I don't really know, since I do not know him on a personal level. He is merely someone who reached out. I get the impression that he is fairly well versed in the faith. I don't get the impression that he is merely seeking to bypass the SSPX priest's instructions to make the process easier on himself, but that he feels that he has a legitimate reason to question the initial response he was given. (That said, if he really wanted to convert he may need to go to whatever length it takes to convert and submit to whatever process is required). I think he just feels that this particular priest may be making things unnecessarily burdensome. (I don't know, nor necessarily agree--this priest maybe giving him exactly the correct advice/instruction). As for going to Eastern Rite Catholic, I don't think there are any in the US or Canada that have not gone along with Vatican II, so I think that option is out. I believe he did speak with an Eastern Rite priest from the local diocese and was told that he did not need to convert. Grace is moving him in the right direction. So I think I am just looking to either re-affirm what the SSPX priest has told him or point him in the right direction toward the next step. At the end of the day he will obviously need to talk with a priest or bishop himself about his particular case, but I am hoping I can get some idea of what the general parameters/questions are in cases like this generally speaking.