I-485 Interview and Complications

[Azura 0]

Today my husband and I went for our AOS interview.

He came to the US in May 2010 on a K-1 visa. When he had his K-1 interview in Morocco he had already done the Medical exam with the USCIS approved civil surgeon, submitted it to the consulate and was approved. They handed him all of his paperwork in a sealed envelope which he turned over to immigration and customs at the international airport when he arrived in the US.

While we were at the interview the officer swore us in, asked us several questions to verify what was on our application about our names, birthdates,address, etc. He started to ask how we met, where we work and so on. Then he informed us that he did not have the medical examination on file and that sometimes when people come in on K-1 visas the sealed envelope never makes it from the airport to the USCIS office. He said for that reason, our case was on hold and we had 30 days to get another medical examination done. My husband already paid $200 in his own country for this examination, complete with vaccinations and x-rays. I called the only civil surgeon in my city today and they quoted me $1300!! I called USCIS to complain because THEY lost the paperwork, and obviously my husbands medical exam was fine because they allowed him into the country in the first place. I was told that I have to file a complaint in writing to the director of the office in which we interviewed.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this?? There's no way I can afford or even want to pay for a second medical exam. What are my options here?? I'm thinking about calling the doctor in Morocco that did the initial examination to see if there's a way she can send another one. Any thoughts??

[Inky 1,110]

You need to call around to other civil surgeons to get better prices. Call the POE and find out if they have the packet or sent it or can send it etc.

Most medical places in the foreign country do not keep immigration medical information.

Lots of people went through this, some were able to find the medical at the POE and get it sorted out, some decided to call around and find a cheaper civil surgeon and some just went with the expensive one to get it over with.

[Azura 0]

Also...

Right after he told us about the medical exam being missing, he explained to us that the green card lasts for 2 years and we apply to remove conditions within 90 days of the cards expiration, card comes in the mail and so on....

But then he goes on to separate my husband and I and interrogates me, telling me my eyes looked red (which they didn't) and that I must have been crying, are there problems between my husband and I, is this a fake marriage, do we have relations together, are we lying, because don't forget your under oath. I knew before I went that they do this to people sometimes, but I was kind of shocked by how he did it and thought OH MY GOD, he doesn't believe us?? If only we brought my kids with us or more proof. I was so distraught that I didn't even get a chance to show him pictures and tell him about all the wonderful things my husband and I have done together in our marriage. Instead I cried all the way home.

Do they do this just to scare people into admitting their marriage is a sham and do it frequently and systematically, or did something about us bother this guy to the point that he honestly thought we were liars???

He said once we mail the medical exam (within 30 days) that we would receive a letter in the mail with a decision.

Why did he go through the trouble of explaining to us about the 2 year residency and such or bother having us submit another medical exam if he thinks we're lying??

[Azura 0]

I called the POE, they said they sent it onward being that he entered the country last May 2010, thus they are certain that there are no more files hanging around.

For some reason, my biometrics appointment was in Milwaukee WI, yet my AOS interview was in Minneapolis MN. Do you think its possible that paperwork got missed between the 2 offices? USCIS field offices seem to have NO phone numbers and the only way to file a complaint appears to be in writing.

You need to call around to other civil surgeons to get better prices. Call the POE and find out if they have the packet or sent it or can send it etc.

Most medical places in the foreign country do not keep immigration medical information.

Lots of people went through this, some were able to find the medical at the POE and get it sorted out, some decided to call around and find a cheaper civil surgeon and some just went with the expensive one to get it over with.

[jiljilalou 0]

salam alaikum ,

I hope things will go smoothly for u guys Inshallah.my question is didnt u guys enclose the medical exam with the AOS package?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You should be able to get a new medical for around $200 or cheaper. I would focus on getting a new medical, instead of calling USCIS and trying to track down a lost package - you only have 30 days. Good luck.

[Azura 0]

In the meantime I've sent an email to my congressman. Some people here in the forums said that they had luck with that in the past and that USCIS keeps a "temporary" and "main" file and sometimes the 2 files do not get combined. Alternatively my husband is going to call his doctor in Morocco to see if they still have copies of the medical. If none of that works, I will be both shopping around for a lower price as well as filing a complaint. He has his vaccination form so we can eliminate that from the medical, though they said he needs blood work, a chest xray and a physical examination which runs around $800 at least. I'm not paying if i cant get it under $250 since its their fault and will try every other option first.