New Medical vs. Vaccination Supplement?

[chiggins 0]

Hi,

I'm having a tough time understanding the requirements for the AOS medical exam stuff. I entered the US on a K1 visa back in July 2004, my fiance and I got married and I sent in my AOS application in October 2004. I had a few problems with my application - basically, I never received the original notice to appear for an interview, case was denied, then got reopened in December 2005. I now FINALLY have my interview coming up in March. According to the I-693 FAQ on the USCIS website, if the K-1 fiance "received a medical examination prior to admission, then you do not require another medical examination as long as your application for adjustment of status (Form I-485) is filed within one year of your overseas medical examination" and I would just need the vaccination supplement. Now, my understanding of that is that if you APPLY for AOS within a year of your embassy medical, you don't need another one, right? The person on the misinformation line said that the date an application is filed is the same as the receipt date on the NOA.

So I go to the local civil surgeon today to get the vaccination supplement done. They tell me that the medicals are only good for 1 year, and that I would need another one, which costs $186 plus the cost of any vaccinations. I called the misinformation line to try and confirm this - I was transferred to an officer and all he could tell me was that the medical exam is valid for a year and while he 'recommended' that I get another one done, but its pretty much up to the officer at my interview.

I guess my questions are:

1) Do I technically need a new medical exam? And would I have a good argument against needing one should the officer at my interview says that I do need one?

2) Is it worth paying nearly $200 for the medical exam (even though it would put a huge strain on our finances), just to be safe?

3) Say that I just get the vaccination supplement, and the officer at my interview says I need a full medical? How long of a delay might this cause?

4) Would this: http://uscis.gov/graphics/lawsregs/handboo...edExt011106.pdf have any effect on my case (i.e. does it get me out of having another medical)?

5) Slightly off-topic: I think I may need the varicella vaccination. From what I understand, you have to do it in 2 parts several weeks apart.

(a) Can anyone confirm this?

(B) What happens if I can't get the second vaccination done before the interview?

© Can you talk your way out of it if you had chicken pox as a kid?

(d) Also, how much have people paid for this vaccination?

Thank you SOOO much for any advice people can give!

[chiggins 0]

Oops, that link should be:

http://uscis.gov/graphics/lawsregs/handboo...edExt011106.pdf

[honey19_sweety28 0]

hi

i had having hard time with that kind of situation coz i called some accredited surgeon they want me to have to do medical exam over again. but i dont like coz i what i understand is i only need I-693 vaccination supplement. after calling almost 10 accredited civil surgeon finaly i got one. he transfered all my vaccination records from the philippines then he gave me a copy of I-693 then other copy is he put in sealed envelop which i sent in my AOS application. and the vaccine i only need is the TD shot which is only cost me 25$.

[de_sjiem 0]

Not really sure if you need a new medical or not.. I'd say (just going off what i understand in all this mess) that since you are still working with your original application (i.e. haven't reapplied, just got the case reopened) i would say that you applied for AOS within 1 year of your medical and therefore wouldnt need another medical, just maybe the vaccination supplement.. But that's just what i'd figure... Maybe someone else can back me up or tell me i'm wrong...

What i do know is that if you had chicken pox as a kid that covers your varicella vaccination.. I have never had that vaccination done, but i did have chicken pox, and the dr. said that was fine...

Sorry i dont know more.. Good luck with the rest of your AOS journey, I hope its smooth sailing for the rest...

[chiggins 0]

Thanks for the suggestion... I'm still debating whether or not to get a new medical or just hope that the interviewing officer goes easy on us. The instructions do not specify whether by 'file' they mean the date the receipt date or the date of the interview. I'm also concerned that when the officer looks at our file, he/she will see an expired medical.

Has anyone out there had an AOS interview after having their case pending for over a year, or had their interview a year after the embassy medical? What happened?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Federal law says the medical is good as long as you (as a k-1) file for AOS within a year of your overseas medical.

[motu 6]

I can't understand what stage you are in at this point. Have you not filed for AOS yet? Or have you filed and received an interview already? I would think that if its the latter then don't worry about the medical. If its the former then hopefully someone else can tell you if you do need the medical or not.

And what's $200 - I had my wife's medical done (not for AOS but for general annual checkup) and my portion of the uncovered bill is $300 and I am still waiting for the mammogram bill! Good Luck

[chiggins 0]

Sorry if I wasn't clear - My K-1 medical was back in June 2004, and we got married and filed for AOS in October 2004. In September '05 my case was denied because we failed to appear for the interview, which we didn't know about because we never received the notice to appear, because the post office had been returning all of my mail. This was cleared up in December and the case was reopened, and my AOS interview is on March 23rd.

My understanding is that because I filed for AOS within a year of the medical, the medical results were technically received with the application, so I just need the vaccination supplement, right? And the denial and re-opening of my case wouldn't have invalidated the medical results?

*rejoins the idiot parade*

Edited February 23, 2006 by chiggins

[motu 6]

OK. So! You are going for the interview on March 23rd; in your place, I wouldn't worry about anything since they didn't RFE you for it.

But if you are afraid of the delay that may happen if they want the medical etc. then go get it done. My rationale is that they have all my medical stuff from the K1 and if what I sent with the I485 wasn't Ok, they would have RFEd me for it. And yes, I have seen the posts where they have asked people for I693 at the time of interview etc. but the worst that would happen is, they will ask you to send it in before they will approve it. If that's not what you want to chance then you have to go the route of getting your I693 and perhaps the medical redone. Good Luck

[Bebe 0]

Hello, If you had your medical examination 1 year before sending your papers you don't need another one....I sent my paperworks with my additional vaccinations and showed the surgen civil doctor my vaccinations had before moving here...I paid for it US$ 15.00 and for my vaccinations 10.00 and another one 5 dollars for TB, Inmigrations don't ask for this last one, because I had my X Ray exam in my country, but anyway I had this vaccination. You have to show your sheet vaccination had in your country to the Doctor. If you had 3 or 4 , you have to have the next shots regarding to your sheet.

Have a good day

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Sorry if I wasn't clear - My K-1 medical was back in June 2004, and we got married and filed for AOS in October 2004. In September '05 my case was denied because we failed to appear for the interview, which we didn't know about because we never received the notice to appear, because the post office had been returning all of my mail. This was cleared up in December and the case was reopened, and my AOS interview is on March 23rd.

My understanding is that because I filed for AOS within a year of the medical, the medical results were technically received with the application, so I just need the vaccination supplement, right? And the denial and re-opening of my case wouldn't have invalidated the medical results?

*rejoins the idiot parade*

you don't need another medical. BUT they may still ask for it. they would be wrong though.