Vaccination supplement for AOS interview - so confused! Please help!!

[Tinkerbell24 0]

Hi there,

Pretty please help! I have my AOS interview on Monday and I am so confused with what to do about the vaccination supplement. I have had all of the vaccinations required done in England before I moved to the US. So how do I show proof of this? I thought all I had to do was take a letter from my English doctor stating that I've had them, along with the vaccination supplement. But..... I phoned the government helpline to confirm this and spoke to an immigration officer who simply told me 'i cannot advise you as to whether that is sufficient.. you will have to take it up with the immigration officer who is interviewing you at your AOS interview.' So I told him that all I wanted to know was if that was sufficient to meet the guidelines. His response 'ma'am, again, all I can say is that the officer interviewing you is like the judge and he is the one that says if that is acceptable, I cannot comment'.

So I was left feeling mega confused!! So I called our local civil surgeon... we live in Richmond, VA and the only one within 100 miles of us according the list appears to be just one doctor in Richmond. So we have no choice but to go to him.. and when I called him I was told that it will cost $125 just for him to tick 3 boxes and put his signature at the bottom of the form.. all of which would take about 5 seconds to do! So I cannot understand how it costs so much! I also got told by them that I need to have another medical done which will cost a larger 'as yet undisclosed sum'. I told them I had already had and passed the medical in London. But they told me 'well if you want to risk going to the interview and being rejected because you haven't had a medical with us then that is your prerogotive'. I know I do not need another medical! I feel like they are just trying to con even more money out of me!

So please help.. I need your advice. What should I do? What do I actually need for the interview? As both the USCIS and the local civil surgeon have proved useless and I can't find the appropriate info anywhere. Having read through this forum it appears that half the time they never even ask for the vaccination supplement at the interview... but I hardly want to risk not having it! Will the letter from my English doctor be acceptable or am I forced to go and pay this doctor $125 for 3 seconds work? Seems like a con to me.

Sorry for writing a long essay.. I am just so stressed trying to make sure I have all the relevant paperwork in order. Please help!

Thanks so much in advance!

Louise

x

[Not Available 0]

It sounds to me like you need the I-693A vaccination supplement. A letter won't cut it. We all have had to pay out the nose and travel far for this stuff.

Please fill in your timeline as we can't help you unless we know which visa you applied for.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=307

[Tinkerbell24 0]

Ooh yes. I am sorry. I came here on a K-1 visa so am applying for adjustment of status based on that. I will fill in the timeline now.. we registered last year but can't remember our account name so I re-joined today. I will fill in the visa timeline now.

Also, the doctor I spoke to said that the I-693 included having to have blood teste done.. but I had all that done already in England! Just feels like they are trying to maximise their profit!

[philiphotog 0]

Hi Louise,

I called Immigration on a very similar issue this morning.

I had my medical in Birmingham, England at the Nuffield Hospital.

I now have my confirmed AOS interview in July. My medical and vaccination supplement was faxed to me-I had to request it-as is the case with most folks who had theirs at Nuffield.

Do you have your copies?

I called Immigration this morning and they advised me that the DS-3025 and vaccination supplement was adequate for the interview, even though it says on my interview letter to bring the form I-693. I asked for reconfirmation, and she said that was fine- the DS-3025 was OK.

My concern was that I would either have to have the medical again, or, at least have the I-693 supplement signed of-like you mentioned.

It really is peace of mind I suppose if you want to have the supplement signed of again.

Going by the threads I have read, so long as all your vaccinations are up to date, you have had no letter requesting from Immigration you do the medical, then you should be OK.

Comments anyone? Anyone else from England who is in the same spot or who has used their DS-3025?

Ooh yes. I am sorry. I came here on a K-1 visa so am applying for adjustment of status based on that. I will fill in the timeline now.. we registered last year but can't remember our account name so I re-joined today. I will fill in the visa timeline now.

Also, the doctor I spoke to said that the I-693 included having to have blood teste done.. but I had all that done already in England! Just feels like they are trying to maximise their profit!

Louise,

Call the place you had your medical and ask for them to fax it to you, if you haven't done already.

Philip

[Reba 2]

if you've done all that already and they've scheduled an AOS appointment for you without first having sent and RFE, you're fine, you don't need anything more. It would all have been included in the file that you handed over at POE when you first arrived.

There's no way you'd have got shcheduled for an interview if you were still missing stuff.

[Not Available 0]

Ooh yes. I am sorry. I came here on a K-1 visa so am applying for adjustment of status based on that. I will fill in the timeline now.. we registered last year but can't remember our account name so I re-joined today. I will fill in the visa timeline now.

Also, the doctor I spoke to said that the I-693 included having to have blood teste done.. but I had all that done already in England! Just feels like they are trying to maximise their profit!

Oh, ok, now I can help you lol.

Your medical when adjusting from a K status is good for one year. Do not let the doctor's office tell you otherwise because yes, some are just trying to maximise profit! At your medical back in your home country, your doctor should have given you a copy of a form with all your vaccinations on it. Take that to the designated civil surgeon and get him to transfer the info onto a I-693A. Unfortunately, prices can range from as little as 10 to 150 dollars, call around and price shop. Most of the good ones are farther away. We had to drive 2 and half hours just for ours.

Out of curiosity, did you not submit you vaccination supplement when filing for AOS?

Edited June 20, 2006 by Stina

[Canuck Carrie 1]

When was your medical in the UK?

Since you have gotten as far as the interview without receiving a RFE for the I-693A vaccination supplement, you might be okay. The choice is yours, either go to your interview without it and they won't ask for it, go to the interview without it and they will ask for it, delaying the issuance of the green card until you get the supplement done or get it done before the interview and it may or may not be asked for. I know that isn't a concrete answer but there really isn't one, it's whatever chance you're willing to take. You will need to bring all your vaccination records and/or the DS-3025 (I *think* that's the form) that was issued to you by the UK doctor to the US Civil Surgeon for your vaccination supplement I-693A.

Edited June 20, 2006 by Canuck Carrie

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You do not need to have more blood work or a new medical. Your existing medical from England will be sufficient. Since you have had all of your vaccinations, there will be a notation on your medical that you have completed the necessary vaccinations. I know on my worksheet the doctor recorded that I may qualify for a waiver. I went ahead and got the I-693A to bring with me to my interview and included the photocopy of the worksheet with my AOS application. My application was transferred to California and approved without an interview so I never had to submit the vaccination supplement.

Basically, I see two options for you: you can go and pay the $125 for the vaccination supplement prior to the interview (and try to avoid them talking you into getting additional stuff you don't need), or go to the interview without the supplement but take the letter from the English doctor (I assume he was the one approved by immigration to do the medicals) and if asked, present that. The worst that can happen is that they will defer on a decision at that time pending your submission of the I-693A and you can go and get it done at that time. The best that can happen is that they won't require further evidence of your proof of immunization since you are all up to date and the medical they have will state that. Only you can decide which course of action to pursue depending up your level of comfort. Good luck

Edited June 20, 2006 by Kathryn41

[Tinkerbell24 0]

Deary me. Blooming confusing isn't it! So much of it seems to be that we could get lucky and not even get asked for it or get unlucky and delay the GC even further. I don't have a copy of the medical... I had to hand it over to the US customs when I came to the US in August. If I called the nuffield in London that did my medical would they have a copy to fax me? I thought the only copy was the one I submitted to the US government at my Port of entry (Washington DC).

Incidentaly, I have now found 6 listed civil surgeons in our town.. i looked it up wrong the first time.. my husband just phoned them and was told that they only fill in the vaccination supplement if I have a full medical (costing between $250 and $350...) as it is their 'office policy'. How frustrating! He has phoned 5 out of the 6 so far... the one charging $125 just for filling in the form, and 4 others who only fill the form in if In pay for a full medical. So with just one more to try I don't much fancy our chances of finding one that isn't a rude con artist. They all say they 'understand our situation, but its office policy to do a full medical! Grr!

[philiphotog 0]

Deary me. Blooming confusing isn't it! So much of it seems to be that we could get lucky and not even get asked for it or get unlucky and delay the GC even further. I don't have a copy of the medical... I had to hand it over to the US customs when I came to the US in August. If I called the nuffield in London that did my medical would they have a copy to fax me? I thought the only copy was the one I submitted to the US government at my Port of entry (Washington DC).

Incidentaly, I have now found 6 listed civil surgeons in our town.. i looked it up wrong the first time.. my husband just phoned them and was told that they only fill in the vaccination supplement if I have a full medical (costing between $250 and $350...) as it is their 'office policy'. How frustrating! He has phoned 5 out of the 6 so far... the one charging $125 just for filling in the form, and 4 others who only fill the form in if In pay for a full medical. So with just one more to try I don't much fancy our chances of finding one that isn't a rude con artist. They all say they 'understand our situation, but its office policy to do a full medical! Grr!

Call Nuffield Hospital and ask them to fax it to you today. I ddid the same thing a few months ago.

Cheers,

Philip

[Reba 2]

I was not asked for anything about my medical exam at my AOS interview. Its all already been sumbitted to USCIS when we arrive with that sealed envelope.

Honestly, if they haven't sent you an RFE for medical information required, then I doubt they'll ask for it at the interview. Usually the only thing that'll hold up a GC from the interview is FBI name checks. I've never seen anyone mention being asked for further medical information at their interview.

[Heracles 417]

Have you tried the following doctor?

Dr. Ashok Patel

2015 Monument Avenue

Richmond, VA 23220

Tel: (804)353-4703

Edited June 20, 2006 by haza

[CWR 0]

Incidentaly, I have now found 6 listed civil surgeons in our town.. i looked it up wrong the first time.. my husband just phoned them and was told that they only fill in the vaccination supplement if I have a full medical (costing between $250 and $350...) as it is their 'office policy'. How frustrating! He has phoned 5 out of the 6 so far... the one charging $125 just for filling in the form, and 4 others who only fill the form in if In pay for a full medical. So with just one more to try I don't much fancy our chances of finding one that isn't a rude con artist. They all say they 'understand our situation, but its office policy to do a full medical! Grr!

I had exactly the same problem, all but one of the 8 doctors on my list refused to fill out form I-693a.

Finally I found one who did (for $ 65, which by then I can tell you I was more than glad to pay )

You might want to try other cities that are close to your hometown....I had to drive for over an hour each way as well

Good luck,

CW

[frndly1 1]

Im sorry Tinker, I think you should provide what is requested when you filed for the AOS. If you dont have a copy of the vaccination record from your home country then be prepared to pay the top price. They can do a blood test to see if you are ammuned to certain things. They will test you for HIV and a few other things. I know no one wants to get up off the money but I would suggest that you do what the AOS process requires. You can only fight for what they asked for if you submitted what they required. If you dont submitt then you have nothing to fight about. I am not sure how long you have been here but your physical back home is only good for some many months.

I wish you luck on getting everything done and interview.

Kathy