Hospital refuses to writte letter for Emergency AP

[Chalandrae 32]

So,

I went to the NYC office yesterday and the (really rude uninterested) officer told me I ABSOLUTELY need a letter from the doctors about my dad.

The hospital REFUSES to write the note. Administration Said if they do it for my dad they'll have to do it for everyone else. Is there ANY way to go around that or I just am stuck in this hell hole?

[aaron2020 11,651]

The burden is on you to provide proof that there is an emergency that qualifies you for expedited AP. Without proof, you are stuck. USCIS can not rely on everyone's words alone. If it did, everyone asking for expedite AP would need only to flap their gums and lie.

[GP&LG 14]

I'm so sorry - I work in a hospital in Ontario and we write letters for people ALL the time. The phisician's admin assistant or your dad's social worker should be able to write you a letter in 2 minutes on hospital letterhead and have the physician sign it. I would go back and keep urging them. Unfortunately you may have to threaten them to report this to the newspaper, go to your local MPP for help or even have a lawyer get involved.

There is truly no reason why they should write you a letter and YES as their administration says, they would have to do it for everyone in this situation. As they should. Insurance needs letters all the time from hospitals saying people are in the hospital for such and such etc. I would just go back and don't take no for an answer. Call the MPP if you have to get them involved and if you threaten to go to the newspaper I bet you'll have a letter in your hands quickly. No hospital likes bad publicity

Good luck!

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

If you have POA over your dad the hospital has to give a wirtten statement of his condition

if you do not have this, he is responsible for himself or his wife is and they don't have to provide you with anything

This is not Canda / the hospitals and doctors are governed here by privacy laws

Edited July 14, 2016 by Adil & Jeanne

[aaron2020 11,651]

If you have POA over your dad the hospital has to give a wirtten statement of his condition

if you do not have this, he is responsible for himself or his wife is and they don't have to provide you with anything

This is not Canda / the hospitals and doctors are governed here by privacy laws

OP's father is hospitalized in Canada. That's why she needs AP; to go see him without abandoning her AOS.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

You must have the letter so contact one or all of the doctors directly and request the letter, you may also find a

sympathetic nurse who will ask the doctor, forget administration. It is in the best interest of your Dad for you to be there and the

doctors would realize this.

[NikLR 13,232]

If you have POA over your dad the hospital has to give a wirtten statement of his condition

if you do not have this, he is responsible for himself or his wife is and they don't have to provide you with anything

This is not Canda / the hospitals and doctors are governed here by privacy laws

Sorry but Canada has significantlysignificantly more strict privacy laws than the USA does. https://techvibes.com/2014/10/09/how-canadas-privacy-laws-differ-from-those-in-us-europe-2014-10-09

[Chalandrae 32]

Ok, after multiple calls and my brother in law going to the hospital to talk to my father's doctor directly, we got a note. I do not have access to a fax right now, will a picture of the note (there is a date on it ) work?

[NikLR 13,232]

Ok, after multiple calls and my brother in law going to the hospital to talk to my father's doctor directly, we got a note. I do not have access to a fax right now, will a picture of the note (there is a date on it ) work?

a photo or scanned copy should work.

I use hellofax via email when i need ro fax documents. Can your brother scan and email you the attachment so you can email/fax it as necessary?

[Unidentified 2,930]

Ok, after multiple calls and my brother in law going to the hospital to talk to my father's doctor directly, we got a note. I do not have access to a fax right now, will a picture of the note (there is a date on it ) work?

Yes a scanned and emailed version of it or photo works. I didn't have time to wait for the letter in the mail all the way from Sweden so my brother scanned and emailed it and USCIS accepted it.

When you go back ( don't know if they told you, they didn't tell me until I was there...) you also need to bring 2 passport photos and your case number for your AOS. I am fairly certain you won't have to pay for the Emergency AP if you have proof that you've already applied for the regular AP. We had to pay $360 even though we had the case number for the regular AP but it wasn't in the system yet.

Good luck!

[Chalandrae 32]

Yes a scanned and emailed version of it or photo works. I didn't have time to wait for the letter in the mail all the way from Sweden so my brother scanned and emailed it and USCIS accepted it.

When you go back ( don't know if they told you, they didn't tell me until I was there...) you also need to bring 2 passport photos and your case number for your AOS. I am fairly certain you won't have to pay for the Emergency AP if you have proof that you've already applied for the regular AP. We had to pay $360 even though we had the case number for the regular AP but it wasn't in the system yet.

Good luck!

Thankfully my husband was there and was able to finish the discussion for me (anxiety sucks). He mentionned the photos, but I actually filled the form and added everything they ask for. Decided to consider it like a different application and take no chances, but the officer mentionned to make sure I have my receipt number for my regular AP to avoid paying the fees. I brought all my I-797 wednesday and will bring them tomorrow (Later today... oops).

If everything goes well and I am approved, we leave almost immediately after I have the AP in my hand.

Getting the note was a hassle. Plus, no one wanted to actually write it in English. Thankfully, my Brother in Law was able to see my father's doctor and explain the whole situation and he actually wrote it in English. ( I could translate it, but as I am not 100% Bilingual, I try not to translate official documents)

Edited July 15, 2016 by Chalandrae

[Unidentified 2,930]

Thankfully my husband was there and was able to finish the discussion for me (anxiety sucks). He mentionned the photos, but I actually filled the form and added everything they ask for. Decided to consider it like a different application and take no chances, but the officer mentionned to make sure I have my receipt number for my regular AP to avoid paying the fees. I brought all my I-797 wednesday and will bring them tomorrow (Later today... oops).

If everything goes well and I am approved, we leave almost immediately after I have the AP in my hand.

Getting the note was a hassle. Plus, no one wanted to actually write it in English. Thankfully, my Brother in Law was able to see my father's doctor and explain the whole situation and he actually wrote it in English. ( I could translate it, but as I am not 100% Bilingual, I try not to translate official documents)

I think it's horrible that they refused to give you a note. And I am assuming your brother explained to them you can't travel to see him without it? You should report them. I think the comment "If we write one for you we have to write one for everyone" was horrible. Yes! They need to write one for everyone, everyone has the right to go see their loved ones.

It was good that they mentioned the photos for you the first time you were there. We had to leave the office and head over to I think it was CVS to get photos taken and then head back again.

I hope the rest runs smoothly for you now so you can leave and go see your father!

[Chalandrae 32]

The note was okay, I was approved and we are leaving tonight!

[Transborderwife 4,666]

The note was okay, I was approved and we are leaving tonight!

Bittersweet congrats

[NikLR 13,232]

I'm glad you're able to see your brother. Thoughts and prayers for you and your family.