I-693(a) Question

[LuciansGirl 0]

I just called a local civil surgeon's office today to have my husband's vaccination records transcribed onto the I-693a. The lady there who deals with the immigration stuff told me that form I-693a is no longer being used and that effective May 1st 2008, my husband would also have to have the TB test done.

She also told me that my husband would need to have another complete physical done plus blood test for syphillis and HIV (which he had done in Barbados on 5/16/08 plus the required shots for the visa). I told her that we only need to have his vaccination records transcribed but she argued that the medical my then-fiance had done in Barbados was strictly for visa purposes only and that it is not valid for AOS since it was not done in US territory. WTH??? I'm so confused.

Has anyone doing AOS in June or July 2008 encountered this issue? Should I just contact Dr. Arnold for this? Please enlighten me....

[rin and john 71]

I just called a local civil surgeon's office today to have my husband's vaccination records transcribed onto the I-693a. The lady there who deals with the immigration stuff told me that form I-693a is no longer being used and that effective May 1st 2008, my husband would also have to have the TB test done.

She also told me that my husband would need to have another complete physical done plus blood test for syphillis and HIV (which he had done in Barbados on 5/16/08 plus the required shots for the visa). I told her that we only need to have his vaccination records transcribed but she argued that the medical my then-fiance had done in Barbados was strictly for visa purposes only and that it is not valid for AOS since it was not done in US territory. WTH??? I'm so confused.

Has anyone doing AOS in June or July 2008 encountered this issue? Should I just contact Dr. Arnold for this? Please enlighten me....

The I-693a is no longer valid. The vaccination section is now in part 2 of the I-693. You need part 1, vaccination portion of part 2, and part 5. The form and instructions can be downloaded here:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

With regard to the TB skin test, my wife had it done, the children did not (she had a full physical as it was more than a year for her; less than a year for the children). Check this thread:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...c=133882&hl=

We filed in June and have received NOA1's. If more medical info/testing is required I think it will come up during the interview (I met a man at the CS whose wife had filed AOS and gotten to the interview before being told she needed to get a physical).

John

[visao 1]

The Civil surgeon told me I needed the TB skin test and blood test in addition to the medical exam oversea. He quoted $225 to do the skin test and blood test & transfer the vaccines. Then we went to another surgeon to do the whole thing and cost us only $125. We filed for AoS in June.

[Team J and B 2]

Is it true I-693A is not accepted anymore since May 1st, 2008? We filed our AOS in early June 2008.

I just received an RFE today which says:

In order to process your application further, you need to submit a properly completed and signed Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, (Rev. 04/02/08 or later) for the applicant on Form I-485. The medical examination must be conducted by a civil surgeon who has been designated by USCIS. The medical must be issued less than one year prior to the filing date of Form I-485.

My questions are:

1) Didn't all K-1 visa holders do the I-693 already before their consular interview in their home country? The one that cost me $350 or so? The one that was in a sealed envelope I handed to Immigration at the airport upon my entry?

2) I had an I-693A transcribed by a USCIS approved surgeon in my area for $25. Wasn't that sufficient? In my AOS cover letter I had written that my I-693 was handed over at port of entry therefore I was only including the I-693A in my AOS package. So...they freaking lost the I-693? Or they lost the I-693A?

3) The I-693 I had done for $350 in Canada was only good for obtaining the K-1 Visa? For AOS I need ANOTHER (nearly) identical I-693 examination for another few hundred bucks?

4) Is there a phone number I can call?

5) Did everyone who file for AOS after May 1st, 2008 and only submitted an I-693A get an RFE to do a complete I-693? Or am I just lucky?

6) What the fark is this bs?

Edited July 10, 2008 by Team J and B

[Eric-Pris 1,606]

She also told me that my husband would need to have another complete physical done plus blood test for syphillis and HIV (which he had done in Barbados on 5/16/08 plus the required shots for the visa). I told her that we only need to have his vaccination records transcribed but she argued that the medical my then-fiance had done in Barbados was strictly for visa purposes only and that it is not valid for AOS since it was not done in US territory. WTH??? I'm so confused.

That's a load #######, they are just trying to separate you from your money. The k-1 physical doesn't count because it wasn't in an US territory? Is there a K-1 country that is a US territory? That would mean all our fiancees need to do another full medical. I think not. Ask her for written documentation that states this.

You may need a TB shot and a new bloodtest. I say "may" because I have no clue, like most everybody else, what the goddamn rules are, and how they are arbitrarily followed for some and not for others. I have read some stuff about new TB rules and new rules regarding a bloodtests if they are more than 30 days old.

My wife and I are about to send her AOS in. She completed the vaccines as part of the k-1 process. According to the pinnned thread on this forum, only a DS-3025 is required in that case. I'm not paying another dime right now, we're sending in the DS-3025 and see what happens. If we get an RFE, we'll deal with it then. If it takes longer so be it, but we're not wasting any more money until we have to.

[LuciansGirl 0]

My husband called another local civil surgeon today and this doctor is going to transcribe his vaccination records from DS-3025 onto I-693 for $50. Additional cost for TB skin test, we'll find out how much.

This CS is a lot better than the one we called yesterday, the lady who wanted my husband to have another physical, etc was going to charge us over $200.

[Eric-Pris 1,606]

My husband called another local civil surgeon today and this doctor is going to transcribe his vaccination records from DS-3025 onto I-693 for $50. Additional cost for TB skin test, we'll find out how much.

$50 just for that? Damn!!!!

[LuciansGirl 0]

My husband called another local civil surgeon today and this doctor is going to transcribe his vaccination records from DS-3025 onto I-693 for $50. Additional cost for TB skin test, we'll find out how much.

$50 just for that? Damn!!!!

Tell me about it....cost added on top of what we already spent for his medical in Barbados. We just don't want to risk getting an RFE since my husband needs to start working ASAP cuz it's getting to be financially tight for us.

Catch 22.....that's the government for us, I guess.

[Team J and B 2]

Is anybody able to help me with my question? I would prefer not to have to do a complete medical again. But I don't know what options I have since I can't even find a phone number to call and inquire about this I-693/I-693A fiasco...

[Dakine 26]

Have your skin test done at your local health department.

Get results and have Dr. Arnold do the I-693 if your immigration medical was done in your country within the last year.

Cost was $20 last time I checked! Only takes a few days.

[Team J and B 2]

Have your skin test done at your local health department.

Get results and have Dr. Arnold do the I-693 if your immigration medical was done in your country within the last year.

Cost was $20 last time I checked! Only takes a few days.

Is it called a "skin test?" And I can just go to my local hospital to request it? Do you know approx. how much it costs? And once I have the result from the skin test, do I send that to Dr Arnold? Is there any other paperwork I need to send to Dr Arnold? I have copies of both my I-693 (I had paid extra in Canada to get copies of the original) and my I-693A I had done by a civil surgeon here in the USA. Should I send those to Dr Arnold too?

I do have a copy of my I-693, for which I paid extra. But it's not sealed in an envelope. I wonder if USCIS will accept that...

[Rosie74 0]

Is it called a "skin test?"

It's the TB test. They poke your skin with very little needles and check the reaction on the skin 2 days after the test.