FREE TB testing, x ray

[sueling 2]

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share this with those in South Florida who are readying to file their AOS like me. Even though my DS-3025 was marked complete, I was told I still needed to get bloodwork to confirm that I have had all those vaccinations taken and also I had to go through another TB test (skin test this time). Highly redundant but in the end we decided to just endure it and do it. TB skin test came back positive so now have to go do ANOTHER chest x ray (already did one before leaving for the US). I did my research online and the prices are exorbitant here (minimum $250 - $5,600).

The good news is that you can go to the Broward County Health Department Broward TB Clinic and just tell them you want an x ray done for green card purposes. The best part is that they will do an x ray for FREE! Only drawback is that it's a long wait. We could schedule an apppointment no earlier than Nov 30th (we called today).

I hope this can be helpful to those who live nearby enough. For those who don't, perhaps a good idea to see if there is such a clinic in your state?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share this with those in South Florida who are readying to file their AOS like me. Even though my DS-3025 was marked complete, I was told I still needed to get bloodwork to confirm that I have had all those vaccinations taken and also I had to go through another TB test (skin test this time). Highly redundant but in the end we decided to just endure it and do it. TB skin test came back positive so now have to go do ANOTHER chest x ray (already did one before leaving for the US). I did my research online and the prices are exorbitant here (minimum $250 - $5,600).

The good news is that you can go to the Broward County Health Department Broward TB Clinic and just tell them you want an x ray done for green card purposes. The best part is that they will do an x ray for FREE! Only drawback is that it's a long wait. We could schedule an apppointment no earlier than Nov 30th (we called today).

I hope this can be helpful to those who live nearby enough. For those who don't, perhaps a good idea to see if there is such a clinic in your state?

Whoever told you that you needed confirmation of the vaccinations or the TB test was dead WRONG!

It's a shame this happened. I would personally stop whatever you're doing and send AOS now. OR continue with what you're doing for your healths sake but not needed for AOS.

[sueling 2]

Whoever told you that you needed confirmation of the vaccinations or the TB test was dead WRONG!

It's a shame this happened. I would personally stop whatever you're doing and send AOS now. OR continue with what you're doing for your healths sake but not needed for AOS.

Meh. It was the civil surgeon who insisted we needed to do all that. We followed instructions off the USCIS site that stated we needed to get a CS to sign off and well, nobody would without subjecting us to all that.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Meh. It was the civil surgeon who insisted we needed to do all that. We followed instructions off the USCIS site that stated we needed to get a CS to sign off and well, nobody would without subjecting us to all that.

What USCIS site? Did you read the i-693 instructions? They specifically state that you don't need all this done.

As your shots are complete you are completely able to send your DS-3025 as is, no transcription. Add to that, USCIS sometimes loses entire medicals so you might end up getting an RFE for a missing medical anyway.

[sueling 2]

What USCIS site? Did you read the i-693 instructions? They specifically state that you don't need all this done.

As your shots are complete you are completely able to send your DS-3025 as is, no transcription. Add to that, USCIS sometimes loses entire medicals so you might end up getting an RFE for a missing medical anyway.

Yes my fiance did go through the instructions. I think I better go through them once again... thank goodness we haven't had to spend that much on this "second medical" so far.

[Leatherneck 693]

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share this with those in South Florida who are readying to file their AOS like me. Even though my DS-3025 was marked complete, I was told I still needed to get bloodwork to confirm that I have had all those vaccinations taken and also I had to go through another TB test (skin test this time). Highly redundant but in the end we decided to just endure it and do it. TB skin test came back positive so now have to go do ANOTHER chest x ray (already did one before leaving for the US). I did my research online and the prices are exorbitant here (minimum $250 - $5,600).

The good news is that you can go to the Broward County Health Department Broward TB Clinic and just tell them you want an x ray done for green card purposes. The best part is that they will do an x ray for FREE! Only drawback is that it's a long wait. We could schedule an apppointment no earlier than Nov 30th (we called today).

I hope this can be helpful to those who live nearby enough. For those who don't, perhaps a good idea to see if there is such a clinic in your state?

That doctor and/or his staff are so full of horse sh!t! Your DS-3025 was marked "complete," no need for any of that.

Edited November 9, 2011 by Leatherneck

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Yes my fiance did go through the instructions. I think I better go through them once again... thank goodness we haven't had to spend that much on this "second medical" so far.

Yes thank goodness!!

Also here is a link: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextoid=1758d5b07655b110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD scroll down to:

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.

The above quote is IF you need more shots, which you don't.

this one:

Q: Does USCIS require that all shots in each vaccine series be completed before applying for adjustment of status?

No. The applicant must have received all the required age-appropriate vaccines that could be given at the time of the medical exam. If the applicant has started the vaccination series, but is not able to complete all the required shots because, at the time of the medical exam, the minimum time interval between shots has not passed, the applicant may still apply for adjustment of status. A waiver is available in cases where, due to required time intervals, it was impossible for the applicant to receive all shots in the series before submitting the application for adjustment of status.

Is closer to actually relating to you but this whole link mostly refers to medicals IN the US rather than ours out of the country. The instructions for the I-693 http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-693instr.pdf page 4, Section III, Qn 2, C, b. You'll see it says words to the effect of "If your DS-3025 wasn't properly completed..." which yours WAS so you don't need to do anything

[sueling 2]

Yes thank goodness!!

Also here is a link: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextoid=1758d5b07655b110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD scroll down to:

The above quote is IF you need more shots, which you don't.

this one:

Is closer to actually relating to you but this whole link mostly refers to medicals IN the US rather than ours out of the country. The instructions for the I-693 http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-693instr.pdf page 4, Section III, Qn 2, C, b. You'll see it says words to the effect of "If your DS-3025 wasn't properly completed..." which yours WAS so you don't need to do anything

Thank you so much for this... I wonder how on earth we could have misinterpreted the instructions. The CS did say that I need a Hep B vaccination though on my DS-3025 it states I'm not age appropriate. What should I do then? Go for it anyway or like you said, just submit the DS-3025 as is? .. or, with parts 1,3 and 5 on form I-693.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thank you so much for this... I wonder how on earth we could have misinterpreted the instructions. The CS did say that I need a Hep B vaccination though on my DS-3025 it states I'm not age appropriate. What should I do then? Go for it anyway or like you said, just submit the DS-3025 as is? .. or, with parts 1,3 and 5 on form I-693.

Personally, given you said your shots ARE complete and the form is marked complete I would just send the DS-3025. Worst case scenario they RFE you and you do all this stuff anyway. It's unlikely they will RFE you for missing shots, it's more likely they'll lose your entire medical which means you'll need to do a whole new medical but this is happening less and less.

In short - I would send the AOS off with just the DS-3025.

[sueling 2]

Personally, given you said your shots ARE complete and the form is marked complete I would just send the DS-3025. Worst case scenario they RFE you and you do all this stuff anyway. It's unlikely they will RFE you for missing shots, it's more likely they'll lose your entire medical which means you'll need to do a whole new medical but this is happening less and less.

In short - I would send the AOS off with just the DS-3025.

Thank you for your advice. I'd much rather do that too and not have to run around and get another x ray, extra shot, etc. My fiance is a little nervous about this though ... somehow he's still convinced we need the I-693 haha

Ugh, it just occurred to me that I went through this painful and itchy Mantoux TB skin test for NOTHING!!!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thank you for your advice. I'd much rather do that too and not have to run around and get another x ray, extra shot, etc. My fiance is a little nervous about this though ... somehow he's still convinced we need the I-693 haha

Ugh, it just occurred to me that I went through this painful and itchy Mantoux TB skin test for NOTHING!!!

There are lots of people who've filed without it. One perfect example is a fellow Australian. Her DS-3025 said complete. She filed AOS without the I-693 on 03/09/10 and was approved (without expedite, RFE or interview) on 04/22/10. GC received 05/01/10. 37 days... Many others have not bothered with the I-693.

I DID get the I-693 done even though my shots were complete because at that time USCIS was RFEing EVERYONE for a missing medical and I didn't want to risk it. I didn't have a TB test and I didn't have additional shots. I too was approved without RFE or interview in less than 3 months.

[sueling 2]

There are lots of people who've filed without it. One perfect example is a fellow Australian. Her DS-3025 said complete. She filed AOS without the I-693 on 03/09/10 and was approved (without expedite, RFE or interview) on 04/22/10. GC received 05/01/10. 37 days... Many others have not bothered with the I-693.

I DID get the I-693 done even though my shots were complete because at that time USCIS was RFEing EVERYONE for a missing medical and I didn't want to risk it. I didn't have a TB test and I didn't have additional shots. I too was approved without RFE or interview in less than 3 months.

Thanks again. One last question though... it's flu season now and I probably need a flu shot, yes ? That being said, still need to see a CS then as the immunization record will have to be updated?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thanks again. One last question though... it's flu season now and I probably need a flu shot, yes ? That being said, still need to see a CS then as the immunization record will have to be updated?

Not necessarily. Nich-Nick (a VJ member) says that a long as your shots are complete at the time you had the K1 medical you should be fine.