Vacation etc...

[sudiptabhaskar]

Amen... Same here.. except the fact that I had to wait for 7 years Finally got it in July

[Jackolantern]

Same here ... even though I now have the GC I don't feel like it is over. The DMV is still treating me like an outsider, taking a long time renew my license because my GC isn't in their system yet. Meanwhile, my license has expired and although I can still drive with the receipt they gave me, I don't expect that out-of-state cops will recognize the paper receipt, so I am stuck for now. But at least when I get the license, it will be valid for the full standard period (at least 4 years) instead of the one year I'd get with EAD.

[anildel]

I got my card month and a half back..still visit this website..thinking if I can help some one sharing my experience..

I've been coming here for last 3-4 years and the habbit will take some time to die down, I guess

[EricS]

That is true guys, it has been more than 2 years since I got my GC. I still visit this portal and try to help others. Honestly, I am not looking for ways to let go of this habit. When people tell you that they gained something from your reply etc., it feels good. That is how these forums run, the people who have gone thru the process try to help others. So I suggest that you also keep visiting here and help others.

[gcaa]

Originally Posted by EricS

That is true guys, it has been more than 2 years since I got my GC. I still visit this portal and try to help others. Honestly, I am not looking for ways to let go of this habit. When people tell you that they gained something from your reply etc., it feels good. That is how these forums run, the people who have gone thru the process try to help others. So I suggest that you also keep visiting here and help others.

Well said EricS. I will continue to visit this forum and help out to the best of my ability....Only thing is I should probably reduce my time a bit; during the retrogession days I used to be hooked to this forum for atleast 1-2 hrs a day which was just too much. Even my wife and kids started complaining. Frankly, this forum is addictive....

[cc7211]

Hey, got my card two years ago and I still come back here, I think I need a therapy I guess I will keep coming back even I get my citizenship

[howdy_howdy]

Most of us tend to visit this forum either to get updated on the latest developments with USCIS or provide their suggestions to aspiring PR's.

Emphasis is more on the second one. So, don't feel for it. Just provide your two cents to those who ask for suggestions, next time you visit this forum.

[Grandhipal]

Intitially I thought this is some kinda behavioral issue What howdy_howdy says is really comforting

[nlssubbu]

Same goes here too. I have a list of sites which I visit everyday and even after getting my GC, I am still visiting this site. Old habits never die!

Thanks

[guldukan]

I think I reduced little bit initially after getting GC but old habits die hard, I do visit this forum sometime, especially when I get bored, but we are still digesting the fact that we got GC now

[Yankee_Boy]

I visit the forums and find that it is a very educative experience. I feel like I am at home when I am on these pages. In fact I started participating actively after retro ended. Because in the days before that I had no clue what would happen to my life!

[MA_Labor]

I have created a forum for desis where you can discuss all aspects of life .... for a change

please be the first one to post there http://discussions.desiite.com

[hopeofgc]

Originally Posted by MA_Labor

I have created a forum for desis where you can discuss all aspects of life .... for a change

please be the first one to post there http://discussions.desiite.com

I think i get enough here either by getting help from senior members or helping others with the acknowledge i have related to immi.

[gettingclosernow]

After waiting for the final stage for 2 1/2 yrs... that is our 485 to be approved (these were the days before you could file the 140 and 485 together), because there were so many of us (just like you with the backlog) we had a strong sense of community/comraderie.

As we started getting approvals... while some would never come here again, most would hang out in the forums for 1-6 months afterwards. I think it was due to, as people who have posted here... the fact this site has become such a big part of your life. Eventually, most people stop coming and you tend to check less frequently as your issues are not the same as those who are waiting... you can empathisize... but you eventually move on with your life.

Then there is the minority like myself and a few others who have posted here and you may or may not be like us... you learn everything you need to know about becoming a citizen even though that's 5 years away and you can't really relate to those who are applying for their citizenship but still you read up so you are prepared. You don't come everyday but still maintain a link with the community and check out the site... sometimes infrequently and sometimes a little more frequently. So you are sort of "in between", you are relieved and past the GC ordeal and not yet on the citizenship path. The one thing that is certain is how much the immigration process affects your life from your ordeal to get the GC... all the thoughts, anxieties etc, to the joy.. the relief... the emotional vaccuum afterward, to the lingering thought in the back of your head that it's still not complete until you get your citizenship... which comes in 5 years....and you wonder with these thoughts, will you ever not think about what this process has meant to your life, even after you get your citizenship. These lucky americans who are born here, don't even realize what they have.

So, yes, you will come back here, it's therapeutic, comforting and of course informing.... and you will be surprised how quickly 5 years comes up on you.

By the way...I'm sure you do... but every day be thankful you got that GC!

[acgv]

Yes, we feel very fortunate to have obtained GC, USCIS notification sent to us on Oct 4th (2 days ago), haven't yet received physical green card... 10+ years since we first entered the country...

Thanks to those of you who keep providing advice long after getting their GC, it certainly did help us at times of despair... Some people volunteer in their community, some of you volunteer to help others in immigration issues... It'll look good in your resumes by the way...

Thanks!

[triplelake]

It has been 8 years since I first stepped foot in this country and finally got my GC last month. Instead of reading the retrogression forum, I am now reading this life after green card forum regularly. There is much less traffic here so I find myself spending a lot less time here.