Year of the Snake

Thứ Tư, 20 Tháng Hai 201300:00(Xem: 28501)
Year of the Snake
(Robert Mullins) During our week-long Tet holiday, I had lots of free time so I decided to do some reading about the Year of the Snake. To most Americans, including me, a snake is associated with venom and danger, but from what I read, in Vietnam a snake is considered a symbol of luck. Thus, many people believe that 2013 will be a year of prosperity and peace.

I also read that for centuries, the worship of snakes became one of most ancient belief practices of the Vietnamese people and that this is the Year of the Water Snake Quy Ti (癸巳), which only comes around once every 60 years. And the Vietnamese people are very proud of their legend “Descendants of the Dragon and the Fairy” which explains their origin as children of a Bird Mother (Au Co) and a Serpent Father (Lac Long Quan).

The year of the snake brings hope to debt-ridden who people believe the New Year will bring opportunities to lift them out of poverty. This could be a year of opportunity for those who stay focused, pay attention to detail, and perform their due diligence.

In Vietnamese belief, 2013 will be a wealthy year, when reproduction of all kind is blessed and love is definitely the only thing that humans will think of. In the old days, people wanted to have a boy baby at the beginning of the year and a girl baby at the end of the year. I guess that our modern economy has put an end to this wish.

But I guess that there are still a lot of unmarried people hoping to find their ideal partners during the New Year by going to pagodas or forests for flower buds to “hai loc” (harvest the luck).

During the first three days of the Tet I did not do any house cleaning. To be honest, that was just due to laziness rather than a fear of sweeping out good luck.

I read about all of the benefits that can be derived from snake products, but I have to admit that I am not attracted to snake oil and snake wine or to special dishes made from snake meat. If I am given a choice of snake or KFC, I will choose the chicken every time.

What will the Year of the Snake bring to the immigration field? It seems clear at this time that nothing will change for Vietnamese families. All the attention in Washington is focused on how to legalize the eleven million illegal immigrants in America.

Despite both the truths and the legends, myths and superstitions about astrology and the zodiac, for most people, their best luck and hopes are a combination of the wishes of many people and their hard work. Tet always marks the starting point for better times!

====================================================================================
Q.1. Will there be any developments in immigration that would help Vietnamese people?
A.1. Our biggest hope right now is that the Supreme Court will decide not to accept the government challenge to the CSPA ruling of the 9th Circuit Court. If that happens, then thousands of aged out children left behind in Vietnam will be eligible for speedy processing and issuing of immigrant visas.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.2. What about Vietnamese who are in the US illegally? Can they hope for a Green Card?
A.2. There is a new procedure using the form I-601A, starting next month, for immediate relatives of US citizens who are in the US illegally. They will be able to apply for a provisional waiver. If CIS approves the waiver, they can return to Vietnam for a visa interview with almost certain success.
 
ROBERT MULLINS INTERNATIONAL www.rmiodp.com 
Immigration Support Services - Tham Van Di Tru

9070 Bolsa Ave., Westminster CA 92683 (714) 890-9933
779 Story Road, Ste. 70, San Jose, CA 95122 (408) 294-3888
6930 65th St. Ste. #105, Sacramento CA 95823 (916) 393-3388
47 Phung Khac Khoan, P. Da Kao, Q1, HCMC (848) 3914-7638
Thứ Tư, 02 Tháng Ba 2016(Xem: 17883)
Vietnamese women who come to the US to join their US citizen/resident husbands face a number of challenges. They must learn to get by without the comfort and support of their family in Vietnam, as well as without Vietnamese society as they knew it in Vietnam.
Thứ Tư, 24 Tháng Hai 2016(Xem: 17531)
The Department of State has just released their annual report of the Immigrant Visa Waiting lists for applicants who are subject to a quota. These quota categories are called Preference visas.
Thứ Ba, 16 Tháng Hai 2016(Xem: 18050)
What is an L1 visa? The L-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa.
Thứ Ba, 09 Tháng Hai 2016(Xem: 17163)
I cannot speak English well. Can I take my interview in Vietnamese?
Thứ Hai, 01 Tháng Hai 2016(Xem: 14421)
Since most EB5 visas are given to people who invest in Regional Centers, we will look at some of the frequently asked questions about these centers.
Thứ Tư, 27 Tháng Giêng 2016(Xem: 17418)
Fiancee Visas are actually non-immigrant visas because a Green Card is not issued until after the marriage in the US and application for Adjustment of Status in the US.
Thứ Tư, 06 Tháng Giêng 2016(Xem: 26213)
K visas: Vietnam is among the top five countries for K visas. K-1 visas are issued to a US citizen’s fiancée so that she can come to the US to be married. There are also K-3 visas.
Thứ Sáu, 01 Tháng Giêng 2016(Xem: 15335)
On December 18, Congress passed the 2016 Federal Omnibus. Overall, there were not many surprises in the bill, except for the EB5 Investors program.
Thứ Hai, 21 Tháng Mười Hai 2015(Xem: 13892)
Two hundred and twenty five years ago, in 1790, the US Congress passed its first naturalization law, limiting citizenship to free whites of “good moral character” who had lived in the U.S. for at least two years.
Thứ Tư, 16 Tháng Mười Hai 2015(Xem: 15796)
The current EB5 Immigrant Investor Program was extended until today, 16 December and new legislation is expected by the end of this week. It is expected that the EB5 program will be extended until September 2019.