$1250 Blood tests for form I-693...!

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

You need a different civil surgeon. Agree with the others. Get the shots elsewhere for free or cheaper. Then go to a different civil surgeon and take proof of the immunizations. For AOS, you should not even need Hep shots. You need MMR, Tdap, varicella(unless you already had chickepox) and the flu shot(during flu season only, which it is right now). See this chart about vaccinations by age > http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/civil/vaccination-civil-technical-instructions.html#tbl1

~ Moved from AOS from Family Based Visas to AOS from Work, Student & Tourist Visas ~

Edited January 25, 2014 by Jay-Kay

[Gosia & Tito 199]

Hi everyone,

today i went to the doctor (civil surgeon listed in the USCIS website) , she performed a routine visit , TB test , and she prescribed me blood tests to be done in an external laboratory.

I went to the lab and i asked for the total cost of the tests and the price was 1250$!!!

I thought it was a joke, but it wasn't!

Of course i didn't accept and now i'm trying to understand where to go and what is the average price of the tests.

The tests are pretty standard: MMR , Hepatitis A and B and Syphilis.

The same test would cost 60€ in Italy!!

Different surgeons will charge different. You can do it at other surgeon office, even another state; as long as they are USCIS listed.

Besides, that, you can also look at a clinic. Finally, in major cities, there are always certain days where vaccinations are offered at nominal costs sometimes even at not cost.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Thank you, my doctor says she wants to see the blood tests in order to make sure i don't have any condition, then she will tell me what vaccines i need.

Right, and as I said, getting tested for immunity is really expensive. Getting the shots, even if you already had them, is cheaper, and safe.

Lets say a guy goes in to the Civil Surgeon and he swears he had MMR as a baby, but he has no proof. CS can give two options: 1) test for immunity. 2) Get the shot.

Some people might say, "well I don't want a shot, I had it already!" Okay, so I say to them, getting another shot, even if you are already immune, is cheaper than doing a test for immunity. It is also perfectly safe. You cannot "overdose" on shots.

I'm not sure how to explain this to you if you don't understand. This is going in circles. Sorry.

[Boiler 46,176]

Perhaps your Spouse could translate?

[il_moe 2]

I perfectly understand, what i didn't make clear is that the doctor did not give me the options, she wants to see the results as she says that this is the procedure dictated by the USCIS to follow.

I already paid 130$ for the visit and the TB test, i wouldn't like to go to a different CS and spend more money to get the same thing.

I don't think i have the right to tell a doctor how to do her job..have I?

Maybe other CS don't follow the procedures correctly, and it is common practice to simplify things by doing it wrong?

If i could complete the form myself ,as i'm doing with all the other forms i would do it, and i wouldn't ask for suggestions here.

I will call a different CS to see if i can do what you suggest.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

The CS you saw is doing it wrong, or at least more complicated. $130 is pretty cheap, but she is also giving you the run around and having you pay for the syphilis test separately. Not to mention the issue with her ordering an immunity test instead of just getting the shots. And I hope you noticed Jay-Kay's post where she said that the Hep vaccines are not required.

Like I said, Dr. Blau, who has the "immigration medical" office is $200 everything included. This is all he does. I thought it was weird at first, but my husband had a nice and easy set of visits and no RFEs. Dr. Blau gave my husband the address of the county health clinic where he could get a free MMR. Pretty nice of him.

Edited January 25, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[Dzny85 3]

It does sound like they are trying to take advantage of you.

When I had my medical the only tests they did were for syphillis (blood test) and tuberculosis (chest x-ray), and then a general health check by the surgeon (glands and nodes). You can get the vaccinations you need from anywhere and present the evidence to the CS, it is not a requirement that they have to give you these.

[il_moe 2]

Ok, i will talk to my CS on monday to figure this out, if it doesn't work i'll go to a different one.

[belinda63 3,047]

Maybe the CS has a partial ownership in the lab?

[Nawlinshoney 7]

Not sure what tests you need, but the blood test and chest x ray are $120 . That was our price. So over 1,000 is just crazy. Keep searching and ask upfront what the cost is before you waste your time again.

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

I perfectly understand, what i didn't make clear is that the doctor did not give me the options, she wants to see the results as she says that this is the procedure dictated by the USCIS to follow.

I already paid 130$ for the visit and the TB test, i wouldn't like to go to a different CS and spend more money to get the same thing.

I don't think i have the right to tell a doctor how to do her job..have I?

Maybe other CS don't follow the procedures correctly, and it is common practice to simplify things by doing it wrong?

If i could complete the form myself ,as i'm doing with all the other forms i would do it, and i wouldn't ask for suggestions here.

I will call a different CS to see if i can do what you suggest.

They should not be sending you to a lab to be tested for immunity to all those things. Hep shots are not even required, so it makes no difference what your immunity tests to them shows. It sounds like this civil surgeon is just trying to milk you for every penny they can. I understand that you already paid them. Explain to them that you would like to receive only the required vaccinations for AOS without having to get expensive blood tests. If they still insist or tell you that other shots are required that are not, then you may have to cut your losses and just find another CS. That would still be cheaper than paying for those lab tests.

A lot of civil surgeons do not do their job right and overcharge people on purpose simply because they can. Sometimes you have to call around to find the best price and an honest CS.

Not sure what tests you need, but the blood test and chest x ray are $120 . That was our price. So over 1,000 is just crazy. Keep searching and ask upfront what the cost is before you waste your time again.

Your timeline shows you have not even gone for your K-1 interview as of yet, so not sure how you could have seen a civil surgeon for an I-693 and medical. I think you meant the cost for your K-1 medical, which is not the same as seeing a civil surgeon in the US. The OP is in the US and adjusting status from a B-2, so they have a different process and requirements than you have for the K-1 and AOS both.

[mrjack 9]

Listen to Harpa already. I could say that 10 times.

[ManCharsey 254]

I got MMR, Tetanus and Flu shots..everything cost me $240

[blk 87]

When I had my medical on the 17th of this month, the basic cost was $150 which included the physical, PPD test, basic screening blood tests & it was only for syphilis, it was also tested for Varicella as I could not remember having chicken pox that cost an extra $40 it showed that I did have chicken pox when I was younger lol, in total we paid $345 as I had to have mmr, td & flu jabs. So I do think that $1250 is way over the top just for blood tests.

Edited January 27, 2014 by blk

[il_moe 2]

Here i am..

I told my CS i wanted to get the vaccines (no Hep is needed after 18 years of age) to avoid the blood test,she said it was ok.

Today i managed to get the two vaccines i needed at the NYC State Health Center in Brooklyn, the price to pay is based on the household income, it ranges from $0 to $ 17,85 for the whole performance (it doesn't matter how many shots you receive).

Tomorrow morning i have a blood test for Syphilis in a private clinic for $80, this was the fastest way to have the results (3 days).

As soon as i have the results for the Syphilis test i will take all to the CS and she will complete the form.

Thank you all for your precious contributes!

Updates soon..