AOS Filers: December 2009

[NatPatBen 3]

We finally were able to see updates on the online status system. While thankful for that, it wasn't exactly what we wanted to see. We got the dreaded RFE. I just know it has to do with the medical even if went sent in the I-693. What are others doing when they get an RFE even if the medical exam was done within a year and the I-693 was transcribed by a civil surgeon. I'm trying to research while waiting to receive the RFE in the mail.

Thanks.

The thing NOT to do: Send them a letter saying why you don't need to comply with the RFE (even if your letter is true and even if USCIS advises you to do this).

One guy did that and his application was denied for failing to provide the requested evidence. He just started a thread about it today.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=237821

[Wis-Can 0]

The thing NOT to do: Send them a letter saying why you don't need to comply with the RFE (even if your letter is true and even if USCIS advises you to do this).

One guy did that and his application was denied for failing to provide the requested evidence. He just started a thread about it today.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=237821

Actually the lady I spoke to at the 1-800 number told me to send a letter long with the I-693 vacc transcript. Telling me that its a form letter and whoever is working on my case may have just grabbed the wrong letter to send not realizing I was a K-1. So I sent it. But the next day called and got transferred to an immigration officer who said, he couldn't see anything yet..basically that they just received it. I had to tell him I got an RFE and a biometrics appt. He put me on hold for a few minutes and said that they may not have my I-693 at all, to just go get another one done! We talked for a bit more and then told me to wait and see if they request it again. They may have it and just not recorded yet. ARRGGHHHH!!!! Can you tell that I am frustrated.

[JLP9576 0]

Nat,

Thanks for sharing that. I just have a strong feeling the RFE is about the medical. It's just so hard to know what to do. Our biometrics is scheduled for the 28th and we have to go to New Orleans which is 3 1/2 hours away so I have to take a day off of work for that. We used Dr. Arnold. If we have to see another civil surgeon the only one closest to us is over an hour away. I just have to see how much he charges. If he charges too much then we'll have to go further and another day off work. It's just hard with having to take off of work and its my busiest time of year. Sorry, don't mean to complain but I just need to vent. Hopefully, it'll all work out.

Thanks.

[Wis-Can 0]

Nat,

Thanks for sharing that. I just have a strong feeling the RFE is about the medical. It's just so hard to know what to do. Our biometrics is scheduled for the 28th and we have to go to New Orleans which is 3 1/2 hours away so I have to take a day off of work for that. We used Dr. Arnold. If we have to see another civil surgeon the only one closest to us is over an hour away. I just have to see how much he charges. If he charges too much then we'll have to go further and another day off work. It's just hard with having to take off of work and its my busiest time of year. Sorry, don't mean to complain but I just need to vent. Hopefully, it'll all work out.

Thanks.

Oh your not complaining, your just frustrated like many of us. I was just going to go get a complete medical done again. (About 2 hrs away). I already responded to our RFE but we are expecting another one. The CS won't do it until I get the RFE letter which sucks cause he's booking appts 3-4 weeks out for medicals. So it just prolongs the wait. I should have just had the new complete medical done. Crazy me thought the one I already had done by their US designated CS was actually done correctly. See...venting is good...it makes a person feel better!

[Cereza 1]

Yup, Dr. Arnold retired. The office just called me. :bonk:

[Wis-Can 0]

I had sent to mine to Dr. Arnold, but after I had it in my hands, reading the RFE's for the vacc. trans. we decided to take the two hour drive to get it done here in Wisconsin.

[NatPatBen 3]

Nat,

Thanks for sharing that. I just have a strong feeling the RFE is about the medical. It's just so hard to know what to do. Our biometrics is scheduled for the 28th and we have to go to New Orleans which is 3 1/2 hours away so I have to take a day off of work for that. We used Dr. Arnold. If we have to see another civil surgeon the only one closest to us is over an hour away. I just have to see how much he charges. If he charges too much then we'll have to go further and another day off work. It's just hard with having to take off of work and its my busiest time of year. Sorry, don't mean to complain but I just need to vent. Hopefully, it'll all work out.

Thanks.

That 3.5 hour drive does not sound fun at all. Perhaps see if you can schedule it on a Friday afternoon & make a vacation out of it by hanging out in New Orleans for the weekend. Even if you don't, tell New Orleans "Hi" for me, as that's where I'm from.

Oh your not complaining, your just frustrated like many of us. I was just going to go get a complete medical done again. (About 2 hrs away). I already responded to our RFE but we are expecting another one. The CS won't do it until I get the RFE letter which sucks cause he's booking appts 3-4 weeks out for medicals. So it just prolongs the wait. I should have just had the new complete medical done. Crazy me thought the one I already had done by their US designated CS was actually done correctly. See...venting is good...it makes a person feel better!

There isn't a closer CS? Even if he or she charges more, it may be worth it to save on the drive time & if they can do it sooner.

Hearing how far away the CS's are from you two makes me REALLY appreciate that the CS we went to was 1.2 miles away, and available an hour after I first called her. :: ducks from flying shoes ::

[firdaus 0]

That 3.5 hour drive does not sound fun at all. Perhaps see if you can schedule it on a Friday afternoon & make a vacation out of it by hanging out in New Orleans for the weekend. Even if you don't, tell New Orleans "Hi" for me, as that's where I'm from.

There isn't a closer CS? Even if he or she charges more, it may be worth it to save on the drive time & if they can do it sooner.

Hearing how far away the CS's are from you two makes me REALLY appreciate that the CS we went to was 1.2 miles away, and available an hour after I first called her. :: ducks from flying shoes ::

hey guys got an email form USCIS and card production was orderd for the work authorization card and the travel document was approved!!!!!!!!!! 1 step closer

hey guys got an email form USCIS and card production was orderd for the work authorization card and the travel document was approved!!!!!!!!!! 1 step closer

sorry natpatben i replied to your post accedently

[attaya_girl 1]

hey guys got an email form USCIS and card production was orderd for the work authorization card and the travel document was approved!!!!!!!!!! 1 step closer

hey guys got an email form USCIS and card production was orderd for the work authorization card and the travel document was approved!!!!!!!!!! 1 step closer

sorry natpatben i replied to your post accedently

That's awesome! Congratulations! I'm calling around for a CS today. Hopefully can get in soon!

[eltemp 2]

We finally were able to see updates on the online status system. While thankful for that, it wasn't exactly what we wanted to see. We got the dreaded RFE. I just know it has to do with the medical even if went sent in the I-693. What are others doing when they get an RFE even if the medical exam was done within a year and the I-693 was transcribed by a civil surgeon. I'm trying to research while waiting to receive the RFE in the mail.

Thanks.

Hey JPL9576 did you send the I-693 filled out by a CS here in the US with parts 2, 3, and 5...and still got an RFE?

[Lisa and Ian 7]

Receipt of our i-693 (RFE'd) mailing was ack as received in the MO Service Center today. Yay!

[JLP9576 0]

Hey JPL9576 did you send the I-693 filled out by a CS here in the US with parts 2, 3, and 5...and still got an RFE?

I'm not certain what our RFE is about but I have a strong feeling it's for the medical part since that's mostly why everyone is receiving the RFEs recently. We only had the vaccination part done by a civil surgeon, Dr. Arnold, since he had his medical exam done within one year.

[Nik+Heather 121]

I am still strongly undecided about what we will do with the RFE (as opposed to completely decided to send it in with proof that we did in fact comply).

Anyway, all the things that I am hearing are still to respond with evidence that it was completed within a year. I'm having a hard time sorting out all of the 'we LOST your medical' RFEs from the 'We can't read dates' (apparently only on the medical!) RFEs like mine. I've been in contact with the immigration specialist with one of the senator's offices, and they also confirmed the letter with the evidence we complied already with the requirements was the way to go - but to ADD ON a congressional inquiry for follow-up. I'd do it today, but the guy I talked with hadn't heard of people having this issue lately (??!), so I'm not sure how much he knows at all.

[TheCockyLockies 2]

I am still strongly undecided about what we will do with the RFE (as opposed to completely decided to send it in with proof that we did in fact comply).

Anyway, all the things that I am hearing are still to respond with evidence that it was completed within a year. I'm having a hard time sorting out all of the 'we LOST your medical' RFEs from the 'We can't read dates' (apparently only on the medical!) RFEs like mine. I've been in contact with the immigration specialist with one of the senator's offices, and they also confirmed the letter with the evidence we complied already with the requirements was the way to go - but to ADD ON a congressional inquiry for follow-up. I'd do it today, but the guy I talked with hadn't heard of people having this issue lately (??!), so I'm not sure how much he knows at all.

Would an infopass work? I've read here that it may be better to talk to someone from USCIS face to face regarding your case.

[Wis-Can 0]

That 3.5 hour drive does not sound fun at all. Perhaps see if you can schedule it on a Friday afternoon & make a vacation out of it by hanging out in New Orleans for the weekend. Even if you don't, tell New Orleans "Hi" for me, as that's where I'm from.

There isn't a closer CS? Even if he or she charges more, it may be worth it to save on the drive time & if they can do it sooner.

Hearing how far away the CS's are from you two makes me REALLY appreciate that the CS we went to was 1.2 miles away, and available an hour after I first called her. :: ducks from flying shoes ::

There is NatPatBen, about an hour away but after a 20 minute phone call and an estimated, I believe she said, anywhere from $400-$1000 depending on what all was done, I decided against it. The receptionist sounded like she was reading off of a script. You have to have blood work for and she rambled off about 5 or 6 different things. There was only one that was actually required to be done. I told her that HIV is no longer required so I wouldn't need that one and I already had it done in Montreal. She said, We don't comply to what you want done. Then she said they would not accept my TB skin test from the local hospital, nor would they accept shots given anywhere else. So you can see there was no talking to this woman. She said it takes three days for the blood work results, TB skin tests and...the pap test. What???? pap test....I said no, that is not a requirement of the medical. She replied very sharply, "again, we don't bend the rules for the applicant" to which ticked me off enough to say, "actually I am not asking you to break the rules, just comply with them." and hung up. If they are required then fine, but I don't want to pay for something that I don't need to have done. Hence the reason in going to the other CS. He's a 10. I went to him for my Vacc transcription and he question just having to do the vacc portion and I showed him the instructions and he said, oh ok, well then if that's what they want. And had no problems doing what I asked.