I-693 Immunization series RFE?

[Engineer81 0]

My wife received her injections at a local health dept. in the US. We had an appointment with a Civil Surgeon on Monday (yes we had to pay for a full exam $100). Just one day later and they call us to inform us that she needs 3 Tetanus injections. She had the first one with in the same round as the others just 2 weeks ago. According to the CS nurse, we should wait 2 weeks to get the 2nd dose of tetanus before they seal the I-693. We have 4 weeks left to submit our AOS. The CS nurse also mentioned that we will receive a RFE for not having the 3rd dose of Tetanus. She says that will have to get the last dose in 6 months and then submit that data to USCIS.

I have been reading on the CDC website's 2009 instructions for Civil Surgeons and it states that all injections in a series are not required. The CS should mark it under the blanket waiver as "Insufficient time between doses". Then they should mark "Applicant may be eligible for blanket waiver(s)" in the results section 5.

Does anyone have any experience with this? If I am able to convince the CS to follow the CDC guide will that be correct? Will the USCIS send an RFE requesting proof of the 2nd and 3rd dose of Tetanus? Thanks

[VanessaTony 3,567]

they are not permitted to make you wait ANY length of time between doses. As you said it's right there in the instructions. They are 100% incorrect by making you wait even just these 2 weeks. I would go and see them and show them in THEIR instructions where it says they're not allowed to make you wait.

They're just trying to get more money out of you for the shots/time.

Good luck.

[Darnell 8,479]

We have 4 weeks left to submit our AOS

FWIW, there is no 'posted regulation' on when to file the AOS package.

She's required, per guidelines and regulation, to GET MARRIED within 90 days, and that's it.

Many people file after the I-94 expires - without issue - up to 6 months past POE date.

USCIS will tell you 'file it asap' - but even then - is no rule/regulation about it.

Edited September 29, 2010 by Darnell

[garfield529 47]

another CS trying to make a buck....or hasn't read the regulations fully.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Confirm Vanessa & Tony, there is a box for "insufficient time between does" as you found on the sheet.

Only advice on getting them to realize their error is be polite as to not get into a pissing match, you know? But you are right. Good luck.

[Engineer81 0]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. We will return to the Dr. Office and hopefully explain it to them. From their words on the phone, it sounds like they are filling the forms in a way that causes RFEs. Not sure, just hope we can get through to them.

[RUSSandRACHEL 3]

We had the same issue with the civil surgeon but ours was quite pushy with it demanding more money, insisting I needed more tests than necessary and saying 'don't blame us if you get an RFE!' Little did they know we knew the I-693 instructions inside out! Haha! From what I hear its very common that they are all just trying to rip people off. I'd go somewhere else if possible - theres a thread on here somewhere with recommended Civil Surgeons.

Oh and I second that you don't strictly have to apply for AOS within the 90 days, but you do have to be married by then!

Good luck!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

We had the same issue with the civil surgeon but ours was quite pushy with it demanding more money, insisting I needed more tests than necessary and saying 'don't blame us if you get an RFE!' Little did they know we knew the I-693 instructions inside out! Haha! From what I hear its very common that they are all just trying to rip people off. I'd go somewhere else if possible - theres a thread on here somewhere with recommended Civil Surgeons.

Oh and I second that you don't strictly have to apply for AOS within the 90 days, but you do have to be married by then!

Well you don't technically have to marry in the 90 days either. If you marry outside the 90 days you didn't fulfil the terms of the K1 visa though and will need to file and I-130 (you can't use the fact you arrived on a K1 as your reason for applying for AOS) as well as the I-485... so in order to save the $355 and stop the need to do yet MORE paperwork, married in the 90 days is the best option.

[Engineer81 0]

We had the same issue with the civil surgeon but ours was quite pushy with it demanding more money, insisting I needed more tests than necessary and saying 'don't blame us if you get an RFE!' Little did they know we knew the I-693 instructions inside out! Haha! From what I hear its very common that they are all just trying to rip people off. I'd go somewhere else if possible - theres a thread on here somewhere with recommended Civil Surgeons.

Oh and I second that you don't strictly have to apply for AOS within the 90 days, but you do have to be married by then!

Good luck!

"and saying 'don't blame us if you get an RFE" That is exactly what the nurse kept telling us at the CS office. She also added that we would in fact receive one. So far we have the appointment for Lin's biometrics and no RFE's.

[JD63 4]

I find it hard to believe they're "scamming" you, it's not like they make any money off of giving you an extra tetanus vaccination. However, they rely on their nurses much more than they should, and probably haven't read the instructions since they had a seminar in medical school about being certified as a civil surgeon. So if the nurses get an idea about how things need to be done, they can be stubborn about it.

I know how difficult it is keeping up on every nuance of the ever changing accredited veterinarian regs, I imagine it's much worse for a physician.