Medical questions

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thanks Nick. I've read through the form, just so much conflicting information so I want to clarify. I plan to take a letter from my GP about my depression.

I'm not sure who 'they' is really. The US Government. Very paranoid that I'll get something wrong or they'll think I'm not being honest. Want to be as transparent as possible so I don't always wonder "what if".

That sounds like a good plan.

On the "they" thing, I get it now. I was thinking in a different direction like if you had VH on your Knightsbridge form, you are done. There is nobody who would ever ask you about chickenpox again. Not the embassy, not USCIS, and you wouldn't need a civil surgeon, so I thought you meant the doctor or Walgreens where you chose to get Varicella just for your health. And I wondered how they would know what your immigration forms said and ask. I lost the plot somewhere.

[scotinmass 588]

Tempted to get the vaccine, thinking what if I get shingles when I'm older and then they question why if I've had the vaccine or whatever.

If someone were to tell the doctor that their mother told them they had chicken pox as a child, and for some strange reason the US government decided that in just this one single case out of the millions upon millions they have dealt with in every country in the world, that they were going to get the FBI or whoever to check this out and found out that said person had not had chicken pox, then obviously the person's mother got the chicken pox case confused with their sibling. Easy mistake to make.

[QueenOfBlades 224]

Do they check in the blood test at the medical for immunities or would it stand out?

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

If someone were to tell the doctor that their mother told them they had chicken pox as a child, and for some strange reason the US government decided that in just this one single case out of the millions upon millions they have dealt with in every country in the world, that they were going to get the FBI or whoever to check this out and found out that said person had not had chicken pox, then obviously the person's mother got the chicken pox case confused with their sibling. Easy mistake to make.

It is also very likely that if you were exposed to it as a child and didn't get it that you have immunity or had a very mild case of it. I wouldn't worry about it all that much, but rather just keep tabs on it for personal reasons, i.e. if you are woman and planning on getting pregnant...I would get tested for immunity or get the vaccine.

Worry less about the medical exam. I don't know about in the UK, but the doctor who does it in our city here is an allergist. No one would recommend you lie, but I don't think you need to overshare either.

[scotinmass 588]

Do they check in the blood test at the medical for immunities or would it stand out?

As far as I know the blood is only for an AIDS test. You have to sign a form to give them permission to do it.

You're stressing about nothing and you're over thinking everything. Relax.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Do they check in the blood test at the medical for immunities or would it stand out?

They check your blood for sexually transmitted diseases only.

Medically if you want blood checked for immunities you have to specify that. If you want blood checked for drugs, that's a different procedure. If you want a count of red blood cells, different procedure. The lab is only testing for syphIlis and gonorrhea, maybe chancroid, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum (whatever those are). They even dropped HIV testing since David and my husband went through.

David---your FBI thing cracked me up.

Edited February 18, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[QueenOfBlades 224]

You don't need a cover letter. You can answer any questions they have in person.

I would say I had chickenpox and save $100 or more plus a lot of hassle. The Knightsbridge clinic will give you a photocopy of your vaccination record they fill out. You can show that, or records from your GP, or flu shot record from Tesco, or shots from the health department. The civil surgeon will combine everything onto one form. Don't expect it to be easy or cheap. Here, read what I already said about it

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/412846-a-few-questions-help-please/page__p__5961637#entry5961637

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/350185-london-2012-k1s-from-noa2-to-interview-thread/page__st__1035__p__5946480#entry5946480

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/101202-faqs-forms-i-693-and-ds-3025/page__st__420__p__5923424#entry5923424

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/408622-tricky-situation-with-passport-and-vaccinations/page__p__5919506#entry5919506

Ok so - I go to the medical, and at the end when all is done, I ask them for a copy of the DS-3025? If they don't give me one, will I need a full medical again when I get to the US or will I still just need the I-693 vaccination bit? I'm going to call my GP and ask if they can test me for Varicella immunity or if I can pay for them to give me a vaccine for it.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Ok so - I go to the medical, and at the end when all is done, I ask them for a copy of the DS-3025? If they don't give me one, will I need a full medical again when I get to the US or will I still just need the I-693 vaccination bit? I'm going to call my GP and ask if they can test me for Varicella immunity or if I can pay for them to give me a vaccine for it.

They give everybody a photocopy of the Ds-3025 page without asking. There are three additional parts in the medical report that you don't get. All four originals go to the embassy. They are added to your file. Your entire immigration file comes to you by courier along with the passport with visa stuck in it. The envelope with your file is marked DO NOT OPEN. You turn It in at POE. They open it and check it then send it to storage. When you file for AOS, your file is ordered from storage and matched up with your AOS application. The original medical exam results are there in the file and you are not required to have another if you adjust status before a year passes.

So to answer your question

If they don't give me one, will I need a full medical again when I get to the US or will I still just need the I-693 vaccination bit?

What they hand you doesn't count for AOS. It has to be the original that has remained in a chain of custody and not something you could alter. If your shot form is completed with the shots appropriate for your age, the original one will be in the file so sending a photocopy with AOS is more of a reminder that you completed your shots abroad. If USCIS misplaces your documents turned in at POE, then you will have to do a full medical. It happens. If you don't complete your shots, then you do the I -693 shot record part and it goes in a sealed envelope from the civil surgeon with your AOS application. The medical portion..lab tests, chest X-ray report, physical assessment, etc ...are (hopefully) in your file and clear you of all diseases without the civil surgeon doing them again.

Medical file looks like this http://www.visajourney.com/downloads/Medical_Forms.pdf

[QueenOfBlades 224]

Thanks Nick, that post is very helpful. I get so confused sometimes. So they'll already have it all, that's good. Clears it up. So now I'll just try to get the varicella shot, and if not just get it done at the civil surgeon's over in Columbia SC. I just didn't know what I needed and what I am expected to need, but now I feel like I know what happens and helps put my mind at rest.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thanks Nick, that post is very helpful. I get so confused sometimes. So they'll already have it all, that's good. Clears it up. So now I'll just try to get the varicella shot, and if not just get it done at the civil surgeon's over in Columbia SC. I just didn't know what I needed and what I am expected to need, but now I feel like I know what happens and helps put my mind at rest.

You don't have to get the varicella shot at the civil surgeons office. You can shop around and find out where you can get it done cheapest. You can take proof of having it, along with your photocopy DS-3025, a list from your GP...any shot records..to the civil surgeon so he can compile them all on one official USCIS form. I estimate the shot will cost you $130-$150 plus whatever the civil surgeon wants to charge for the immigration form. Call around all the civil surgeons, explain what you need and ask the price. Some people call 10 before they find one who will do it. If they say you need a full exam, hang up and call the next.

Edited February 20, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[QueenOfBlades 224]

I will do that then. Phone a few and see. Might be a stupid question, but does the civil surgeon give me the envelope and I put it all together in one big AOS application, or does he send it off and I send the rest separately?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I will do that then. Phone a few and see. Might be a stupid question, but does the civil surgeon give me the envelope and I put it all together in one big AOS application, or does he send it off and I send the rest separately?

They are supposed to seal it in an envelope and give it to you along with a photocopy. You, in turn add the sealed envelope to your AOS application and mail it.

What they actually do in reality as reported on VJ is all over the place. They are supposed to know k1s don't need another medical, but it's often reported civil surgeons tell people they must have a full medical. So then you might pay $150 for the shot plus $300 for a medical. You won't know until you start calling and asking if they will do only the immunization section and for how much. It's reported they agree to fill out the immunizations, but then when the VJ member looks at the photocopies of the forms, they didn't sign their name. They say they won't sign the form since they did not perform the medical tests. I hope you have better luck.

If money isn't an issue, then just pay whatever they say. Don't forget that AOS costs $1070. Then there's 6 passport photos, marriage license and certificate fees...lots of money to come up with.

[QueenOfBlades 224]

Oh lord . That sounds like a right hassle. You'd think it'd be a bit simpler than that considering how many people have to get it done. There are some private GPs in the UK that offer it so I might try going down that road. I read on here about how the varicella vaccine is 2 shots and the 2nd one is 4 weeks after the first one, so another worry is that it'd leave it very fine between getting the I-693 and AOS application sent off and my I-94 document expiring. What a mare! Thanks for your advice NichNick, I wouldn't have any clue if it wasn't for your posts!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Oh lord . That sounds like a right hassle. You'd think it'd be a bit simpler than that considering how many people have to get it done. There are some private GPs in the UK that offer it so I might try going down that road. I read on here about how the varicella vaccine is 2 shots and the 2nd one is 4 weeks after the first one, so another worry is that it'd leave it very fine between getting the I-693 and AOS application sent off and my I-94 document expiring. What a mare! Thanks for your advice NichNick, I wouldn't have any clue if it wasn't for your posts!

For your health as you suggested earlier, it is two shots.

For immigration, it is one shot. You don't have to wait to get the second dose. If the 28 days has not passed they mark your sheet "insufficient time interval" and dose two is waived.

If you get it in the UK, then just make sure your medical is less than four weeks after the shot. Then you get the waiver marked because it was not medically appropriate to get another dose yet.

Are you clear on the other shots? You haven't mentioned them. Did you get them already? Did you get a flu shot?

Never mind that flu shot. I looked at your timeline and it will be summer before you interview....well past flu season. Don't get varicella now unless you want to pay for two. Wait until right before your medical exam.

Edited February 22, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[Anna Grant 169]

I've been looking at the medical questionnaire and searched on VJ and this thread came up.

It's about the 'Have you ever been hospitalized'. The only time I'm been in hospital was when I was about 18 (I'm now 50) when it was suspected appendicitis (um - it wasn't - I was severely constipated through stress - rather embarrassing). It is so long ago, do you think I should put this down? Or maybe leave the question blank for now and discuss it at the medical? Or am I over thinking again?