Wow - Civil Surgeon hoopla

[Bernie C 24]

Glad I called them both - there are a whole 2 civil surgeons in great big Erie, PA.

What a difference! I called the first one one the list and they said the first appointment for immigration purposes available was in August

So I called the second one - and wow was I suprised. 1st the woman said a two day appointment was required and I thought uh oh, here we go! Then I explained that my wife immigrated on a K-1 fiancee visa, had her medical at the IOM by a panel physician, we recently got married and we only needed to have the vaccinations recorded on the I-693.

The she said - oh ok, well you dont even need an appointment for that. Just call ahead and make sure the doctor is here, bring her vaccination records and ID and we will fill out the forms for you.

Now I am a little gun shy - could it be that easy!

We just finished up Doan's vaccinations and hoping to avoid all the nightmare Civil Surgeon stories!

Wish us luck!!!!!!!!!!

[RUSSandRACHEL 3]

Good luck! Russ has spent all day calling them in New Jersey and New York. Cheapest was $100 and most say 'they dont do it without the full medical'. Cheeky! Still on the hunt...

[belinda63 3,047]

Yes it can be that easy. We pretty much just made an appointment paid our $25 and walked out with the paperwork 20 minutes later. You got soooooo lucky to find this CS.

[Nik+Heather 121]

Just be sure you are on the look out the whole way through the process. We thought we had found someone reasonable, and then they went and signed part SIX instead of part FIVE! Others tell stories of getting there, getting done, and then being charged a lot more money. Sort of hype yourself up like you're going to buy a car. On the look out for sneaky things, and ready to walk out at any moment!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

** moved from "Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from Family Based Visas" to "Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports" as the prior forum is for questions and this one is for updates/progress**

[Missa 0]

you guys are lucky : / there's only one doctor in the grand traverse area in Michigan. all the rest are WAYYY over in Detroit which is like a 6 hour drive. i was charged a 225$ visit AND they made me get a skin TB test even though i had my x-ray.

sigh, i'll be glad when this government hoop jumping game is over with.

[Bernie C 24]

Just be sure you are on the look out the whole way through the process. We thought we had found someone reasonable, and then they went and signed part SIX instead of part FIVE! Others tell stories of getting there, getting done, and then being charged a lot more money. Sort of hype yourself up like you're going to buy a car. On the look out for sneaky things, and ready to walk out at any moment!

yes I remember when that happened to you guys and I have it noted to check and verify. I also printed all the instructions for vaccinations and the I-693 etc.. and highlighted all the areas I have read where others had issues so I am prepared to address them.

Fortunately my mom also happens to be very familiar with the doctor so we will also take her along as a friendly face! Sometimes its nice to live in a relatively small town where a familiar face can make a difference!

Looks like we'll be going next week so I'll let you all know how it goes!

Thanks for your advice and support!

[katie & sifa 25]

Just be sure you are on the look out the whole way through the process. We thought we had found someone reasonable, and then they went and signed part SIX instead of part FIVE! Others tell stories of getting there, getting done, and then being charged a lot more money. Sort of hype yourself up like you're going to buy a car. On the look out for sneaky things, and ready to walk out at any moment!

Ha, I had to laugh when I read this - we went to the civil surgeon yesterday, and you're right...it definitely reminded me of negotiating with a car salesman!

As a note, be prepared to spend more than what they tell you on the phone, or to leave and try to find someone else if you aren't willing to do that. We drove all the way over to Fort Worth because over the phone they said $35 transcription fee plus the fees for the TWO vaccines he needed. We get there and they say he actually needs FOUR vaccines even though the other two say completed on his vaccination records from Kenya. Baffling. They also tried to make him get a full medical exam even though he didn't need it because we didn't have the paperwork with us (DUH!) They wound up NOT doing the medical exam but I ended up paying for the other 2 vaccines. Be prepared to haggle

Edited May 6, 2010 by katie & sifa

[MRStee 19]

Good luck! Russ has spent all day calling them in New Jersey and New York. Cheapest was $100 and most say 'they dont do it without the full medical'. Cheeky! Still on the hunt...

We did ours in Phila., PA only cost $35 to transcribe... no medical no shots. Look under "civil surgeons who don't rip you off" someone made a wiki page of doctors everywhere. I posted the one Im talking about above.

[K and L 27]

Just be sure you are on the look out the whole way through the process. We thought we had found someone reasonable, and then they went and signed part SIX instead of part FIVE! Others tell stories of getting there, getting done, and then being charged a lot more money. Sort of hype yourself up like you're going to buy a car. On the look out for sneaky things, and ready to walk out at any moment!

That's why I thought there should be a civil surgeon review here on VJ! I was talking to one of the other Brazilian couples, and their physician made them basically totally redo it, instead of just do the vaccinations (including redoing the XRay, because he didn't understand the document!)

[CDAgirlMI 51]

you guys are lucky : / there's only one doctor in the grand traverse area in Michigan. all the rest are WAYYY over in Detroit which is like a 6 hour drive. i was charged a 225$ visit AND they made me get a skin TB test even though i had my x-ray.

sigh, i'll be glad when this government hoop jumping game is over with.

I went to one in Plymouth & I had to get the TB skin test as well.

[RUSSandRACHEL 3]

My appointment is all set with Dr Noel Smith in Manhattan next month. They really tried the hard sell with Russ apparently and cut him short and started going on about having the full medical. They quoted $50 ('and up' apparently) but once he said we're only coming to you as you've personally been recommended to us and all paperwork is in order, they then agreed to the $50. Hope it goes smoothly!