Help with RFE

[C&D2010 0]

If you had a chest x-ray with your physical, then you had a TB check. That is what it was for.

You need to read the I-693 instructions more carefully. They state you need:

Part 1, Information About You, Part 2, the vaccination chart, and Part 5, the Civil Surgeon's Certification.

I agree to what you said. That's the same statement i brought up. But the actual PART 2 on the I 693 Form includes a medical too.

The CS i went to wouldn't copy anything out of my medical examination from abroad.

I don't know what is right or not, just by following the advice from the immigration attorney and the experience from the CS i decided to go the safe way and have it all done.

They also told me that they received a letter from USCIS that chest x-rays are no longer accepted, it has to be the TB skin test.

As to why they still do it and if it is still accepted - I don't know!

I am just posting my experience...

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

I agree to what you said. That's the same statement i brought up. But the actual PART 2 on the I 693 Form includes a medical too.

The CS i went to wouldn't copy anything out of my medical examination from abroad.

I don't know what is right or not, just by following the advice from the immigration attorney and the experience from the CS i decided to go the safe way and have it all done.

They also told me that they received a letter from USCIS that chest x-rays are no longer accepted, it has to be the TB skin test.

As to why they still do it and if it is still accepted - I don't know!

I am just posting my experience...

Okay, and I am just posting my experience and what is required. In case others read this thread looking for answers, I do not want them to be confused and think they need to redo their medical or get a new TB test. They don't.

I posted what the I-693 instructions said, so here is what it says on the USCIS website(which states the same thing):

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextoid=1758d5b07655b110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD

Q: If an applicant is required to receive only the vaccinations, and not undergo the entire medical exam, does he/she have to submit the entire Form I-693?

No. Applicants who are not required to have the entire medical examination need to submit only pages one, three and five of the new form. The required sections include Part 1, Information About You, the vaccination record portion of Part 2, and Part 5 (if the vaccinations are administered by a civil surgeon) or Part 6 (if the vaccinations are administered by a local health department). Pages two and four, that would have been left blank, do not need to be submitted.

I am posting about what USCIS requires for those AOSing from a K-1. If you had your medical within the last year before filing AOS, you do not need another full medical. Part 2 does include the medical portion, but the instructions state you only need to fill out the vaccination portion of part 2, not the whole thing.

I believe your attorney is misinformed. Your attorney is talking about procedures that apply to someone doing AOS via another route, such as someone who married and is adjusting here based on a tourist or student visa. They did not have a medical prior to entering the US. They are required to do the whole medical, and they need the TB testing requirements. Someone coming from a K-1 does not.

You are free to do as you wish. Many have been approved following the instructions from the I-693 and just providing what is asked for, including my husband. He was approved only 2 weeks ago. No new medical required. The interviewer even stated, "So, you had your medical done in Mexico before coming?" He answered yes, and then went into vaccinations and that Mexico might not have all the ones they require, and so that is why Mexico doesn't give any to K-1 applicants. That was all that said about it. Our interview lasted about 5 minutes.

Lots of civil surgeons will try and tell you that you need the whole medical redone. It is not true, and people should always call around until they find one that is willing to just transcribe their vaccinations. There is a whole huge long thread here about civil surgeons that try and rip you off.

[BB & MJ 3]

I couldn't help but reading this post and trying to understand why you got an RFE for your Medical? Seems a little odd that USCIS lost your medical, according to you (April AOS Filers thread). The ONLY possible scenarios I could come up with is that you never completed/submitted the I-693 Medical Form (w/ AOS), the form was incomplete by the CS you visited or you just submitted the DS forms (from the Philippines) without visiting a Civil Surgeon. You basically stated the "jist" of the RFE but USCIS is usually detailed on what part was missing that they need clarification (for example TB). I could be wrong but doesn't the CS seal your medical (w/ I-693) information in an envelope (you're not allowed to see the results). You mentioned that you have copy of "what they did." My wife had a CS medical exam but she didn't receive any documentation on what was done and/or the results. The CS should've given you a TB (skin) test initially. Blood test are usually done for STD's (HIV,etc) NOT for determining Tuberculosis. USCIS is strict to vaccinations/exams that deal particularly with Tuberculosis. You also mentioned that you could go back to the CS to pick up the results within a day or two. But doesn't getting the skin test read usually take about 2 to 3 days? TB is a known/popular disease especially for fiancees coming from the Philippines (just like mine). Another strange thing is, if you did go to a CS, why don't you go back to the same CS (where you went before) and explain your problem/RFE to them instead of going to a new one and paying for a new medical? You could probably get a new medical done for alot cheaper than you initially paid or maybe even fixed for free. Bottom line, good for you that you got everything taken care of and good luck on getting your RFE fixed and the rest of your AOS journey.

[Messybrownhair 251]

I couldn't help but reading this post and trying to understand why you got an RFE for your Medical? Seems a little odd that USCIS lost your medical, according to you (April AOS Filers thread). The ONLY possible scenarios I could come up with is that you never completed/submitted the I-693 Medical Form (w/ AOS), the form was incomplete by the CS you visited or you just submitted the DS forms (from the Philippines) without visiting a Civil Surgeon. You basically stated the "jist" of the RFE but USCIS is usually detailed on what part was missing that they need clarification (for example TB). I could be wrong but doesn't the CS seal your medical (w/ I-693) information in an envelope (you're not allowed to see the results). You mentioned that you have copy of "what they did." My wife had a CS medical exam but she didn't receive any documentation on what was done and/or the results. The CS should've given you a TB (skin) test initially. Blood test are usually done for STD's (HIV,etc) NOT for determining Tuberculosis. USCIS is strict to vaccinations/exams that deal particularly with Tuberculosis. You also mentioned that you could go back to the CS to pick up the results within a day or two. But doesn't getting the skin test read usually take about 2 to 3 days? TB is a known/popular disease especially for fiancees coming from the Philippines (just like mine). Another strange thing is, if you did go to a CS, why don't you go back to the same CS (where you went before) and explain your problem/RFE to them instead of going to a new one and paying for a new medical? You could probably get a new medical done for alot cheaper than you initially paid or maybe even fixed for free. Bottom line, good for you that you got everything taken care of and good luck on getting your RFE fixed and the rest of your AOS journey.

Wow you have a lot of questions lol.

I did complete the I-693 before, for the vaccines and I was not given a TB skin test. And I got a sealed copy for USCIS and an unsealed copy for me.

A IGRA blood test is used for TB, but I opted for the PPD instead.

I did write what the RFE said, do you want a scanned copy? The only part I did not write was them basically copying what was written on the I-693 guidelines.

And I didn't go to the same civil surgeon because I could not be accomodated right away.

I redid the medical with a different doctor and was charged $195 for everything, and yes I did the skin test, and yes I waited 2 days. It was negative, and I sent my RFE response today.

Hope that answers all your questions.

[BB & MJ 3]

Wow you have a lot of questions lol.

I did complete the I-693 before, for the vaccines and I was not given a TB skin test. And I got a sealed copy for USCIS and an unsealed copy for me.

A IGRA blood test is used for TB, but I opted for the PPD instead.

I did write what the RFE said, do you want a scanned copy? The only part I did not write was them basically copying what was written on the I-693 guidelines.

And I didn't go to the same civil surgeon because I could not be accomodated right away.

I redid the medical with a different doctor and was charged $195 for everything, and yes I did the skin test, and yes I waited 2 days. It was negative, and I sent my RFE response today.

Hope that answers all your questions.

Glad everything worked out. You're on your way. Good luck!