Fed up with civil surgeons in your area? Tell someone!

[Terri and Seb 0]

Like many of you, we had horrible, horrible experiences with civil surgeons in our area. Not only were the two in this city unkind and patronizing, they had no idea what procedures they are meant to operate under while performing civil surgeon duties. Instead, they insist we all pay for the full exam, vaccines we don't even need, outrageous paperwork fees all the while not having a clue what current regulations state.

While Dr. Arnold performs a great service at a fair price, it's absolutely ridiculous that we all have to mail our papers to Texas in order to have someone listen to us.

After a civil surgeon in my city screamed, "We do things our own way, 'round here!" and told us to take our business elsewhere when we showed him the current I-693 instructions, we decided to file a formal complaint. I'm not sure if they'll actually do anything about it, but it makes me feel better to know I've tried.

We called the number below and explained, in detail, how the civil surgeon failed to adhere to the guidelines set forth by USCIS. The man on the phone said he did not personally deal with these matters, but he transcribed them and sent them to the appropriate office (wherever that is). He even gave us a case number and told us within a month, we could fill out a "freedom of information" paper and see what had been done about our complaint.

I truly feel that if enough of us start speaking up about this, more attention will be brought to this issue. It's all well and good that we can use Dr. Arnold for now, but with new TB regulations being brought forth- that won't be an option for many people in the future since he refuses to transcribe TB results.

I highly encourage you all to contact them and gripe!

Office of the Inspector General

US Department of Justice

Investigations Division

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Room 4706

Washington, DC 20530

Fax: (202)-616-9898

e-mail: oig.hotline@usdoj.gov

phone: 1-800-869-4499

[Carlawarla 1]

Like many of you, we had horrible, horrible experiences with civil surgeons in our area. Not only were the two in this city unkind and patronizing, they had no idea what procedures they are meant to operate under while performing civil surgeon duties. Instead, they insist we all pay for the full exam, vaccines we don't even need, outrageous paperwork fees all the while not having a clue what current regulations state.

While Dr. Arnold performs a great service at a fair price, it's absolutely ridiculous that we all have to mail our papers to Texas in order to have someone listen to us.

After a civil surgeon in my city screamed, "We do things our own way, 'round here!" and told us to take our business elsewhere when we showed him the current I-693 instructions, we decided to file a formal complaint. I'm not sure if they'll actually do anything about it, but it makes me feel better to know I've tried.

We called the number below and explained, in detail, how the civil surgeon failed to adhere to the guidelines set forth by USCIS. The man on the phone said he did not personally deal with these matters, but he transcribed them and sent them to the appropriate office (wherever that is). He even gave us a case number and told us within a month, we could fill out a "freedom of information" paper and see what had been done about our complaint.

I truly feel that if enough of us start speaking up about this, more attention will be brought to this issue. It's all well and good that we can use Dr. Arnold for now, but with new TB regulations being brought forth- that won't be an option for many people in the future since he refuses to transcribe TB results.

I highly encourage you all to contact them and gripe!

Office of the Inspector General

US Department of Justice

Investigations Division

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Room 4706

Washington, DC 20530

Fax: (202)-616-9898

e-mail: oig.hotline@usdoj.gov

phone: 1-800-869-4499

I had no problems or hassles with this issue when I was undergoing my journey, however I have heard horrible stories about others. How awesome that you took the time to look into this and post this!! I think it's an excellent idea and hope others with these issues will make the time to contact them as well.

[AngelSaint 0]

there's one here in las Vegas too who required us to have physical exam other than completing vaccination supplement. Me and my husband was really fustrated about this since we couldn't find good civil surgeon who could transcribe my vaccination to form I-693. They don't know the instruction about this form. So, right now, we decided to attend first my interview and do the I-693 if the console will require me to do so or if they can recommend a surgeon for us.

[tinkerbelluk 0]

same issues here in florida, my husband is livid as it meant we ended up putting our AOS in 6 weeks later just because we had to get the vaccination part done. we are writing a letter and will be sending it to a few people, including our local congressman.

[rebeccajo 14]

Welcome to healthcare in the US. Doctors aren't employees of a trust and they don't like being told what to do.

[Brit Abroad 166]

Welcome to healthcare in the US. Doctors aren't employees of a trust and they don't like being told what to do.

Which is somewhat unfortunate for them, as they are legally mandated to behave in a certain manner while they are under licence as Civil Surgeons.

Thanks for the post, OP, I hope it encourages a few more people to register their complaints about the quality of a government specified service.

[rebeccajo 14]

Welcome to healthcare in the US. Doctors aren't employees of a trust and they don't like being told what to do.

Which is somewhat unfortunate for them, as they are legally mandated to behave in a certain manner while they are under licence as Civil Surgeons.

Thanks for the post, OP, I hope it encourages a few more people to register their complaints about the quality of a government specified service.

Oh, I'm not saying you shouldn't report them. I'm just saying don't necessarily expect the same result in the US as you might expect in the UK.

[*Giuly and Rocky* 0]

I had to call sevaral CS before finding the one that excactly knew what needed to be done! The other one all told me I either was going to take the medical exam again for $ 400 (!!) or they were not going to sign the paper!Fortunatly here in Colorado Springs we have multiple choices. I wish I knew how to report them too! I think you did great to report him!!!

[TwoTravelers 0]

Good job reporting that CS. We had a terrible time where we are in Chicago to find an honest civil surgeon. But we called around so many times and to the same people asking tons of questions until we became totally annoying but found an honest CS's office that did the transfer of 3025 to the I-693 for $20, any additional vaccines were extra. My husband just needed one, the Tdap. One thing that helped us though from avoiding the full medical was probably that we brought with us the instructions for the I693 and showed them the part where it says a K-1 visa does not need to repeat the full medical.

I don't think that civil surgeon's are required to keep up to date with the rules and laws so they just do what they want assuming that "WE" don't know what we are doing, and then they make money.

Well anyway good luck to everyone!

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

This is my impression of CS's in general. They became licensed because they saw the opportunity to make decent money thru medicals. However its not very cost effective for them to do the v. supplements. They consider it a hassle that wastes appointments for their regular patients. Therefore they push ppl away. We too had a poor experience in CA. The doctor charged $60 then started nickel and diming like "I need copies of your records for my file" so he has his nurse make the copies and right above copier it says "All copies - $20". Luckly his staff hated him and they knocked some stuff off when he left the room.

I'll admit my guy was a serious idiot. I found out that in the 80's he spoke at the international HIV conference and began ranting that ppl with HIV should be expelled from communities to form there own colonies.

[ikarus 1]

We went thru the same problem in the Houston area; I have a list of about 10 doctors I called and all of them wanted to do a physical, and do vaccines even though my wife already had them; at one place i told them the guidelines just like you did, but their response was, 'we get a lot of fake documents here, so we have to make sure we do it all to comply...' At least they had a legit excuse...

[TBoneTX 46,216]

their response was, 'we get a lot of fake documents here, so we have to make sure we do it all to comply...' At least they had a legit excuse...

That's more believable than most, but still weak. I believe that the civil surgeons are either woefully or willfully ignorant of the rules, for reasons that others have stated.

[rachbel 2]

their response was, 'we get a lot of fake documents here, so we have to make sure we do it all to comply...' At least they had a legit excuse...

That's more believable than most, but still weak. I believe that the civil surgeons are either woefully or willfully ignorant of the rules, for reasons that others have stated.

hi,

I`ve had the same problem here in california, i called around 20 civil surgeon here and none give me a reasonable price and all want to re do a full physical exam and vaccin, the cheap price was 130.Dollars. i decide not to make the supplement vaccin and just wait till interview and see what will happen, if necessary i`ll do it at a clinic then file to Doctor Arnold, if someone heard about a good doctor in southern california especialy Orange county area please let me know.and i`ll report those doctors for sure just like the poster did. Thank you.

[mikeandjoana 1]

Oh i'm looking for a civiil surgeon now also? Anyone here knows anyone from Long island NY. I called one from Sayville yesterday but the secretary doesnt know about it so she asked me to call back today and talk to the doctor. Because the doctor who does it is not working there anymore.;(

[Clarity 0]

For those of you in the Metro Atlanta area DO NOT make any appointments with Dr. Christie in Tucker, GA for your vaccination supplement. He will not sign the vaccine suppliment paperwork only. He tried to force me to take the full examination which costed $595 and after I showed him in black and white that USCIS advised a full medical was not required, he continually insisted stating it was within my "best interest!" Lucky for me I called USCIS to verify what was written in the instructions for the I-485 and the lady I spoke to confirmed that I was not requied to do a full medical as I already had one before I moved to the US. That medical is valid for one year. USCIS was able to provide me the number to another doctor in Atlanta who knew what I was talking about and only charded $89 to transcribe my vaccination info on the form. Concentra Urgent Care, Dr. Armenia, she's the best. Great staff who are very nice. I will DEFINITELY be lodging a complaint against Dr. Christie as he admitted he charges all his immigration patients the $595 to have a full medical which is not necessary! I can bet you that a majority of them do not have English as their first language. How disgusting of someone such as himself who calls himself a doctor!!!