Medical treatment

[Finnboy 0]

I entered the U.S on a 1-year B2 in October 2010. I was supposed to travel around the States and see my old college friends for 6 months before returning back home. In December 2010 I got into an accident and busted my shoulder pretty badly. Surgery took place in Los Angeles in January 2011. Because of the surgery I was granted an EOS until the end of August 2011. I went back home at the end of August as supposed.

Now, it's been almost a year after the surgery and I'm still having problems with the shoulder. I visited a doctor in my home country (Finland) and have a statement from her saying that further examination/action will be needed. I also contacted the highly specialized doctor in California (who performed the first surgery) and have a letter from him as well, stating that he recommends me to visit him. I would want to go see the same doctor in California because he is a real professional, has a great reputation as a shoulder specialist, and knows my case exactly from the first surgery. I am afraid that I'll need another surgery on the same shoulder. If new surgery will be needed I will need many months for the rehab again. I also have all the receipts from my insurance company that it paid the medical fees for about 17,000.00 USD.

I am wondering how the CO will see my ties to my home country if I apply for another 6-month B2-visa now. Last year I graduated from a Finnish University with a Master's Degree in engineering and have not been working for anyone after coming back from the States at the end of August. Instead, I have been planning and researching business opportunities to start my own company but I haven't made any actual transactions/sales/investments yet. I have more than 13,000.00 USD on my personal bank account, so money would not be a problem for another 6-month visa.

Any opinions if I should use the VWP and hope everything will be done/checked/fixed within 90 days or should I be on a safe side if I apply for a six-month medical visa? Just wondering what they think if I do not have an actual job nor pay checks to show them?

Any opinions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Boiler 46,012]

Have you checked ESTA.

Why would you ned to be in the US for rehab?

[Finnboy 0]

Have you checked ESTA.

Why would you ned to be in the US for rehab?

Yes, my ESTA is fine, it is approved.

Well, if the shoulder needs another surgery, it will be pain in the butt for months and I would need to see the surgeon every few weeks to make sure the healing process is progressing as expected.

[Little_My 464]

What confuses me a bit (as a fellow Finn) is the issue of the cost associated with you returning to the US to get more treatment for your surgery.. Would your travel insurance really still cover these additional costs? I understand it covering the original surgery and doctor's fees related to that as the injury was a result of an accident while you were traveling, but this time you would be returning to the US for the sole purpose of getting medical treatment for an existing injury - I've never seen a travel insurance that would cover something like that, especially since you could also get very good (and if not free, at least very low cost) health care in Finland.

Regarding the tourist visa, I would assume the IO interviewing you would want to know why you require a B1/B2 visa when you are eligible for VWP, and since you've just been in the US for an extensive period of time and it seems you aren't really able to prove strong ties to Finland, it might be a challenge getting a tourist visa. On the other hand, Finns rarely have to go through much scrutiny - so you might get lucky.

[Boiler 46,012]

I read it that he was paying for his trip.