APRIL '08 Vermont K-1 Filers

[KimandRuss 0]

[smchadwick 0]

What number do I need to call for London? The switchboard? Or that $16 1-866 number?

I'm calling DOS again today and see if another person knows more...and I'm going to ask them what I need to do.

If I can't get this thing sorted I wonder if just having his mail forwarded will do? We'll see! There has GOT to be a way to do this, I'm sure it's been done before. Have a good day guys!!

Stephanie

[KimandRuss 0]

The Embassy would be the best folks to talk to I would imagine. PM mama Nich..she'll know.

[moroccousa 0]

I just called DOS again (I had a hunch) and found out that our Packet 3 was sent out today (yay!) but our Interview date was set for October 15th. Simo is really depressed about this! I already called him. He just feels like his whole life is on hold and we both miss each other so much. And for young men from the MENA region, AP after the interview can be really time consuming, 2 weeks min, so he is just upset about the thought of not making it here till November. I had thought the interview date would be more around 4 weeks, looking at other people's recent interview dates in Casa.

Now I am going to try to be really nice to the people at the consulate to try to get our interview date moved up, I don't know if that is possible at all in Casablanca, but I have to try right?

Any advice?

Thanks!

Lizzie

[Susita 175]

Hey guys how was your day?

Today I found out that the NVC sent the application to Lima. I have to play with that DHL tracking thing!

I'm hoping they take their time with our interview so Luis has more time to sort the whole birth certificate thing out.

I really just don't want ANYTHING to go wrong.

So what's new April people.

And yes Brian.... April ROCKS

[KimandRuss 0]

Suzy, if it left today 9445009486 is your tracking number. .... I was there when I read your post. I hope all the corrections you needed are done with. Is Lima still real quick with their interviews?

Lizzie, good luck getting that interview moved up!

So we're still waiting for NVC to send our petition... they've had it almost two weeks.

[catknit 144]

Kim - could they have just cabled an electronic copy?

Suzy - here's to a quick interview date!

Lizzie - with Ramadan literally around the corner and Eid etc etc, that may well be the earliest right now. I know it stinks but maybe you can just send an email and see what happens? The few weeks will fly by. I would do a little background checking on AP for that embassy too. Just to have an idea of what to expect. Have you gotten in touch with your congressman/senators yet? Seems like a good proactive step for those of us expecting AP.

We're waiting for our interview date. Packet 3 has been turned in....

Best of luck...

Lauren

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi April Rockers~~

I have learned new stuff today that may interest some of you because I was checking out AOS info. It seems that Tuberculin Skin Testing is part of the new medical requirements. You K1 people don't have to get another medical when adjusting status. They use the one in your brown envelope you got as part of the visa process. That's why this info applies to you. One would think having an x-ray for TB would take care of that diagnostic tool. But this Q&A is on the USCIS website.

Q: When did the new TB requirements become effective?

The new TB testing and treatment requirements became effective on May 1, 2008. However, CDC allowed a 30 day grace period. Therefore, any medical exam that takes place on or after June 1, 2008 must be performed in accordance with the new TB testing requirements. (Alas...Nick's was June 3 and London did not do any TB skin test)

Q: Will USCIS accept Form I-693 if the civil surgeon performed a chest x-ray without the TST?

No, the civil surgeon must administer the TST, unless one of the exceptions listed in the Technical Instructions applies. If the civil surgeon performs a chest x-ray without giving the applicant the TST, the reason for omitting the TST must be noted on Form I-693.

Ok, so I'm not too worried about that because if AOS gets held up with a RFE because he needs it, at least he's here in the US waiting with me so who cares?

But what else in interesting about this is this little chart I'm going to try to post as a picture.

So if your medical was after Aug. 1 (lots of you)

• Your medical must be on the newly revised (June 5 '08) edition of the form.
• You must meet those new TB requirements (skin test)
• You must have all the newly added vaccines if age appropriate. HPV is one of the new ones. Most are N/A to adults.

If your medical was in June or July (Nick)

• Your medical can be on forms with either of two dates (UK was ok on that)
• You must meet those new TB requirements (UK didn't do)
• You do NOT have to have the new vaccines--HPV!!

If your medical was before June 1

• no new form
• no TB skin test
• NO NEW VACCINES

So that's basically saying if you got a medical prior to Aug 1, you do not have to get HPV. Huh? Think about the posts that have been going on for months about HPV and this chart is indicating that it's okay not to have it if the K1 medical was before Aug 1.??!? Sheeesh!

The new vaccines are: HPV, Rotovirus, Hepatitis A, Zoster, meningococcal and most of those don't apply to people over 18, so don't get into a panic. All the new ones were on the UK's packet 3 list months ago and probably all other countries as well.

This is indeed a screwed up process we are going through. We are caught in that little gap of medicals in June/July.

It's the TB Debate of Summer '08. Can't wait to see how it all plays out.

Ok, get back to your rockin' and rollin'~~~~~~~~

[Fernanda O. 0]

S&D, Ana, and Kim:

I talked to my doctor today about the pappiloma virus vaccine and I'm more comfortable about it now. It has been approved in Brazil over a year ago, it just isn't available for our public health system yet because of how much it costs. She says they have been researching it for a long long time and it's difficult to get a vaccine approved here, so she doesn't think anything will go wrong.

Ok, great, but now, how do I pay for it?!!

It's only given in private hospitals, so they charge pretty much how much they want to, it costs around 800 dollars total here.

Kim, do you remember how much it costs there?

[KimandRuss 0]

Milo, I remember someone mentioning that the Consulates are notified electronically. Since DOS is aware of everything going on I would imagine it's not too difficult to do so. We're not talking the entire package tho. Who knows really. This whole process is such a nightmare.

Mama Nich... I did read that but figured if Russell would need it they would have given it to him. I guess if he has to get it here..he has to get it here.

Fernanda, i'm glad you are feeling better about HPV. I can't tell you how much it was because it was covered under our insurance plan. It's a series of 3 shots spread out over 6 months and I believe you would have to have a civil surgeon do it. I'm sure they must have 'price lists' for this sort of thing. Perhaps you can find a list of doctor's on the CDC website and could contact them to ask.

So, I broke down and called NVC again. (My love is not so patient.) but shhhh Anyway, I explained that our petition had been there almost two weeks and that i've received 2 letters saying it would be sent out and asked what was the hold up, so she checked it out for me. Apparently we are stuck in AP at the NVC. She couldn't tell me why or say how long it would be (of course) but she did tell me that we could have the Consulate contact them via email and request that it be sent to them. So..that's what I did.

Here's a list of the security checks they do at each level of the process that I thought was interesting.

From other research i've done it seems that some are chosen at random. Just our luck! All I can think is that someone found out that we are trying to expedite it and held it up to be mean.

Oh well, hopefully the Consulate wont need it to schedule the interview and, if they do, there's nothing we can do about it....again. Grrrrrrrrrrr this process!!! I want my man!!!!!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Oh Kim. Dang it! (Is that a Baastan expression ?)

So sorry. I want you to have your man too!!

Edited August 28, 2008 by Nich-Nick

[KimandRuss 0]

"Dang it"...not so much.

But i'm wicked mad ! <--- that is

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

But i'm wicked mad ! <--- that is

Good one. Never heard that. Oh the new things I learn on VJ.

[KimandRuss 0]

Ooooo the lessons I could give.

[Susita 175]

Ooooo the lessons I could give.

haha I'm wicked mad

yeah that is sooooo Boston, my friend Kristen says that all the time.

How youuuu doin????

You guys don't even wanna know the stuff we say ova' hea' in NY

Fuhgeddaboudit!