July '08 filers

[Aubrey 10]

Biggest problems I see have to do with run-around with the medical/vaccination stuff, the occasional sponsor/co-sponsor issue, and the few folks with bad enough luck to require an interview. Just lots of paperwork... fun!

We should all get a certificate to hang on the wall when we finish the process. So and so and their spouse survived USCIS (twice or more times) and the State Department. Your ability to deal with bureaucracy is to be comended...

Cracked me up, so I decided why not?!

For a full-res printable version:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/yydzmnywoln/certificate.jpg

[cdneh 3,112]

Oh my goodness...that is perfect!!!

[Corinthians 7]

Cracked me up, so I decided why not?!

Cool Aubrey. Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

[Shannon ♥ Nick 0]

Ours was good Low key, Nick's fighting off a killer cold. I'm just waiting to catch it... ick! How's everyone else? Any fun-ness besides getting ready for more immigration stuff?

[Ju&Ja 1]

Ours was good Low key, Nick's fighting off a killer cold. I'm just waiting to catch it... ick! How's everyone else? Any fun-ness besides getting ready for more immigration stuff?

I'm filing the forms for AOS and Advance parole and work authorization and blablabla... I'm lost and I REALLY don't like to deal with the immigration ! Too scared to make a mistake...

[Koakland 0]

Ours was good Low key, Nick's fighting off a killer cold. I'm just waiting to catch it... ick! How's everyone else? Any fun-ness besides getting ready for more immigration stuff?

I've started apartment hunting which has been fun but also a little disappointing. I want to sign a lease this week if I can. Next week at the latest...that's all for me.

how's the baby?

[PB&JAM 1]

I'm still at packet 3 stage. waiting for my fiance to get all his forms and stuff together. He cant get a working printer. doesnt have one at home, work one is no good and even internet cafe one isnt working. He'll have to wait for next weekend to print out all the forms. ugh. Plus still waiting for police reports (he just requested those last week). how long do those take?

I'm pretty much done with my part, well almost, still need to get a couple things, but i'm in no rush if he hasnt even mailed back packet 3. this is frustrating me. Is it ok that we are taking forever to get pack 3 sent back? i know we have a 4 month deadline, but i'm sure we'll have it mailed in by april. I just want to get pack 3 mailed off. i wish i could do that part myself. i'm not a control freak...well, not really haha. Just like to make sure things get done!

[Terri and Seb 0]

Well, we just got the run around by ANOTHER civil surgeon, and coincidentally the last one in our city. They tried arguing with us that we had to do the full medical exam, even though we showed them the I-693 instructions and specially highlighted the K-1 visa portion. We contested and asked why they'd refuse to operate the way USCIS mandates they do, and the physician said, "We do things our way around here. Go elsewhere." and walked away. We were like, "It's fine. We'll just pay the extra fees and get this over with" but they refused to see us. Needless to say, we're both furious and reported him to the USCIS.

I highly recommend you guys start reporting these physicians who are refusing to do I-863 the way the government mandates. I think if enough of us started making calls, we'd see more action on this front.

Anyhow, question for those of you who used Dr. Arnold. Did you have a TB test done? Was it done by a different civil surgeon or just another physician? Did Dr. Arnold transcribe the TB test results, or did you just send in a copy that another physician completed with your AOS forms? We're not sure how TB fits into this.

I thought AOS was supposed to be easy, but it's quickly turned into a nightmare for us. I'm a full time student and absolutely cannot take a day off of class to drive 3 hours away to try our luck with the other nearest civil surgeons. We're considering mailing off our application without the I-863 (just using the DS form he got in London) and mailing the I-863 later on once we get it back from Dr. Arnold. Does this sound reasonable?

Sorry for the rant...I'm still shaking with anger.

[Ju&Ja 1]

Well, we just got the run around by ANOTHER civil surgeon, and coincidentally the last one in our city. They tried arguing with us that we had to do the full medical exam, even though we showed them the I-693 instructions and specially highlighted the K-1 visa portion. We contested and asked why they'd refuse to operate the way USCIS mandates they do, and the physician said, "We do things our way around here. Go elsewhere." and walked away. We were like, "It's fine. We'll just pay the extra fees and get this over with" but they refused to see us. Needless to say, we're both furious and reported him to the USCIS.

I highly recommend you guys start reporting these physicians who are refusing to do I-863 the way the government mandates. I think if enough of us started making calls, we'd see more action on this front.

Anyhow, question for those of you who used Dr. Arnold. Did you have a TB test done? Was it done by a different civil surgeon or just another physician? Did Dr. Arnold transcribe the TB test results, or did you just send in a copy that another physician completed with your AOS forms? We're not sure how TB fits into this.

I thought AOS was supposed to be easy, but it's quickly turned into a nightmare for us. I'm a full time student and absolutely cannot take a day off of class to drive 3 hours away to try our luck with the other nearest civil surgeons. We're considering mailing off our application without the I-863 (just using the DS form he got in London) and mailing the I-863 later on once we get it back from Dr. Arnold. Does this sound reasonable?

Sorry for the rant...I'm still shaking with anger.

Well I kinda gave up on the I-693. I will send a copy of my vaccins form, the one my french doctor gave me. If they still have my medical folder at the USCIS I will be fine. If they want more I will bring this I-693 at the interview. I have to give 1010$ for the AOS so I will wait for the 110$ for the civil surgeon...

[Shannon ♥ Nick 0]

Ours was good Low key, Nick's fighting off a killer cold. I'm just waiting to catch it... ick! How's everyone else? Any fun-ness besides getting ready for more immigration stuff?

I've started apartment hunting which has been fun but also a little disappointing. I want to sign a lease this week if I can. Next week at the latest...that's all for me.

how's the baby?

Ryan is doing fine, eating lots and sleeping occasionally........ He's got so big the last few weeks its quite scary!

There are loads more pics on our face book page for those of you that have added us.

Good luck with the apartment hunting!!

[Shannon ♥ Nick 0]

I'm still at packet 3 stage. waiting for my fiance to get all his forms and stuff together. He cant get a working printer. doesnt have one at home, work one is no good and even internet cafe one isnt working. He'll have to wait for next weekend to print out all the forms. ugh. Plus still waiting for police reports (he just requested those last week). how long do those take?

I'm pretty much done with my part, well almost, still need to get a couple things, but i'm in no rush if he hasnt even mailed back packet 3. this is frustrating me. Is it ok that we are taking forever to get pack 3 sent back? i know we have a 4 month deadline, but i'm sure we'll have it mailed in by april. I just want to get pack 3 mailed off. i wish i could do that part myself. i'm not a control freak...well, not really haha. Just like to make sure things get done!

Police certificate is usually pretty quick, assuming it's straight forward lol. Think mine took around ten days from when they received it, I worked for the home office for ten years dunno if that made a difference or not????

Dont worry about the length of time it takes, just get the forms filled out accurately and use your time now to make sure you have all the supporting documents you need for the interview.

[Terri and Seb 0]

Well I kinda gave up on the I-693. I will send a copy of my vaccins form, the one my french doctor gave me. If they still have my medical folder at the USCIS I will be fine. If they want more I will bring this I-693 at the interview. I have to give 1010$ for the AOS so I will wait for the 110$ for the civil surgeon...

The USCIS website seems pretty clear that the I-693 is needed. Us July filers are likely the first people to suffer from the new requirements they set forth, so even though we've only seen a few RFE's for not having it, it seems like we'll be seeing more. I'll let you know how I get on with Dr. Arnold- $30 isn't bad at all for peace of mind and not risking delays!

We gave up and mailed everything but the I-693 this evening. We just want to get the EAD asap. We sent in the DS vaccination form from the UK medical in place of the I-693 but we'll be mailing the I-693 separately.

What did you do about tuberculosis stuff, Juliette?

[Aubrey 10]

Well, we just got the run around by ANOTHER civil surgeon, and coincidentally the last one in our city. They tried arguing with us that we had to do the full medical exam, even though we showed them the I-693 instructions and specially highlighted the K-1 visa portion. We contested and asked why they'd refuse to operate the way USCIS mandates they do, and the physician said, "We do things our way around here. Go elsewhere." and walked away. We were like, "It's fine. We'll just pay the extra fees and get this over with" but they refused to see us. Needless to say, we're both furious and reported him to the USCIS.

I highly recommend you guys start reporting these physicians who are refusing to do I-863 the way the government mandates. I think if enough of us started making calls, we'd see more action on this front.

Anyhow, question for those of you who used Dr. Arnold. Did you have a TB test done? Was it done by a different civil surgeon or just another physician? Did Dr. Arnold transcribe the TB test results, or did you just send in a copy that another physician completed with your AOS forms? We're not sure how TB fits into this.

I thought AOS was supposed to be easy, but it's quickly turned into a nightmare for us. I'm a full time student and absolutely cannot take a day off of class to drive 3 hours away to try our luck with the other nearest civil surgeons. We're considering mailing off our application without the I-863 (just using the DS form he got in London) and mailing the I-863 later on once we get it back from Dr. Arnold. Does this sound reasonable?

Sorry for the rant...I'm still shaking with anger.

Haven't done this (obviously) yet, but from what I've read around VJ some people mailed Dr. Arnold their stuff to have it transcribed. So obviously no additional tests. And unless it's been too long, you shouldn't have to.

And on a side note, the whole Dr. Arnold thing creeps me out. He was my ex-husband's family doctor.

[Terri and Seb 0]

Unfortunately, it looks like the TB test is required for all of us? Maybe I'm misreading something, though.

From the USCIS website:

"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."

Guide to Revised Form I-693, TB Testing/Treatment and Vaccination Requirements is here:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...0004718190aRCRD

At least Dr. Arnold is cheap!

[Ju&Ja 1]

Well I kinda gave up on the I-693. I will send a copy of my vaccins form, the one my french doctor gave me. If they still have my medical folder at the USCIS I will be fine. If they want more I will bring this I-693 at the interview. I have to give 1010$ for the AOS so I will wait for the 110$ for the civil surgeon...

The USCIS website seems pretty clear that the I-693 is needed. Us July filers are likely the first people to suffer from the new requirements they set forth, so even though we've only seen a few RFE's for not having it, it seems like we'll be seeing more. I'll let you know how I get on with Dr. Arnold- $30 isn't bad at all for peace of mind and not risking delays!

We gave up and mailed everything but the I-693 this evening. We just want to get the EAD asap. We sent in the DS vaccination form from the UK medical in place of the I-693 but we'll be mailing the I-693 separately.

What did you do about tuberculosis stuff, Juliette?

I did the chest xray in France as the embassy required for tuberculosis. So I have my Xray here and the sheet which goes with it sayin' "Tuberculosis clear". It is not enough anymore ?