Do I need an I-693?

[NatO23 235]

Hi everyone, looking for some advice here please.

 

I had my green card interview on Tuesday, and today I received a letter stating that my I-693 hadn't been submitted and my vaccination records were incomplete. I'm a little confused here. I had all of my vaccinations done in the UK before I left, and the doctor signed and stamped my forms to say that this was the case. The sealed record was submitted as part of my K1, and as per the instructions here, I believe that I shouldn't have needed to send anything else in my AOS package:

 

If you are a K-1, K-2, K-3 or K-4 visa holder the I-693 instructions state that you are not required to have another medical examination as long as your Form I-485 is filed within one year of your overseas medical examination. If you are missing any shots from your overseas medical a I-693 vaccination transcription is required to be completed by seeing a Civil Surgeon to have certain portions of the I-693 completed and have the Civil Surgeon certify the form (sealing the original in an envelope and giving you a copy)

 

The letter from USCIS states that I have to see a civil surgeon and get him/her to sign and seal the I-693. Obviously, I'm very keen to avoid the cost of this after spending a small fortune in London to get everything done and ensure that all was in order. Did I do something wrong here, or is there something I need to do to avoid another doctor's fee?? NOTE: I did not submit an I-693, but instead included a copy of my signed record from the doctor in London (the original was sealed and taken from me) with the stamp saying that my vaccinations were all complete and I was ready for immigration.

 

Any advice appreciated, even if it's to tell me I made a dumb mistake! Thanks in advance.

[jayjayj 571]

You need to submit an I-693 during the AOS process.  Didn't the civil surgeon fill this out and sign it for you before placing it in the sealed packet?

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-693

[Dashinka 24,800]

Sometimes the medical exam information does not get properly transmitted to the local office.  I know we had to do a second medical exam since my wife’s shots were incomplete and the civil surgeon would not do a simple transcription.  This was a pain, but we didn’t see any other alternative.  Do you have a copy of your DS3025 and is it complete? If not, you can try to find a civil surgeon that is willing to just transcribe the immunization record.

 

Good Luck!

[TNJ17 1,329]

You needed to ask your doctor in London for an extra copy of the form for aos. And your medical is only valid for 6 months not a year. 

[NatO23 235]

1 hour ago, jayjayj said:

You need to submit an I-693 during the AOS process.  Didn't the civil surgeon fill this out and sign it for you before placing it in the sealed packet?

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-693

I never saw a civil surgeon in the US, because everything was done in England for my K1. I took care of it there as it would be cheaper for me to do so... looks like I may have paid £400 in the UK and now the $$$ I'll have to pay here anyway

[NatO23 235]

44 minutes ago, TNJ17 said:

You needed to ask your doctor in London for an extra copy of the form for aos. And your medical is only valid for 6 months not a year. 

Thanks, I'll ask for one. The USCIS instructions say that I have a year from the medical date before I need the I-693/civil surgeon submission, but if London won't deliver then I may be stuck anyway. It's annoying, but at least it's an easy fix. Not a cheap one, but an easy one.

Thanks for your help everyone, I really appreciate you taking the time to read and have input!

[TNJ17 1,329]

1 hour ago, NatO23 said:

Thanks, I'll ask for one. The USCIS instructions say that I have a year from the medical date before I need the I-693/civil surgeon submission, but if London won't deliver then I may be stuck anyway. It's annoying, but at least it's an easy fix. Not a cheap one, but an easy one.

Thanks for your help everyone, I really appreciate you taking the time to read and have input!

I don’t think you can ask for it now. Because you’re not in London anymore. You were supposed to ask for an extra copy of it for your aos once you get to the US at the time of your first medical before interview. I’m afraid you’re stuck with paying the new fee. But you may be able to save some if you can get a doctor there that will accept you vaccination records from London and issue you a new form. 

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

4 hours ago, NatO23 said:

Hi everyone, looking for some advice here please.

 

I had my green card interview on Tuesday, and today I received a letter stating that my I-693 hadn't been submitted and my vaccination records were incomplete. I'm a little confused here. I had all of my vaccinations done in the UK before I left, and the doctor signed and stamped my forms to say that this was the case. The sealed record was submitted as part of my K1, and as per the instructions here, I believe that I shouldn't have needed to send anything else in my AOS package:

 

If you are a K-1, K-2, K-3 or K-4 visa holder the I-693 instructions state that you are not required to have another medical examination as long as your Form I-485 is filed within one year of your overseas medical examination. If you are missing any shots from your overseas medical a I-693 vaccination transcription is required to be completed by seeing a Civil Surgeon to have certain portions of the I-693 completed and have the Civil Surgeon certify the form (sealing the original in an envelope and giving you a copy)

 

The letter from USCIS states that I have to see a civil surgeon and get him/her to sign and seal the I-693. Obviously, I'm very keen to avoid the cost of this after spending a small fortune in London to get everything done and ensure that all was in order. Did I do something wrong here, or is there something I need to do to avoid another doctor's fee?? NOTE: I did not submit an I-693, but instead included a copy of my signed record from the doctor in London (the original was sealed and taken from me) with the stamp saying that my vaccinations were all complete and I was ready for immigration.

 

Any advice appreciated, even if it's to tell me I made a dumb mistake! Thanks in advance.

You didn't do anything wrong . Chances are the panel physician in your country did in fact not mark everything complete.
If you can't get a DS3025 copy from them to proof everything was marked complete/or waiver request, then you need to see
a CS for the I-693 or risk a denial.
There is a box saying complete that needed to be checked, you are saying he stamped 'complete' on it, perhaps that is the problem.
You can make an infopass to try to request to see your adjudicator but they may not agree to that.
Did you not keep a copy of the DS3025 for yourself after submitting one ? Then you can look and see exactly what it says and how it is
marked.
 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

13 hours ago, NatO23 said:

Hi everyone, looking for some advice here please.

 

I had my green card interview on Tuesday, and today I received a letter stating that my I-693 hadn't been submitted and my vaccination records were incomplete. I'm a little confused here. I had all of my vaccinations done in the UK before I left, and the doctor signed and stamped my forms to say that this was the case. The sealed record was submitted as part of my K1, and as per the instructions here, I believe that I shouldn't have needed to send anything else in my AOS package:

 

If you are a K-1, K-2, K-3 or K-4 visa holder the I-693 instructions state that you are not required to have another medical examination as long as your Form I-485 is filed within one year of your overseas medical examination. If you are missing any shots from your overseas medical a I-693 vaccination transcription is required to be completed by seeing a Civil Surgeon to have certain portions of the I-693 completed and have the Civil Surgeon certify the form (sealing the original in an envelope and giving you a copy)

 

The letter from USCIS states that I have to see a civil surgeon and get him/her to sign and seal the I-693. Obviously, I'm very keen to avoid the cost of this after spending a small fortune in London to get everything done and ensure that all was in order. Did I do something wrong here, or is there something I need to do to avoid another doctor's fee?? NOTE: I did not submit an I-693, but instead included a copy of my signed record from the doctor in London (the original was sealed and taken from me) with the stamp saying that my vaccinations were all complete and I was ready for immigration.

 

Any advice appreciated, even if it's to tell me I made a dumb mistake! Thanks in advance.

 

I would write back to the address they have asked you to submit the additional document and explain everything and ask for clarification. Quote them the bit you put in italics. State the date of you medical exam in London. Submit another photocopy of your DS-3025 shot record asking them to review it because all shots needed for adjustment of status are on it. Tell them that the panel physician in London has been instructed to leave the "results" section blank, but they have noted on page two that you have completed all shot requirements. 

 

Also there this you might can use: 

USCIS POLICY MANUAL

Volume 7 – Adjustment of Status, Part A – Adjustment of Status Policies and Procedures

A.  Initial Evidence

Chapter 4 – Documentation

Form I-693 is required for adjustment of status applicants who either did not receive a medical examination prior to their admission to the United States or who do not have evidence of an overseas medical examination in their file. A medical examination and vaccination record must be documented for most adjustment of status applications and completed as closely as possible to submission of the adjustment application. [8] If not completed overseas, the medical examination must be completed by a designated civil surgeon in the United States and documented on this form. [9]

 

Further information https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume8-PartB-Chapter4.html

https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume8-PartB-Chapter3.html

 

Basically ask them to clarify if they have no medical exam from London in the A-file or if there is a specific shot that is not documented and signed off that you must get.

Edited December 23, 2017 by Wuozopo

[NatO23 235]

11 hours ago, Ebunoluwa said:

You didn't do anything wrong . Chances are the panel physician in your country did in fact not mark everything complete.
If you can't get a DS3025 copy from them to proof everything was marked complete/or waiver request, then you need to see
a CS for the I-693 or risk a denial.
There is a box saying complete that needed to be checked, you are saying he stamped 'complete' on it, perhaps that is the problem.
You can make an infopass to try to request to see your adjudicator but they may not agree to that.
Did you not keep a copy of the DS3025 for yourself after submitting one ? Then you can look and see exactly what it says and how it is
marked.
 

I did keep a copy of it, and I've made another copy just to be sure I have it backed up. The original was sent to the consulate for my medical, but I was never given anything back - now I just have the copy, which appears to be where the problem is coming in. The copy has the box checked saying that my US vaccination requirements are complete, and there's a stamp there too with the details of the doctor's office. I also have the original record of the vaccinations I received at the K1 medical, which I can submit too. Thanks for your help - I'll see what I can do with the documents I have, but I definitely won't risk a denial. 

[NatO23 235]

2 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

 

I would write back to the address they have asked you to submit the additional document and explain everything and ask for clarification. Quote them the bit you put in italics. State the date of you medical exam in London. Submit another photocopy of your DS-3025 shot record asking them to review it because all shots needed for adjustment of status are on it. Tell them that the panel physician in London has been instructed to leave the "results" section blank, but they have noted on page two that you have completed all shot requirements. 

 

Also there this you might can use: 

USCIS POLICY MANUAL

Volume 7 – Adjustment of Status, Part A – Adjustment of Status Policies and Procedures

A.  Initial Evidence

Chapter 4 – Documentation

Form I-693 is required for adjustment of status applicants who either did not receive a medical examination prior to their admission to the United States or who do not have evidence of an overseas medical examination in their file. A medical examination and vaccination record must be documented for most adjustment of status applications and completed as closely as possible to submission of the adjustment application. [8] If not completed overseas, the medical examination must be completed by a designated civil surgeon in the United States and documented on this form. [9]

 

Further information https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume8-PartB-Chapter4.html

https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume8-PartB-Chapter3.html

 

Basically ask them to clarify if they have no medical exam from London in the A-file or if there is a specific shot that is not documented and signed off that you must get.

This is so helpful, thank you! I definitely have everything done and up to date as far as the vaccinations go, and the form is filled in properly - your advice about the letter and what to reference is perfect. I'll give that a try, and see where it gets me. Thanks again!

[Wuozopo 4,293]

49 minutes ago, NatO23 said:

The original was sent to the consulate for my medical, but I was never given anything back - now I just have the copy, which appears to be where the problem is coming in.

You would never receive the original. That original was in the packet you turned in at POE and is supposed to be on your adjudicators desk along with the rest of the medical pages.  Two things might have happened.

1. Your A-file did not make it to your local office so they have zero record that you were cleared medically. New full medical needed. 
2. Your interviewer does not know all the K1 rules and that what you have is sufficient.

So try to sort it out by asking for details. One of my friends had a similar issue and got a cooperative Congressman's office to inquire basically...what is it that you want from Mr. Xxxx because you can see that all shots are accounted for if you look at the DS-3025. The RFE was cancelled and greencard issued. 

 

It's probably faster to write yourself and ask specifically instead of guessing. And no, sending USCIS  what you got from your GP doesn't work. It has to come from a civil surgeon (US) or panel physician (Knightsbridge London). 

Edited December 23, 2017 by Wuozopo

[yuna628 9,717]

OP: Do you have your DS3025 that you received from Knightsbridge? If yes, does it have two pages?

 

Does the letter you received basically imply they have lost the entire medical, or simply that they require the vaccination portion? Likely it is the vaccination portion they will want... and while yes they may have lost something, or the officer reviewing the case may be stupid about the requirements, the third possibility is that Knightsbridge screwed up the vaccination sheet to begin with. Kind of lengthy to explain, but some people used to not have a box ticked ''complete''... even if they went and argued with them until they were blue in the face.  Following a lot of yelling, they eventually started giving out a second page with language stating ''person is complete for immigration purpose'' (why I don't know.. would have saved more trees just to tick the dang box!) BUT the staff at Knightsbridge have a habit of 'forgetting' to give people the second page. The fourth possibility is, did you send a DS3025 copy along with your AOS package to sort of 'remind' them to go looking for the original? Longshot and may not have helped if you did anyway.

 

If you have your DS3025 you can go to a US Civil Surgeon, have it recertified/transcribed onto a portion of the I-693 and send it as your reply, with a strongly worded letter about the requirements. You can respond with that and a strongly worded letter quoting the policy manual requirements as listed above and also the requirements/instructions for K1s on the I-693 itself which absolves you of a new medical. Finding a US Civil surgeon to comply with your request and only fill out the vaccination transcription may take some calling and inquiry. Ours did it for about $30.

[NatO23 235]

On 12/23/2017 at 2:22 PM, yuna628 said:

OP: Do you have your DS3025 that you received from Knightsbridge? If yes, does it have two pages?

 

Does the letter you received basically imply they have lost the entire medical, or simply that they require the vaccination portion? Likely it is the vaccination portion they will want... and while yes they may have lost something, or the officer reviewing the case may be stupid about the requirements, the third possibility is that Knightsbridge screwed up the vaccination sheet to begin with. Kind of lengthy to explain, but some people used to not have a box ticked ''complete''... even if they went and argued with them until they were blue in the face.  Following a lot of yelling, they eventually started giving out a second page with language stating ''person is complete for immigration purpose'' (why I don't know.. would have saved more trees just to tick the dang box!) BUT the staff at Knightsbridge have a habit of 'forgetting' to give people the second page. The fourth possibility is, did you send a DS3025 copy along with your AOS package to sort of 'remind' them to go looking for the original? Longshot and may not have helped if you did anyway.

 

If you have your DS3025 you can go to a US Civil Surgeon, have it recertified/transcribed onto a portion of the I-693 and send it as your reply, with a strongly worded letter about the requirements. You can respond with that and a strongly worded letter quoting the policy manual requirements as listed above and also the requirements/instructions for K1s on the I-693 itself which absolves you of a new medical. Finding a US Civil surgeon to comply with your request and only fill out the vaccination transcription may take some calling and inquiry. Ours did it for about $30.

Hi!

 

Yes, I do have the DS3025, and both pages are there. One has the box checked, and the other has that line you mentioned about "complete for immigration purpose" on there along with a date stamp that has the Knightsbridge address on it. I sent a copy of this with the packet, with a note attached to it saying that it was in lieu of the I-693. The letter that I got back from USCIS after my interview stated that I didn't submit the I-693 (which is true, because I sent a copy of the DS3025 instead of seeing a civil surgeon as the instructions said I was allowed to do) and that my vaccinations were incomplete. My vaccinations were definitely complete, as I had a whole new set done at Knightsbridge and got the form signed/checked/stamped etc to prove it.

 

I think my next step will be to write that letter and quote the instructions, and send another copy of my DS3025. While I wait to hear a response on that, I'll start making some calls to find a civil surgeon will to transcribe everything as people have suggested. 

 

Thanks for your help - I really appreciate it.

[LionessDeon 2,060]

5 hours ago, NatO23 said:

Hi!

 

Yes, I do have the DS3025, and both pages are there. One has the box checked, and the other has that line you mentioned about "complete for immigration purpose" on there along with a date stamp that has the Knightsbridge address on it. I sent a copy of this with the packet, with a note attached to it saying that it was in lieu of the I-693. The letter that I got back from USCIS after my interview stated that I didn't submit the I-693 (which is true, because I sent a copy of the DS3025 instead of seeing a civil surgeon as the instructions said I was allowed to do) and that my vaccinations were incomplete. My vaccinations were definitely complete, as I had a whole new set done at Knightsbridge and got the form signed/checked/stamped etc to prove it.

 

I think my next step will be to write that letter and quote the instructions, and send another copy of my DS3025. While I wait to hear a response on that, I'll start making some calls to find a civil surgeon will to transcribe everything as people have suggested. 

 

Thanks for your help - I really appreciate it.

As long as the complete box is checked and the medical exam is within one year you shouldn't need the I-693.  The letter with the instructions quoted is good.  Other options would be an infopass appointment or contacting your congressman, as previously stated.    I hope you get it all resolved.

 

When yo get a chance update your profile to filing for: Adjustment of Status.  Good Luck!