Medical exam at IOM in Moscow, need important information

[Lenchick 133]

12 hours ago, Anna33 said:

I've called them 7 times and spoke with 7 different people and they are very rude and mean.

They will not answer any of my questions , they say you must make an appointment and come in person to ask any questions!

They won't even answer simple questions like the cost of the medical exam, which i already know this information but just ask them this just to see if they will even answer this simple question.

Of course the IOM makes extra money for the vaccionations so it doesn't surprise me or my fiancé that they enforce this and try to withhold the medical exam from the embassy , this is typical Russian corruption .

 

Thank you for your response and advice , I appreciate it .

Russian corruption doesn't have anything to do with this situation. It's merely your assumptions. You could do your vaccinations in any clinic and bring them the vaccination record. Medical exam is an independent thing. They have panel doctors who are registered with the US embassy. Also, USCIS usually doesn't direct you or give advise on a visa process. They have all the instructions that you need to follow. That's why they didn't answer your question about the medical exam, because obviously this info is accessible online and they knew you are supposed to know.  Vaccinations is a US requirement not Russian. There is a waiver of course but its on you to prove and convince USCIS that you are entitled to it.  It might work for you or not. Final decision is theirs

Edited January 29, 2018 by Lenchick

[Anna33 0]

1- I choose not to do the vaccioanations becuase according to the Department of state web site, it clearly says that vaccioantions are "optional" . When and if I'm in the United States I will choose to try and do the waiver exemption that USCIS says is available .

Why are you telling me I can do the vaccionations in any clinic and bring the record with me at IOM?  My whole post was about me not wanting to do the vaccionations!   I am not trying to break any laws and I'm not trying to be sneaky and work my way around the system. According to DOS , vaccionations  are not needed for visa issuance . Why should I do the vaccionations at another clinic or at IOM?

I fail to see your point .

 

2-  the panel physicians are indeed Russian doctors . They are telling other k-1 applicants that they will not let them do the medical exam unless they also do the vaccionations. This is against what the department of state web site says about vaccionations being " optional" for k-1 visa issuance .  Two applicants that I know were refused the medical exam by the panel doctors because they did not want to do vaccionations. This is not strange to you ? 

The fact that the vaccionations also cost another fee besides the medical exam itself , I find this very troubling .

I know about Russian corruption , especially in the medical field , this is not my assumption and I don't appreciate the fact that you were so hostile in your reply to me.  

 

3-   In the United States when you call a medical clinic or facility and ask them a question that's already on their web site or questions that you may already have answers or instructions , they will kindly answer your questions with no rudeness or mean indignation like they do in Russia!  

So, what you're telling me it was stupid of me to call the IOM to ask them questions about what's going on with the enorecement of vaccionations and them refusing to give applicants their medical exam ?

 

I've lived in Moscow my entire life and have seen Russian corruption in all fields .

Why do you understand think Russian women are marrying western men ?

 

I asked a simple question here and most people gave me kind replies but you seem to have been offended by my comment of " Russian corruption " 

I will not apologize for that comment , however if I offended you then I apologize .

 

My United States fiancé was right, he told not to post questions about the vaccinations becuase the pro-vaccine crowd usually is very closed minded to someone who doesn't want to vaccionationate.

 

 

 

[Lemonslice 4,989]

In some countries [such as Canada - I can assure you it is not because of corruption there] the panel physicians will not release the results unless the vaccines are received.  It was never made clear (in Canada), if the consulate is the one with additional requirements OR if the clinics are making up rules.

 

Options I see:

- move to another country temporarily and have your file transferred there [look up if vaccines are compulsory in Belarus or Ukraine, for example]

- have your spouse move to Russia

 

[Lenchick 133]

39 minutes ago, Anna33 said:

1- I choose not to do the vaccioanations becuase according to the Department of state web site, it clearly says that vaccioantions are "optional" . When and if I'm in the United States I will choose to try and do the waiver exemption that USCIS says is available .

Why are you telling me I can do the vaccionations in any clinic and bring the record with me at IOM?  My whole post was about me not wanting to do the vaccionations!   I am not trying to break any laws and I'm not trying to be sneaky and work my way around the system. According to DOS , vaccionations  are not needed for visa issuance . Why should I do the vaccionations at another clinic or at IOM?

I fail to see your point .

 

2-  the panel physicians are indeed Russian doctors . They are telling other k-1 applicants that they will not let them do the medical exam unless they also do the vaccionations. This is against what the department of state web site says about vaccionations being " optional" for k-1 visa issuance .  Two applicants that I know were refused the medical exam by the panel doctors because they did not want to do vaccionations. This is not strange to you ? 

The fact that the vaccionations also cost another fee besides the medical exam itself , I find this very troubling .

I know about Russian corruption , especially in the medical field , this is not my assumption and I don't appreciate the fact that you were so hostile in your reply to me.  

 

3-   In the United States when you call a medical clinic or facility and ask them a question that's already on their web site or questions that you may already have answers or instructions , they will kindly answer your questions with no rudeness or mean indignation like they do in Russia!  

So, what you're telling me it was stupid of me to call the IOM to ask them questions about what's going on with the enorecement of vaccionations and them refusing to give applicants their medical exam ?

 

I've lived in Moscow my entire life and have seen Russian corruption in all fields .

Why do you understand think Russian women are marrying western men ?

 

I asked a simple question here and most people gave me kind replies but you seem to have been offended by my comment of " Russian corruption " 

I will not apologize for that comment , however if I offended you then I apologize .

 

My United States fiancé was right, he told not to post questions about the vaccinations becuase the pro-vaccine crowd usually is very closed minded to someone who doesn't want to vaccionationate.

 

 

 

For you to know German panel doctors don't release the medicals as well if you have even one vaccination missing. 

 

It sounds you are the one who is offended here. People told you clearly go and do your waiver but no one can guarantee anything. It might work or might not. Read the link from the manul that I posted. There is all information you need to know about a vaccination waiver.  And yes I fail to see the connection between Russian corruption and USCIS. Russian government won't  have anything to do with the decision on your particular case or vaccination matter. Russian panel doctors follow uscis requirements. If the US embassy tells them not to send the medicals without vaccinations, they will follow.  When you call or go to the US embassy, that's where Russian influence ends. This is US territory and they follow their own rules even if they might have Russian speaking employees who answer you. If you are going to be that argumentative and agitated at the US embassy at your interview it won't serve you well. I merely gave you the info. You blew it out of proportion. I wasn't hostile to you. 

By the way it's in many embassies they might be a bit rude to you because they have lots of applicants calling them and asking many questions. They might have a huge work load. And if you search here, you will find many people complaining about problems trying to reach USCIS representatives and getting rude or insufficient answers, not just in Russia but all over the world and even in the US. The immigration process is not always easy. But if you are calm and follow their instructions, it helps. So if they tell you to do the info pass, come and ask questions, it's in your best interests to do just it if you want to clarify this issue. 

[Anna33 0]

I apologize if you think I blew it out of proportion and I was not trying to be argumentative, my sincere apologies .

To respond about the waiver, the vaccine waiver is only available inside the United States during the adjustment of status stage.

I still have to do my medical exam in Moscow and then my interview with the embassy .

I was just simply trying to find out from other k-1 applicants that have passed through the medical clinic IOM in Moscow , if someone who doesn't want to do vaccinations , will they release the medical exam info to the embassy .

 

If German panel doctors are withholding the medical report until vaccines are done then there is a high possibility that in Moscow it will be the same .

I called again the IOM in Moscow and asked them this specific question and they told me nothing.

This is why I posted this question on the visa journey and if someone knows specifically the answer to this question I would greatly appreciate it.

[Lenchick 133]

52 minutes ago, Anna33 said:

I apologize if you think I blew it out of proportion and I was not trying to be argumentative, my sincere apologies .

To respond about the waiver, the vaccine waiver is only available inside the United States during the adjustment of status stage.

I still have to do my medical exam in Moscow and then my interview with the embassy .

I was just simply trying to find out from other k-1 applicants that have passed through the medical clinic IOM in Moscow , if someone who doesn't want to do vaccinations , will they release the medical exam info to the embassy .

 

If German panel doctors are withholding the medical report until vaccines are done then there is a high possibility that in Moscow it will be the same .

I called again the IOM in Moscow and asked them this specific question and they told me nothing.

This is why I posted this question on the visa journey and if someone knows specifically the answer to this question I would greatly appreciate it.

Usually the phone calls are accepted by people who are not officers, there might be someone on the phone who just gives a general information. You need to make an appointment and speak with an immigration officer as the woman on the phone told you. If you do this, ask all the questions that you are looking the answers for. Make a list. Ask them  if there is a risk you can be refused a visa if you oppose the vaccinations on account of moral convictions. Read the link I gave you and pick up some wording from there how to put it correctly using their terminology. Don't forget to share your experience with us. Good luck!  

[Anna33 0]

Thank you very much !

[Neonred 3,665]

Several years ago when my fiance and her daughter had their medical at IOM vaccinations were optional, however I had them do theirs at that time since they were much less expensive and made the AOS much easier (no second exam or vaccination transcript required).  This may have change, and I would not be surprised if IOM was using this as a way to make more money.

 

Good luck to you.

[Anna33 0]

I was thinking the same thing , and I believe they are using this to make more money.