diff --git a/commands.go b/commands.go
index 213c4e1..7f53ce3 100644
--- a/commands.go
+++ b/commands.go
@@ -19,9 +19,12 @@ package main
 import (
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/Rhymen/go-whatsapp"
 	"maunium.net/go/maulogger"
 	"maunium.net/go/mautrix-appservice"
+	"maunium.net/go/mautrix-whatsapp/database"
 	"maunium.net/go/mautrix-whatsapp/types"
+	"maunium.net/go/mautrix-whatsapp/whatsapp-ext"
 )
 
 type CommandHandler struct {
@@ -49,7 +52,7 @@ type CommandEvent struct {
 
 // Reply sends a reply to command as notice
 func (ce *CommandEvent) Reply(msg string) {
-	_, err := ce.Bot.SendNotice(string(ce.RoomID), msg)
+	_, err := ce.Bot.SendNotice(string(ce.User.ManagementRoom), msg)
 	if err != nil {
 		ce.Handler.log.Warnfln("Failed to reply to command from %s: %v", ce.User.MXID, err)
 	}
@@ -74,6 +77,8 @@ func (handler *CommandHandler) Handle(roomID types.MatrixRoomID, user *User, mes
 		handler.CommandLogout(ce)
 	case "help":
 		handler.CommandHelp(ce)
+	case "import":
+		handler.CommandImport(ce)
 	default:
 		ce.Reply("Unknown Command")
 	}
@@ -116,10 +121,53 @@ const cmdHelpHelp = `help - Prints this help`
 
 // CommandHelp handles help command
 func (handler *CommandHandler) CommandHelp(ce *CommandEvent) {
-	cmdPrefix := handler.bridge.Config.Bridge.CommandPrefix + " "
+	cmdPrefix := ""
+	if ce.User.ManagementRoom != ce.RoomID {
+		cmdPrefix = handler.bridge.Config.Bridge.CommandPrefix + " "
+	}
+
 	ce.Reply(strings.Join([]string{
 		cmdPrefix + cmdHelpHelp,
 		cmdPrefix + cmdLoginHelp,
 		cmdPrefix + cmdLogoutHelp,
+		cmdPrefix + cmdImportHelp,
 	}, "\n"))
 }
+
+const cmdImportHelp = `import JID|contacts - Open up a room for JID or for each WhatsApp contact`
+
+// CommandImport handles import command
+func (handler *CommandHandler) CommandImport(ce *CommandEvent) {
+	// ensure all messages go to the management room
+	ce.RoomID = ce.User.ManagementRoom
+
+	user := ce.User
+
+	if ce.Args[0] == "contacts" {
+		handler.log.Debugln("Importing all contacts of", user)
+		_, err := user.Conn.Contacts()
+		if err != nil {
+			handler.log.Errorln("Error on update of contacts of user", user, ":", err)
+			return
+		}
+
+		for jid, contact := range user.Conn.Store.Contacts {
+			if strings.HasSuffix(jid, whatsappExt.NewUserSuffix) {
+				puppet := user.bridge.GetPuppetByJID(contact.Jid)
+				puppet.Sync(user, contact)
+			} else {
+				portal := user.bridge.GetPortalByJID(database.GroupPortalKey(contact.Jid))
+				portal.Sync(user, contact)
+			}
+		}
+
+		ce.Reply("Importing all contacts done")
+	} else {
+		jid := ce.Args[0] + whatsappExt.NewUserSuffix
+		handler.log.Debugln("Importing", jid, "for", user)
+		puppet := user.bridge.GetPuppetByJID(jid)
+
+		contact := whatsapp.Contact { Jid: jid }
+		puppet.Sync(user, contact)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 5594e2c..9965727 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ func (bridge *Bridge) UpdateBotProfile() {
 
 func (bridge *Bridge) StartUsers() {
 	for _, user := range bridge.GetAllUsers() {
-		go user.Start()
+		go user.Connect(false)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/matrix.go b/matrix.go
index cd12447..8cbeade 100644
--- a/matrix.go
+++ b/matrix.go
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func (mx *MatrixHandler) HandleBotInvite(evt *gomatrix.Event) {
 	if !hasPuppets {
 		user := mx.bridge.GetUserByMXID(types.MatrixUserID(evt.Sender))
 		user.SetManagementRoom(types.MatrixRoomID(resp.RoomID))
-		intent.SendNotice(string(user.ManagementRoom), "This room has been registered as your bridge management/status room.")
+		intent.SendNotice(string(user.ManagementRoom), "This room has been registered as your bridge management/status room. Send `help` to get a list of commands.")
 		mx.log.Debugln(resp.RoomID, "registered as a management room with", evt.Sender)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/portal.go b/portal.go
index a538e31..41e0be7 100644
--- a/portal.go
+++ b/portal.go
@@ -258,6 +258,12 @@ func (portal *Portal) UpdateAvatar(user *User, avatar *whatsappExt.ProfilePicInf
 		}
 	}
 
+	if avatar.Status != 0 {
+		// 401: ???
+		// 404: ???
+		return false
+	}
+
 	if portal.Avatar == avatar.Tag {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -316,6 +322,16 @@ func (portal *Portal) UpdateMetadata(user *User) bool {
 		portal.log.Errorln(err)
 		return false
 	}
+	if metadata.Status != 0 {
+		// 401: access denied
+		// 404: group does (no longer) exist
+		// 500: ??? happens with status@broadcast
+
+		// TODO: update the room, e.g. change priority level
+		//   to send messages to moderator
+		return false
+	}
+
 	portal.SyncParticipants(metadata)
 	update := false
 	update = portal.UpdateName(metadata.Name, metadata.NameSetBy) || update
@@ -439,6 +455,11 @@ func (portal *Portal) CreateMatrixRoom(invite []string) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	intent := portal.MainIntent()
+	if err := intent.EnsureRegistered(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	name := portal.Name
 	topic := portal.Topic
 	isPrivateChat := false
@@ -448,7 +469,7 @@ func (portal *Portal) CreateMatrixRoom(invite []string) error {
 		isPrivateChat = true
 	}
 
-	resp, err := portal.MainIntent().CreateRoom(&gomatrix.ReqCreateRoom{
+	resp, err := intent.CreateRoom(&gomatrix.ReqCreateRoom{
 		Visibility: "private",
 		Name:       name,
 		Topic:      topic,
diff --git a/user.go b/user.go
index 0c44f5a..6f9129f 100644
--- a/user.go
+++ b/user.go
@@ -132,12 +132,6 @@ func (user *User) SetSession(session *whatsapp.Session) {
 	user.Update()
 }
 
-func (user *User) Start() {
-	if user.Connect(false) {
-		user.Sync()
-	}
-}
-
 func (user *User) Connect(evenIfNoSession bool) bool {
 	if user.Conn != nil {
 		return true
@@ -210,22 +204,7 @@ func (user *User) Login(roomID types.MatrixRoomID) {
 	user.JID = strings.Replace(user.Conn.Info.Wid, whatsappExt.OldUserSuffix, whatsappExt.NewUserSuffix, 1)
 	user.Session = &session
 	user.Update()
-	bot.SendNotice(roomID, "Successfully logged in. Synchronizing chats...")
-	go user.Sync()
-}
-
-func (user *User) Sync() {
-	user.log.Debugln("Syncing...")
-	user.Conn.Contacts()
-	for jid, contact := range user.Conn.Store.Contacts {
-		if strings.HasSuffix(jid, whatsappExt.NewUserSuffix) {
-			puppet := user.bridge.GetPuppetByJID(contact.Jid)
-			puppet.Sync(user, contact)
-		} else {
-			portal := user.bridge.GetPortalByJID(database.GroupPortalKey(contact.Jid))
-			portal.Sync(user, contact)
-		}
-	}
+	bot.SendNotice(roomID, "Successfully logged in. Now, you may ask for `import contacts`.")
 }
 
 func (user *User) HandleError(err error) {
diff --git a/whatsapp-ext/jsonmessage.go b/whatsapp-ext/jsonmessage.go
index 232f3fb..8a7fd44 100644
--- a/whatsapp-ext/jsonmessage.go
+++ b/whatsapp-ext/jsonmessage.go
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ func (ext *ExtendedConn) HandleJsonMessage(message string) {
 	msg := JSONMessage{}
 	err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(message), &msg)
 	if err != nil || len(msg) < 2 {
+		ext.jsonParseError(err)
 		return
 	}
 
diff --git a/whatsapp-ext/whatsapp.go b/whatsapp-ext/whatsapp.go
index 740a299..9f38345 100644
--- a/whatsapp-ext/whatsapp.go
+++ b/whatsapp-ext/whatsapp.go
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ type GroupInfo struct {
 
 	GroupCreated int64 `json:"creation"`
 
+	Status int16 `json:"status"`
+
 	Participants []struct {
 		JID          string `json:"id"`
 		IsAdmin      bool   `json:"isAdmin"`
@@ -93,6 +95,8 @@ func (ext *ExtendedConn) GetGroupMetaData(jid string) (*GroupInfo, error) {
 type ProfilePicInfo struct {
 	URL string `json:"eurl"`
 	Tag string `json:"tag"`
+
+	Status int16 `json:"status"`
 }
 
 func (ppi *ProfilePicInfo) Download() (io.ReadCloser, error) {