Shady Civil Surgeons

[C and Lore 3]

Hello all,

I'm back for some help again. My wife entered the country on a K-1 visa about 30 - 40 days ago. She had her required medical examination in August 2011 to get her K-1 visa in Argentina.

Fast forward to today, I am a bit strapped for money and need to file her paperwork so she can get a work permit as soon as possible. After reading the I-693 instructions it states that K-1 entries do not need to have another medical examination if the preceeding one used for the K-1 visa was within 1 year's time. Obviously since she did hers in August this would apply to her. However her vaccination was not complete, so her K-1 was issued on waiver. She got the remaining vaccinations before arriving and has all required shots now and records to prove them.

Unfortunately here in Miami there's a lot of scam artists and crooks, and the doctors we've contacted so far, refuse to follow the directions given on the USCIS site and want do everything from completing more tests

to doing the entire exam again. Meanwhile the stated directions from the USCIS say that if her vaccination record is not complete the surgeon must only complete the vaccination page and sign off that she's proven she had them. Not re-give all of them or do more blood, and medical exams.

So I have two questions. First, any of you from Miami, know of an honest civil surgeon close to the beach, or close to transit, that will provide the required vaccination verification without trying to take more than what is reasonably due?

Second, being that she has completed the medical exam, if I were to file without the updated vaccination record, would they USCIS reject the entire packet immediately based on the missing update to vaccination record, or would they merely delay setting up an appointment for interview for her green card?

For those who think I'm complaining about cost, I'm not, I simply wish to pay what is owed, not what people think, they can get from me. I appreciate any helpful information or advice.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

If the DS-3025 is marked incomplete for vaccinations then they will not accept it without an I-693 signed by a civil surgeon.

The civil surgeons have got you over a barrel and they know it. Doing a complete immigration physical is only slightly more work than transcribing the vaccinations, but they can charge a lot more for it because it's actual medical work and not just administrative work. All you can do is try to find a civil surgeon who is honest. In some metropolitan areas there aren't any. In that event you either go outside the metropolitan area to find a civil surgeon, or bite your tongue and pay the fee for a full medical.

BTW, even if you find a civil surgeon who is willing to only transcribe the vaccinations, there's still a chance USCIS will reject it because they'll claim they don't have a record of the physical given by the panel physician in the foreign country. You could end up needing the full medical anyway.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Unfortuanately as her shots weren't complete for the K1 then she needs to see a CS.

Even if her shots WERE complete (as mine were) the form is marked "incomplete" (waiver box ticked) unless you have every SINGLE shot on that form. Not every shot is required for every age group so (like me) not many people have every single shot. In these cases where you know the shots are complete you are fine sending the DS-3025 alone (no need for a transcription because you didn't have additional shots to transcribe). in your case there ARE additional shots and that's why you need to see a CS.

Having said that, some people have sent their DS-3025 as is (with shots missing) and still been fine. This is apparently because your shots were "complete" as well as they could be at the time of getting the K1 so they should be fine for AOS.

If you're having trouble with CS's I suggest you send the DS-3025 as is and then do the whole new medical if you get RFE'd. No sense wasting the money if USCIS lets her slide with the shots she's got.

.

[MelandDavid 0]

We had the same problem! We are trying to file our AOS this week and the box on the DS-3025 was marked incomplete because they administered the first MMR in London but he needed the second one in 4 weeks. I have contacted almost every civil surgeon in metro Atlanta and every one of them did not understand that I only needed the vaccinations transcribed so they all required another medical. Having already paid almost the equivalent to $600 for the first medical in London, it is ridiculous to have to pay an additional $350 to a CS to do another medical exam that is not required. Why would they not understand that we only need Part 1, 2 and 5 completed of the I-693 even after I showed them documentation of proof of medical less than 3 months ago! It is absolutely ridiculous how these CS are able to obtain government approval to sign a form and charge whatever they wish for this "service". What is the point of the I-693 for K1 filers who have already had medical exams in their home countries? If there is a vaccination missing each person should be able to go to their local health department, get the shot, have the nurse sign off on it and mail that in with the DS3025. End of story. Thanks for letting me vent!

[GnBnL 50]

I've heard so many stories of this happening with CS's!!! its awful! even for me, the first place I called they wanted to charge me a ridiculous amount. I got lucky and only ended up paying $30, but man...I wish we could complain to USCIS so they could implement something saying that it is illegal to charge more than a certain amount for transcription only. Its ridiculous!!! Like we didn't already dump enough money into the process....it would be nice if they cut us a break somewhere! I hope you find a decent CS!!

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I've heard so many stories of this happening with CS's!!! its awful! even for me, the first place I called they wanted to charge me a ridiculous amount. I got lucky and only ended up paying $30, but man...I wish we could complain to USCIS so they could implement something saying that it is illegal to charge more than a certain amount for transcription only. Its ridiculous!!! Like we didn't already dump enough money into the process....it would be nice if they cut us a break somewhere! I hope you find a decent CS!!

Unfortunately, the civil surgeon doesn't care how much money you've spent so far because they didn't get any of it. I'm convinced that most civil surgeons lack the medical skills to work primarily as physicians, either because they're old and have lost the mental and/or physical skills they once had, or because they're fundamentally inept and have largely failed in private practice. I have personally been treated by three of the doctors who now work as civil surgeons in my area, and I know the above description applies to them. Their primary motivation is to get enough income from this work to earn a decent living without having to do any real medical work. Doing immigration medicals is easy money - no more than an hours work for a few hundred dollars.

[himher 634]

Strange. We went to a civil surgeon in Houston and got only the missing MMR ($50) as I recall...he didnt do anything else.

What a scam

[C and Lore 3]

Well I feel relieved to know I'm not the only one being shafted. Long story short, I sent her to the cheapest of the shady which was still $180 USD. I dont know where I'll make that up at for the month, but as one poster said, they have us bent over backward, and are intent on giving us the shaft no lube... :-(

Jim is probably right, they cant be real doctors, so they sign up to make money with their medical licenses the only way they can. The sad thing is that A: I'm sure the government makes a nice penny from them getting approval to be 'civil surgeons' B: the government doesn't really care about their constituents otherwise like one poster said, they'd mandate that doctors cant charge more than a certain amount for certain 'services' or they'd have their own doctors working for USCIS, lord knows they require enough medical exams to afford doing it.

[Churchland 2]

Did you look through this thread for a CS near you?

Civil Surgeons

[TiklingGuy 211]

The only civil surgeon in tulsa is a neonatologist as well. When i took Monreal in the other day, he did not even see us. His secretary prepared the I-693 and sealed everything in an envolope. They charged us 50 dollars and that was it. No scam, easy process. I am sorry to hear people getting screwed over. If there is no vaccinations needed, it should be an easy process like it was for us.

[C and Lore 3]

just checked that forum, no honest docs in South Florida as I expected. Its ridiculous, and like I said, the government owes it to their constituents to step in and help. But they wont, because the government is not for the people, its a business and as it doesn't do anything positive for 'their business' they dont care.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

The only civil surgeon in tulsa is a neonatologist as well. When i took Monreal in the other day, he did not even see us. His secretary prepared the I-693 and sealed everything in an envolope. They charged us 50 dollars and that was it. No scam, easy process. I am sorry to hear people getting screwed over. If there is no vaccinations needed, it should be an easy process like it was for us.

He didn't see you? Then it was illegal. They MUST see you in person.

just checked that forum, no honest docs in South Florida as I expected. Its ridiculous, and like I said, the government owes it to their constituents to step in and help. But they wont, because the government is not for the people, its a business and as it doesn't do anything positive for 'their business' they dont care.

The list isn't all inclusive. You should call around.