Vaccination supplement / I-693 ???

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think you may be making this a bigger deal than it really is. Is there anywhere on the USCIS site that says that you have to take the medication based solely on a positive skin test?

After reading the previously posted info and the USCIS site, it looks like as long as the xray is clear it's up to the doctor to recommend a course of treatment. It seems like if you have a negative x-ray then the meds may be optional.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/lofivers...hp/t158953.html

I belive it's up to the Civil Surgeon to make the determination. I also think many of them don't keep up with their guidelines and might reccommend anything. I know somebody that this happened to within the past month in the Atlanta area.

These are the guidelines on Tuberculosis (42 pages). http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/civil_surgeons_ti.pdf

For a TST reaction equal to/greater than 10mm, a referral to the health department or a TB specialist is reccommended.

[cartman1417 0]

from what i've read so far, if the reaction is 5mm or bigger...you HAVE to take the 6 or 9 month medication even if ur x-ray is clear.....and the worst thing is those antibiotics are so strong, they pose a chance of damaging ur liver...

so i'm just gonna get the prescription, get the medication and ...............oops! they fell out of my hand every time i tried to take them!!!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Cartman--you said a Civil Surgeon did your TST. So did he follow up with an x-ray and did he clear you? Or did he put down the recommendation that pills were required? It's up to him whether you were okayed for AOS and he shouldn't have signed off on the I-693 if he didn't clear you.

The link to the TB instructions I gave earlier say 5mm reaction then do a chest x-ray. But a 10 mm reaction they recommend referal to a TB specialist or the health department. Page 18 of TUBERCULOSIS COMPONENT OF TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF ALIENS IN THE UNITED STATES

The health department TB Control Program will determine whether the applicant has TB disease and needs treatment. For applicants requiring referral, the civil surgeon must not classify, issue medical clearance for TB, or sign the I-693 form until the applicant returns from the local health department with documentation of the results of his or her TB evaluation. A diagnosis of infectious pulmonary TB disease (Class A) will prevent immediate medical clearance for TB. Applicants diagnosed with Class A pulmonary TB disease must complete a recommended course of treatment (minimum of 6 months) before the civil surgeon can medically clear them for TB for the purposes of USCIS.

[cartman1417 0]

ya...when my TST was positive 10mm, CS asked me to get chest x-ray done...so i did that and it was negative....actually, i had a BCG vaccine when i was a kid...so maybe tht's the reason for positive TST....

but later after my x=ray was negative, the CS still referred me to health department...i have an appointment coming tuesday....so lets see wht they say....