Call to confirm an apointment... Always!

[Kittyfang 6]

Just a little bit of wisdom I almost had to learn to hard way. I was supposed to have my CS appointment a few days ago. That morning, I decided to call to make sure I had the right address. The receptionist was very confused when I told her it was for a CS appointment. "Mmm, but this doctor they scheduled you with... He doesn't do Immigration Medicals." So, I rescheduled for the following week, only to realize that I would only have 45 minutes to get from the Bus station, to the hospital, do the physical, get the paperwork, grab a taxi back to the bus station... And if the appointment is late, then it would mean me sleeping in the bus terminal. No thanks. So, I finally got one for the end of the month.

At this point, I'm really tempted to just mail my paperwork and send them the medical when they send me an RFE (not really, but I've waited for so long that I have no patience left in me).

Anyway, the moral of the story is Call to quadruple check that your appointment is with the right person at the right time.

[Tick Tock 3]

Kittyfang, I'm sorry to hear the trouble you've had with trying to get to the CS. I am glad that you were able to get an appointment done, but am baffled that they scheduled you to see someone who doesn't even do immigration medicals!

The last time I called around to find a CS, the receptionist told me there was no way they could calculate a fee - even though I could have and was willing to furnish any information they'd need to calculate. If there was some sort of policy they had that prevented them from giving such information, I certainly was not made aware of it!

The closest CS to me is also about an hour away but I've no means of transportation aside from relying on someone else to take me. I'm glad you avoided the headache of a pointless 2 hour commute.

Best wishes to you - glad to hear that you're able to move forward!

We're still in the "saving money" stage, with ITIN/amending taxes as step 1.

[Kittyfang 6]

Kittyfang, I'm sorry to hear the trouble you've had with trying to get to the CS. I am glad that you were able to get an appointment done, but am baffled that they scheduled you to see someone who doesn't even do immigration medicals!

The last time I called around to find a CS, the receptionist told me there was no way they could calculate a fee - even though I could have and was willing to furnish any information they'd need to calculate. If there was some sort of policy they had that prevented them from giving such information, I certainly was not made aware of it!

The closest CS to me is also about an hour away but I've no means of transportation aside from relying on someone else to take me. I'm glad you avoided the headache of a pointless 2 hour commute.

Best wishes to you - glad to hear that you're able to move forward!

We're still in the "saving money" stage, with ITIN/amending taxes as step 1.

Hi Tick Tock!

The ITIN application requires a copy of your passport and it has to be notarized (I'm saying this, because we had an "RFE" from IRS requesting a motorized copy and I'm just hoping to save you some time if you haven't mail it in yet. :-) ) Oh, also, the bus ticket, for me, round-trip is about $39, which I think is cheaper than actually driving there in our own car. hehe

Can you use Greyhound buses to go to the CS? We live in a small town, so the closest bus station is about 30 minutes away in the closest "bigger town". Still faster and less of a headache than having my husband drive me to the CS and trying to figure out our way in the big city.

As for the cost, my CS's receptionist wouldn't quote me anything, but she said that it was the doctor's call. The conversation went a little like this:

- The physical is $100, plus whatever else you may need.

- Ok, well, I've already had my T.B. test done, blood work done (syphilis only, remember, they don't test for AIDS anymore, so there's $50 saved. ), received my Tdap and MMR shots... Is there anything else he may need?

- Oh well... I can't say, that'll be his decision.

- Ok... I'll just bring $500 and hope I don't get mugged!

*edit*

LOL! I just saw a typo but a refuse to correct it! A "motorized copy" is way more entertaining than "notarized"!

Edited August 6, 2010 by Kittyfang

[juliava 80]

Kitty, when is your appointment?Is everything else ready to go?Hopefully you will be filing SOON!

[Tick Tock 3]

Hi Tick Tock!

The ITIN application requires a copy of your passport and it has to be notarized (I'm saying this, because we had an "RFE" from IRS requesting a motorized copy and I'm just hoping to save you some time if you haven't mail it in yet. :-) ) Oh, also, the bus ticket, for me, round-trip is about $39, which I think is cheaper than actually driving there in our own car. hehe

Can you use Greyhound buses to go to the CS? We live in a small town, so the closest bus station is about 30 minutes away in the closest "bigger town". Still faster and less of a headache than having my husband drive me to the CS and trying to figure out our way in the big city.

As for the cost, my CS's receptionist wouldn't quote me anything, but she said that it was the doctor's call. The conversation went a little like this:

- The physical is $100, plus whatever else you may need.

- Ok, well, I've already had my T.B. test done, blood work done (syphilis only, remember, they don't test for AIDS anymore, so there's $50 saved. ), received my Tdap and MMR shots... Is there anything else he may need?

- Oh well... I can't say, that'll be his decision.

- Ok... I'll just bring $500 and hope I don't get mugged!

*edit*

LOL! I just saw a typo but a refuse to correct it! A "motorized copy" is way more entertaining than "notarized"!

I am sorry - I did not realize you replied to me and am now getting back to this thread rather late.

I think we are going to go the route of H&R block for the ITIN. I'm just waiting on my husband, and he is waiting on getting time to go. Just a waiting game right now. :\

It sounded like your CS's receptionist was saying "oh, it's at the CS's whim as to what he'll charge." As if, were he to be in a foul mood on the day X person has an appointment, he'd charge X person that much more. Were I a receptionist, I'd ask the CS and make a little fee chart to keep by my desk to offer approximations. Maybe that's just too much common sense? Maybe it breaks rules? There's no telling.

We're nowhere near having any sort of lump of cash, so I'll definitely be trying to get more information out of whomever I speak with when I get to setting up an appointment.

The closest Greyhound pickup location is 1 town over. Greyhound does not go to the town in which the closest CS is located - that CS being an hour away. The next closest CS I could find, located in a city Greyhound goes to... the trips range from 3 hours to 6 hours in 1 direction and would cost roughly $80. I imagine it would be double the time and fee for a round-trip fare. This is just by using today as a test parameter for search results.

I'm so glad you didn't have too much trouble getting to your CS!