Do I need form I-693?

[ibee 7]

Confused about I-693 because technically all AOS applicants need to file it, but I've lived in the US for the past 9 years. Recently graduated from college, and have records of all the vaccines, etc...

Do I still need to file it?

Context: overstayed an H4 since 7 years ago, and now marrying a USC and filing for AOS, concurrently.

Thanks!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Confused about I-693 because technically all AOS applicants need to file it, but I've lived in the US for the past 9 years. Recently graduated from college, and have records of all the vaccines, etc...

Do I still need to file it?

Context: overstayed an H4 since 7 years ago, and now marrying a USC and filing for AOS, concurrently.

Yes. You need a full medical. The exception you will see mentioned on VJ is people like me who entered on a K1 and had a medical BEFORE entering the country requiring me to only update my vaccines (if appropriate)

**Edit - it's not just vaccines. They check you for syphillis, TB, and other stuff and of course make sure your vaccines are up to date.

Edited November 23, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[Maxximus1074 14]

Yes. You need a full medical. The exception you will see mentioned on VJ is people like me who entered on a K1 and had a medical BEFORE entering the country requiring me to only update my vaccines (if appropriate)

**Edit - it's not just vaccines. They check you for syphillis, TB, and other stuff and of course make sure your vaccines are up to date.

I agree with Vanessa and Tony, the medical exam is mandatory, no matter how long you are in the country or what your status was before filing for AOS.

You need to have a current clearance from a civil surgeon and file it with your application or if you want to file the AOS down the road, make sure that the medical exam and filled out forms with it are less then 12 months old. You surely can save money if you have vaccinations already up to date and can even get a TB and syphillis blod test done at your primary doctor if you have one (and if lucky get it covered by insurance) so that the USCIS designated doctor will acknowledge these results and does his basic checks on your physical state - and hopefully charge you less.

Good luck on your AOS journey

M.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I agree with Vanessa and Tony, the medical exam is mandatory, no matter how long you are in the country or what your status was before filing for AOS.

You need to have a current clearance from a civil surgeon and file it with your application or if you want to file the AOS down the road, make sure that the medical exam and filled out forms with it are less then 12 months old. You surely can save money if you have vaccinations already up to date and can even get a TB and syphillis blod test done at your primary doctor if you have one (and if lucky get it covered by insurance) so that the USCIS designated doctor will acknowledge these results and does his basic checks on your physical state - and hopefully charge you less.

The only correction I have is the TB test. I remember reading someone went and had it done somewhere else but the CS told them THEY had to administer the test because they were the ones signing off on the results (on the form). Syphillis is likely to be the same. Immunisations I know they accept from anywhere.

[katgrl 14]

The only correction I have is the TB test. I remember reading someone went and had it done somewhere else but the CS told them THEY had to administer the test because they were the ones signing off on the results (on the form). Syphillis is likely to be the same. Immunisations I know they accept from anywhere.

My guess is you are right about the TB test, but my husband was able to do the syphilis test at our county's health dept and the CS signed off on it.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

My guess is you are right about the TB test, but my husband was able to do the syphilis test at our county's health dept and the CS signed off on it.

I would guess that this is correct.

The tuberculin skin test is a judgment call by the doctor. They look for a reaction on the skin. If they see one then they measure it. If it's 5mm or more then the test is positive. The determination as to whether the test was positive or negative is made by the doctor. I would be surprised to see any doctor sign off on a TST that was conducted by a different doctor.

The syphilis test, on the other hand, doesn't involve any discretionary interpretation by the doctor, and it's performed in a lab. Even a civil surgeon would not actually perform this test themselves. They just draw the blood and send it off to the lab. The determination as to whether the test is positive or negative is made by the lab, not the doctor. They're just certifying the test was done by a qualified lab.

[Kittyfang 6]

About TB test, I had mine done about 4 months ago at the local health department, went back 2 days after and had the nurse write up the results on a small card. I brought this to the civil surgeon and he accepted it (as well as blood work for syphilis and MMR titer and booster shots).

But, I could see other civil surgeon wanting to do it themselves. Mine was free at the health department... Might have been a lot more if a private doctor was to do it.

[Maxximus1074 14]

Oh boy ...what have I done!!!?? Seriously, I guess it depends on the civil surgeon if they accept the pre-test for TB or not.

I had mine administered at my primary care physician, went back within the two days, they looked at it and then had a form letter on their letter head stating the dates and millimeter results - the official exam for USCIS accepted this.... as much as it is a pain in the a...rm, in "worst case scenario" you get tested twice.