January Filers at the CSC - How are you doing?

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

They changed the I-693 and the requirements for anyone who had their medical AFTER 8/1. Since ours was 8/8, we are subject to the new requirements. The guide here at VJ hasn't been updated yet since it was so recent. A lot of K1 people over on the AOS forum have gotten RFEs for NOT submitting an I-693, even if it was just with the vaccinations on it.

Thats odd coz I didn't see anything new on the USCIS AOS instructions either and you might expect it to be there :S

But oh well, if it is for people after August the 1st, then I think I have not much to worry (and neither should the posters above who had their medical on time worry then I think ).

I thought it was for people who had their medical after July 1st... Oh well, I guess we'll just wait and see!

Happy Thanksgiving to everybody! I cooked my first Thanksgiving dinner. Usually they have the dinner at Bryan's aunt place, but this year they didn't want to do it, so we did it at our place, just me and Bryan and his parents. It was a whole lot of cooking! but it turned out really good

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

So, ok, I did a lot of reading this morning about the I-693A and such.. We do indeed need the I-693A to submit with the AOS, however, the I-485 states the following:

If you are a K-1 fiancé(e) or K-2 dependent who had a medical examination within the past year as required for the nonimmigrant fiancé(e) visa, you only need to submit a vaccination supplement, not the entire medical report. You may include the vaccination supplement with your adjustment-of-status application.

The way I see it, the word "may" is not saying "you have to", in other words, you will most likely not get an RFE if you did not submit the I-693A but, you will, however be required to take the I-693A with you to the AOS interview, as it states the following in the invitation letter (post a few days ago in the AOS forums):

A completed medical examination (Form-I-693) and vaccination supplement in a sealed envelope (unless already submitted)

So, basically I think that the reason why nobody here got a RFE yet is that they have to bring the vaccination supplement to the interview. If this is indeed the case, then I think nobody should start to worry much.

I am going to check on prices with several civil surgeons in the upcoming week to see what they ask to transcribe the information from the DS-3025 onto the I-693A, so I have it in hand just in case there is an RFE (even though I doubt it will) and at least can bring it with me to the interview if needed.

There seems to be a civil surgeon in Austin, TX (dr. L.E. Arnold) who can do it for a fairly cheap price.. You call them, leave them a note in their voicemail and they call you back. They will sent you everything within a couple of days after calling. I have seen that he asks 10 bucks when you want it by regular mail and 20 dollar when you want priority mail done. Either way it isn't that highly priced and apparently any other civil surgeon should not ask more than 25-30 dollar. If it is higher then it will be a rip off.. some require you to do the full medical again (coz the vaccination supplemental is part of the full form but then, again, you are getting ripped off since that is not needed as long as you have had your medical in your country of origin. But yah, if you cannot find a cheap one in your area, I'd suggest to call dr. Arnold and do it through that way. The only reason why I don't call him right away is that I want to know about my options here.. I can imagine it will look quite silly when I have a form signed by a doctor in Texas while I haven't been off this rock in the pacific lol.

Anyways, long story short, I do not think we should start too worry much as, when you read the forms clearly, they still say "you may submit it now and if you don't, then you might want to bring it with you during the interview"

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

A little addition: It is indeed since July 1st that they have changed these requirements, apparently the doctor I've seen in the Netherlands knew about this as he had a DS3025 form which included also the additional shots on it (apparently the older forms didn't have that either).

Edited November 29, 2008 by JeroenAndMichelle

[lucie&damon 0]

Thanks Jeroen for all the infos! You worked on this very well!

That's what I thought too...That they will ask it at the interview.

My doctor here in Colorado, he asks for 150 dollars, just to write the vaccination on the I693. Dr Arnold is cheap, but I don't see how I can do that, because I still need to do the Tb skin test, which we didn't do at our home country. So, I'll need to go to a doctor here in CO anyway, and pay an extra hundred bucks...great!

My doctor in France doesn't have my DS2035. He just had the original that he gave me for the embassy and then the POE. It(s not fair, apparently in the other countries they give the DS3025 to their patient...So all I have is my very old french Health Book. Ihope the Dr will accept this, and transcribe, and not telling me that he wants me to do them all over again!!!!!

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

My doctor didn't give me the DS2035 either. I plan on sending copies of my "health book" with translations to Dr. Arnold, we'll see how that works. But I'll do it only when I receive a RFE or a letter for the interview. My case has been sent to California Service Center, so I don't know if I'll have an interview...

Where is the info about the TB skin test? On the I-693 instructions, it only says we need the vaccination part:

If you were admitted as a:

A. K-1 fiancé(e) or a K-2 child of a K-1 fiancé(e), or as a

B. K-3 spouse of a U.S. citizen or a K-4 child of a K-3 spouse of a U.S. citizen, and

C. You received a medical examination prior to admission, then

a. You are not required to have another medical examination as long as your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, is filed within one year of your overseas medical examination.

b. You will, however, be required to complete Part 1, Information about you, and submit the vaccination section of Part 2 with your adjustment of status application. A designated civil surgeon must complete the vaccination section and Part 5, the Civil Surgeon's Certification.

[lucie&damon 0]

My doctor didn't give me the DS2035 either. I plan on sending copies of my "health book" with translations to Dr. Arnold, we'll see how that works. But I'll do it only when I receive a RFE or a letter for the interview. My case has been sent to California Service Center, so I don't know if I'll have an interview...

Where is the info about the TB skin test? On the I-693 instructions, it only says we need the vaccination part:

If you were admitted as a:

A. K-1 fiancé(e) or a K-2 child of a K-1 fiancé(e), or as a

B. K-3 spouse of a U.S. citizen or a K-4 child of a K-3 spouse of a U.S. citizen, and

C. You received a medical examination prior to admission, then

a. You are not required to have another medical examination as long as your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, is filed within one year of your overseas medical examination.

b. You will, however, be required to complete Part 1, Information about you, and submit the vaccination section of Part 2 with your adjustment of status application. A designated civil surgeon must complete the vaccination section and Part 5, the Civil Surgeon's Certification.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-693instr.pdf

It says on page 5 of the guide that all applicants must have a TST, HIV test...HIV we did it in France, but that TST was not required. Now, it is, in the US. I've read that a lot of people are doing this test when they first got here. I don't really know what to do...Plus I think I had it in '97 or something....

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

4 days since the last post made us drop by 5 pages... time to give this thread a little kick up again...

Soooooo hows everyone doing so before xmas? I can tell you one thing, we went to a xmas parade today in Honolulu and it was weird to walk around on slippers, wearing short sleeves and having a nice temperature while seeing xmas trees and all that stuff lol

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

This month is a strange month... I love Christmas, love the atmosphere, the food, the gift exchange, etc. But it has always been a family thing. There usually is a family dinner with my mother's side of the family on Christmas eve and the next day it's with my father's side. This year I won't be there. And it makes me feel really sad (worse than I thought I would). Actually, my mood swings a lot! For like an hour I'm really happy because it's Christmas, then for another hour I'm sad, and then happy, then sad, etc.

Bryan does not celebrate Christmas (but it doesn't mean that I can't celebrate it, therefore we have a beautiful Christmas tree in the living room, decorated by myself ) There will be a Christmas Eve dinner with his family but it is going to be so different than the ones I'm used to. Big dinners in France usually last 6 hours, and we usually have oysters, salmon, foie gras, etc. I already miss that.

And I don't have many ideas of presents. I found lots of ideas for myself (since B doesn't celebrate it I will offer myself a couple things ) but nothing for his parents or for him, for that matter. And as I don't have a driver license, I can't really drive to the store just to look around. So it's kind of hard. I think this week I'll take the bus to go to the closest mall.

I also plan to make some gingerbread cookies, shaped like little men, because this is something I have always wanted to do!!! And I think that we will try to get some seafood for Christmas day (or the next days), just to make me happy. Because even if he doesn't celebrate it, he is willing to compromise and do whatever makes me feel better, as long as it doesn't mean officially that he is celebrating it (which he does, IMO)

On another note, Bryan is sick, he thinks he has a chest cold. And I woke up this morning feeling kind of sick too... bleh!

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

wow that can be kind of hard indeed if you always experienced it to be celebrated big time and now to find not much there.. for me, I dont know, I never gave much about family gatherings.. I mean, I liked it when I was around but I never looked forward to going. I do miss my family but, fortunately, not as much as I thought I would.. it is all quite easy for me, guess I've been a loner indeed back in NL. We don't have a tree set up, my wife wanted to but I told her it might be the best if we dont.. we have four very playful and curious cats and I am sure they will go in that tree lol. The house, at the other hand, has enough lights now so that kind of makes up for it

And I totally agree, Cecile, if he doesn't celebrate it, you should just celebrate it yourself. And indeed, just buy presents yourself also, that's what I would do too. I really think that us immigrants (LOL) should keep some of those things that we did back in our own country, like certain traditions and stuff.. that's, for example, why I will hang out the Dutch flag tomorrow since today it is the birthday of one of the princesses of the Netherlands (I would do it today but today is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and it would be a bit odd to have two flags half staff and one fully, plus the Dutch flag code states that if it is on a Sunday or christian holiday, the flags should wave a day later, so I'm good hehe)

But yah, I do think it is very important to do our 'own' things still, whether or not it is related to our old countries or just own personal ideas and values. It is like taking the best of both countries

I hope you and Brian feel better soon!!

(and btw, indeed, he is haha)

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

I don't miss my family too much actually, except when I start thinking of Christmas. Other than that, I have been totally fine for the past 4 months. I haven't missed them too much as I usually am a loner too. I think this whole Christmas thing bothers me because it is an example (and quite a big one, as it was usually the one time of the year where I was sure I would be with my family) of things that change and will never be the same. One example of the things I have left behind.

Maybe I should go back to France for Christmas next year a little early to plan this though

Like you, I want to continue to do some French things, just for the sake of it. In France in January, we usually eat "King's cakes" with family and friends around the Epiphany. I guess it used to be religious, but not really anymore. Apparently they don't do it here, and what they call King's cake is a Mardi Gras cake in New Orleans that doesn't look yummy at all... So, I think I am going to bake my own cakes and do it with people here It should be fun.

[lucie&damon 0]

Jeroen: It might be so weird to be in sandals for Xmas! Personnaly, I wouldn't like that. I used to live in Leiden, NL. And it was so pretty on Xmas time with the snow and the narrow high houses, boats on the canal covered by snow....I loved that!

I'm happy to be in Colorado during this Xmas time, because it s snowing on the little wood houses. It's cute and very christmassy!

Though, I'm like Cécile I wished to be in France with my family and eat all the same thing she said!

This year, Damon and I are going to visit his family in Boston for Xmas and new year. I can't wait to go there! It means TOOONES of seafood, and I LOVE that. And I can't eat any here in CO, because there are no oceans around!lol

[lucie&damon 0]

Like you, I want to continue to do some French things, just for the sake of it. In France in January, we usually eat "King's cakes" with family and friends around the Epiphany. I guess it used to be religious, but not really anymore. Apparently they don't do it here, and what they call King's cake is a Mardi Gras cake in New Orleans that doesn't look yummy at all... So, I think I am going to bake my own cakes and do it with people here It should be fun.

Cecile,

I'm going to try to make my own King cakes too this year! I can't wait to try!

Even though, I know whose going to get "la fève"...Damon, last year in France, he won the 3 times we did it! I missed the time when my parents were cheated in order that I get la fève!

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

I am also having a hard time finding gifts for Christmas. I don't know if it has to do with being in another country or not, but for some reason my mind completely freezes! Does anyone have the same problem?

Also, it seems that here, people give gifts for their friends too, while Christmas is just for the family IMO. So I don't really know if I should try to find gifts for the friends too...

[lucie&damon 0]

I am also having a hard time finding gifts for Christmas. I don't know if it has to do with being in another country or not, but for some reason my mind completely freezes! Does anyone have the same problem?

Also, it seems that here, people give gifts for their friends too, while Christmas is just for the family IMO. So I don't really know if I should try to find gifts for the friends too...

yeah! it's the same for me here! It's probably because at home we have our habits, we know the good places to go to get a gift. After a while we will get use to our new home city and find were to go!

Also, not being able to do my shopping by myself because of no Dl doesn't help... I like to shop alone and take my time. When I'm with someone else, I feel like the person might get bored at looking at things he might not want to look at...

Good Luck!

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Also, not being able to do my shopping by myself because of no Dl doesn't help... I like to shop alone and take my time. When I'm with someone else, I feel like the person might get bored at looking at things he might not want to look at...

Very true! And how do you go shopping for someone if that person is the one who drives you to the store?