Vaccines Transcription for I-693 (K1 based AOS)

[Coleen 2]

Hi everybody,

I decided to write a little something about this topic because I wanted to share my experience with vaccines transcription.

When I did my medical examination in my home country, which happened in June 2010 (four months ago), the Panel Physician told me that I didn't get all of my vaccines but there was still ''enough'' of them written down on my vaccination record so he didn't make me get any new, but he made me do HIV test, which at that time wasn't required by USCIS (HIV testing is not required as of the beginning of January 2010 or something like that). He also wouldn't give me a copy of DS- 3025 when I asked for it, he just said that he would take my medical to the Consulate in a sealed envelope and that I had nothing to worry about. I didn't want to argue with him but instead I wrote an e-mail to the consulate informing them that this doctor was not informed about any changes, did not respect USCIS regulations (the form I-693 clearly says that doctors are obliged to give one copy to the patient) and so on. After a couple of days some people shared their experience (with the same doctor) and they said that he stopped doing HIV tests and started giving DS-3025 copies. So.. I concluded that people working at Consulate weren't doing their jobs i.e. weren't informing Panel Physicians about new regulations. I ended up with no DS-3025 in my hand because someone in the Consulate wasn't doing his/her job the way he/she should have.

Luckily, I brought vaccines transcriptions from my country. It is written in my native language (Bosnian) with some portions written in Latin language. I took this with me to the USCIS Civil Surgeon. I was really afraid that they wouldn't accept it, but after the nurse took a look at it she said that I have to get 3 shots before the doctor can make my vaccines transcription. The transcription itself costs $50 and then there are these 3 vaccines: $85 for Tdap, $85 for MMR and $90 for Variccela. I'm on my husband's medical insurance (Blue Cross/Blue Shield which is like, at least I was told so, the top insurance in USA). When I asked her if the insurance covers these shots she told me that my insurance has nothing to do with it because this is Immigration based stuff and MUST be paid for. Me and my husband decided to schedule another appointment with that same doctor at a later date and to call some other doctors meanwhile just to check prices. We called almost every doctor from the USCIS list of CS's for our area (Saint Louis, Missouri) and oh my, most of them have no idea what they are supposed to do. One even told us that we needed to get an Immigration Attorney because my case was specific hahaha, the other told us that the price was $185 either we want a complete medical or only transcription, the third told us that he would first take my blood sample (to confirm what shots I need) and after a couple of days, when blood results are there, he would be able to give me the shots I need for approximately $100 each plus $150 for transcription.

We also went to International Institute to see if they know more about this. The receptionist gave us the phone number of the doctor who works with immigrants. We called her and she told us that it is possible for me to get those shots for free and then take that additional proof to the Civil Surgeon for transcription, the only catch it that we would have to wait longer for an appointment with her, which is not possible because I'm in a hurry.

My conclusion is that most of these Civil Surgeons are really ripping people off, and some of them, besides being rude, have no idea about what they are supposed to do about these vaccines transcriptions for I-693 (like ''you should get an Immigration Attorney because your case is specific''??? #######?).

My advice to anyone who comes to U.S. on K1 and needs a vaccines transcription is that you should visit the International Institute in your city (if there is one) and consult their doctor because he/she can tell you whether you need any shots or not, and if you need some just get an appointment and get those shots for free, take that additional proof together with vaccines transcription from your country or DS-3025 (if you got one) to the Civil Surgeon. As for Civil Surgeons- call every that is listed on uscis.gov and ask for price (for vaccines transcription only) before deciding on one.

This vaccine transcription was the most difficult document to get for my AOS and the whole process of getting it was very stressful. Be prepared for everything and anything.

[Florianns Man 7]

Hi there,

I took my additional shots (td/tdap)through medical Insurance and i pay nothing. They are very nice and accomodating to me. They even told me that if I needed a flu shot to complete my vaccination (though not needed for AOS)so I grab the opportunity a free shot..and since I had my Chicken pox so it was stated VH, but once again I asked them if I can have my shot for Varicella just to make sure no problem with the CS to do the transcribed. I read some info here some CS will asked you to do bloodwork for blood Immunity so I am avoiding this step..so I rather do the shot in one time.After the shots, the nurse told me that I need to do a general routine medical check up (every year)for their own reference too. I believed all Medical Insurance have a routinely conduct a medical check up..(well this was they always do for me in my previous medical Insurance) To make it short, they insisted I need to re-schedule my medical check Up with them.

Maybe you can try to call your Insurance Company and tell them that you need a shots (lacking vaccines),no matter for immigrations purposes or not, still a part of the insurance to give you a shots to complete the vaccination.Just ask the insurance you want a copy of the shots for personal reference, surely they will give you a copy:-)

Bring the vaccination copy or the shots printout to the CS doctors for trancribe..Indeed, some CS charge too mich..but I consider myself as lucky since I only paid 90US for trancribed ( others paid 150US)..I just waited less than 1 hour and i got the precious sealed envelop = 90USD:-)))

FYI, some Public Health Center they have schedule for free vaccines...I called up our Public Health Clinic they give free shots to all residence:-)

Edited October 21, 2010 by Florianns Man

[Coleen 2]

Well, at this point all I can do is say ''Thank you for your advice''. It's a little bit late for me to call around doctors and schedule any new appointment. I know that I could have done this differently if I had started thinking about everything earlier.

Whoever reads this topic and is about to start AOS process, please have in mind that there is a way to get those shots for free, you don't have to pay hundreds of dollars to Civil Surgeons.

Once again, thanks Florianns Man.

[kikis 0]

Well, at this point all I can do is say ''Thank you for your advice''. It's a little bit late for me to call around doctors and schedule any new appointment. I know that I could have done this differently if I had started thinking about everything earlier.

Whoever reads this topic and is about to start AOS process, please have in mind that there is a way to get those shots for free, you don't have to pay hundreds of dollars to Civil Surgeons.

Once again, thanks Florianns Man.

I TOTALLY AGREE. WE GOT RIPPED OFF WITH 800 DOLLARS FROM A CIVIL SURGEON AND THEY WERE TOTALLY RUDE!! VACCINES WHERE ABOUT $100 EACH AND HE NEEDED 2. HE ALSO DREW BLOOD OUT OF HIM AND GAVE HIM A TETANUS SHOT AND FILLED OUT THE PAPER WORK AND JUST FOR THAT CHARGED US $400 FOR THAT. OH AND FOR HIS X-RAYS IT WAS ABOUT $100. OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CIVIL SURGEONS......BUT I ADVICE PEOPLE TO BE CAREFUL. ON THE I-485 IT STATES THAT IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A MEDICAL EXAM WITHIN A YEAR IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO GET ANOTHER ONE AND ONLY GET THE VACCINATION PORTION COMPLETED BY THE CIVIL SURGEON, THAT'S IS WHY WE WENT TO A CIVIL SURGEON. ONCE WE WERE THERE...THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO JUST THE VACCINATION PORTION EVEN THOUGH IT'S STATED ON USCIS APPLICATION. THEY TOLD US ''TRUST ME! EVEN THOUGH IT SAYS THAT ON THE APPLICATION YOU WILL NEED IT ALL!" AND ENDED UP CHARGING ALL THIS :( SO NOW I WONDER IF IT WAS REALLY NECESSARY FOR A CIVIL SURGEON TO COMPLETE THIS FORM AND CHARGE US ALL THAT?? MAYBE I COULD OF JUST DONE IT MYSELF AND ATTACHED A VACCINATION REPORT TO IT. MMMMM :( BUT YEAH WE GOT RIPPED OF SO BE CAREFUL AND INFORM YOURSELF.

[Nik+Heather 121]

So, here was our experience:

We got married pretty soon after POE, for several reasons. One of them was that I wanted Nik covered under my insurance ASAP, and that started when we got married. Plus, he needs to get his BP prescription, so the sooner I could get him on the insurance and into a dr, the less we would have to worry about running out of his medication. Anyway...

He went straight in to see his new Dr as soon as we could get all the insurance sign ups taken care of, and while he was in for that first consultation, he asked the Dr to do the missing vaccinations and give him proof of having them done. So, all we paid for catching up the vaccines was the office visit copay of $15 or $35 or whatever. None of this $100 each BS.

Then, since no shots were needed, we shopped around for a CS who would do the transcription. I started a thread sometime back, you should be able to find it if you search for "Civil Surgeons who DON'T rip you off" A lot of other people have shared names of other civil surgeons who provide the transcription service for a reasonable fee.

[Coleen 2]

I TOTALLY AGREE. WE GOT RIPPED OFF WITH 800 DOLLARS FROM A CIVIL SURGEON AND THEY WERE TOTALLY RUDE!! VACCINES WHERE ABOUT $100 EACH AND HE NEEDED 2. HE ALSO DREW BLOOD OUT OF HIM AND GAVE HIM A TETANUS SHOT AND FILLED OUT THE PAPER WORK AND JUST FOR THAT CHARGED US $400 FOR THAT. OH AND FOR HIS X-RAYS IT WAS ABOUT $100. OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CIVIL SURGEONS......BUT I ADVICE PEOPLE TO BE CAREFUL. ON THE I-485 IT STATES THAT IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A MEDICAL EXAM WITHIN A YEAR IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO GET ANOTHER ONE AND ONLY GET THE VACCINATION PORTION COMPLETED BY THE CIVIL SURGEON, THAT'S IS WHY WE WENT TO A CIVIL SURGEON. ONCE WE WERE THERE...THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO JUST THE VACCINATION PORTION EVEN THOUGH IT'S STATED ON USCIS APPLICATION. THEY TOLD US ''TRUST ME! EVEN THOUGH IT SAYS THAT ON THE APPLICATION YOU WILL NEED IT ALL!" AND ENDED UP CHARGING ALL THIS :( SO NOW I WONDER IF IT WAS REALLY NECESSARY FOR A CIVIL SURGEON TO COMPLETE THIS FORM AND CHARGE US ALL THAT?? MAYBE I COULD OF JUST DONE IT MYSELF AND ATTACHED A VACCINATION REPORT TO IT. MMMMM :( BUT YEAH WE GOT RIPPED OF SO BE CAREFUL AND INFORM YOURSELF.

I am even mad at myself a little bit. I used to be an active member of this site in the beginning, I knew everything about K1 process, I knew every single thing about every single document I needed for K1 to be done with no RFE's. But there are some people here, older members, who are just not willing to help you, who are here just to play smart with other people and are generally very annoying. I stooped using information from this site just because of them. Now, I regret doing that. If I hadn't stop coming here I would have known exactly what to do about the whole vaccines transcription process. I would have known better.

But, there's no going back now. I just hope that we have learned our lesson and that next time we'll do things differently.

[Coleen 2]

So, here was our experience:

We got married pretty soon after POE, for several reasons. One of them was that I wanted Nik covered under my insurance ASAP, and that started when we got married. Plus, he needs to get his BP prescription, so the sooner I could get him on the insurance and into a dr, the less we would have to worry about running out of his medication. Anyway...

He went straight in to see his new Dr as soon as we could get all the insurance sign ups taken care of, and while he was in for that first consultation, he asked the Dr to do the missing vaccinations and give him proof of having them done. So, all we paid for catching up the vaccines was the office visit copay of $15 or $35 or whatever. None of this $100 each BS.

Then, since no shots were needed, we shopped around for a CS who would do the transcription. I started a thread sometime back, you should be able to find it if you search for "Civil Surgeons who DON'T rip you off" A lot of other people have shared names of other civil surgeons who provide the transcription service for a reasonable fee.

Hey Heather,

Thnx for sharing your experience. My case is a way different than yours. We got married more than two months after my POE. A few days after, my husband adder me to his insurance. My insurance card arrived just yesterday. We really didn't have that much time to go around and search for doctors. We are at the point where we just want things to be done and AOS application to be sent. My K1 status ends on 10/24 (in two days) and I have appointment with CS on 10/25. I really just hope that the doctor will be able to give my shots and make my vaccine transctiption on the same day so we can send my AOS application sometimes in the afternoon. I'm just so afraid of being ''out of status'' even for one single day, and that is the main reason why I really don't want to call any other doctor at this point.

I have read that thread (''Civil Surgeons who DON'T rip you off'') a few days ago and found info on the Civil Surgeon I am visiting on Monday, thnx for that (whoever mentioned him). Luckily, we won't have to pay in cash. My husband has an HSA debit card (provided by his company medical insurance); he can use that to pay for medicines, doctor's visits, dental costs and similar stuff.

I just hope that other people will read these posts and know exactly what to do when it comes to vaccines transcription for AOS.

[scotty's girl 1]

Called the International Institute here in Toledo, OH but I was given a wrong information by the lady in-charge about AOS. She told me that I need to have another physical exam even if I had a complete medical exam last January. By the way, the nurse referred them to us because the first time we went to see the CS, the nurse told me that the CS won't transcribe my I-693 if I don't go through another physical exam and tb skin test. Called the USCIS, and went back to the hospital and the nurse that I talked to was more knowledgeable about the process than the nurse that I talked to the other day. We only paid $29 for the transcription, no physical exam or tb skin test.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I'm sorry you've had so many issues. The I-693 debacle is significantly better than it was 10 months ago.. it was luck of the draw with USCIS would send you an RFE for a new medical... The vaccination list is available on the CDC website, as well as the CS instructions. CS's are awful with the "TB test" too.

This is not an AOS qn so I'm moving it...

** 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**

Edited October 23, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony