the medical exam

[jw07 0]

Ok,I just got married and am about to start this LOVELY process that has me all stressed out.I've been reading alot on here,and i joke to people that i should become an immigration attorney with how much i have learned..(well,not really-but alot of poeple are very clueless in regards to immigration matters that i feel knowledgable in comparison-so many people have said to me "but your canadian,our neighbor,can't you just stay here and everything will be fine?" uh,no.)but at the same time,i'm still confused about alot of things and sometimes,after reading SO much,i start to second guess everything.

I have a ton of questions but i'll just post a couple for now.I came here from Canada on a visit and ended up getting married (was not planned) and so i do not have a stamp in my passport or really,any evidence of my entry aside from *MAYBE* if i dig around i can find my ticket stubs from my flight here.The customs officer asked me a couple questions and only glanced at my passport,and i know from previously hellish entries that normally,atleast something is entered into their computer.So,is this going to pose any problems regarding the paperwork for AOS-specifically where they ask for copies of the passport with entry stamps etc--what do i do, if anything?

Second question- i will be calling around here in Chicago to find a clinic with a civil surgeon from the "finder list" here on VJ, but i'm not fully sure what to ask when i call.I want to compare costs from different places,but when calling what exactly do i tell them that i need? I haven't had any shots since elementary school and i can't even remember what they were for.What exactly will i need to go in for and do i need to bring anything,aside from (i think)the I-693? (and if anyone here has any recommendations on a good place to go in chicago or burbs that would be great)

I'll spare you all for now by not posting my billlion other questions,i'll wait until i'm further along in the process. OH-one more thing,lol, is that my 6 month status here expires on May 22nd,07. I might not be able to file before that date due to financial reasons-so i will technically be out of status,and i'm going to file asap but will this be a problem?

Thanks everyone...

[StormnRolly 0]

I am sure someone will come and correct or enhance my reply as soon as they're awake. But to get you started if they didn't stamp your passport which is what they very often do when coming from Canada I would imagine that they are aware that you're in the country and filing the I-130 will need to be done at the time you adjust your status.

If you go to your local USCIS office they will give you all the forms that you will need (make an infopass appt or be like me and stroll in to get them). They even gave me 2 copies of the I-693 and Supplemental Appendix to I-693 (aka I-693A) Which you will need to take to the Civil Surgeon. Be prepared for quite a fee for the full medical... but do call around because every doctor charges differently. If you have a copy of your immunization records that is good or else you'll be paying to get quite a few shots also if you can remember when/if you had chicken pox. Because you should have had your tetnus, MMR, Hep B series since elementary school. I would just ask if the doctor is still doing immigration medicals and the cost. They will make you fill out forms of your medical history make sure that you don't have communicable diseases TB, HIV etc. So often blood work and chest xray and a mini physical from the doctor. I have no suggestions on who to see in chicago. I know that many on the list that USCIS gave me no longer preformed CS duties.

Your "out of status" will be forgiven when married to a USC. The suggestion would be to file your paperwork asap. Because if you do want to leave you will face difficulty in returning. Hope this helps a little, good luck,

Kristina

[Misty1979 0]

Sorry, this question doesn't really have anything to do with the original post, but I just noticed that StormnRolly is from the same city as me (Victoria BC) so I was hoping you would answer a question for me

When you had your visa appt, was it in Vancouver or Montreal? I keep hearing conflicting stories about where the appt's are done these days, and I'm hoping against hope that when the day does arrive, mine will be in nearby Vancouver. (Doing the IR-1 process, not K3.)

Thanks!

Edited May 1, 2007 by Misty1979

[StormnRolly 0]

Response given in private message... Makes me miss home hearing about it though!

[MissStacey 1]

Sorry, this question doesn't really have anything to do with the original post, but I just noticed that StormnRolly is from the same city as me (Victoria BC) so I was hoping you would answer a question for me

When you had your visa appt, was it in Vancouver or Montreal? I keep hearing conflicting stories about where the appt's are done these days, and I'm hoping against hope that when the day does arrive, mine will be in nearby Vancouver. (Doing the IR-1 process, not K3.)

Thanks!

Montreal is the only one that handles the CR1/IR1.

[ridley 0]

You should definitely try to obtain your vaccination records from your home doctor (or, well, my husband got them from some provincial source -- if you need more information, I can ask him who he contacted). Having a record of your last vaccinations will make it much easier for the nurses/doctors to figure out what vaccinations you're still lacking.

[MissStacey 1]

If you can't get a hold of your vaccination records in Canada- As in my case- certain years they don't keep anymore, You can go for a Titres test. They will draw blood and check what you have immunity for.

[StormnRolly 0]

yes I know in BC they only keep the records til you're 21 I think at the latest. So if you want your little card with everything on it you have to call your local public health center.

Kristina

[jw07 0]

Yeah-i definately don't have any records of my vaccinations,and it was over 13 years ago i had them,but i will try contacting my old health clinic and see what they have. If they don't,or it will take too long for it to be sent to me- how much does this titres test cost? And could i have that done anywhere,as well as any shots needed,and then take all that info afterwards to a civil surgeon?I don't have any health coverage here yet so it probably doesn't matter which route i take

To StormnRolly- I'm a little confused about the I-130 and what that is about, i have heard of it but didn't realize i needed it,as when making my checklist for all the forms etc,there is no mention of this form I-130. Can someone explain pleeease

[kim&james 0]

check this page for information on the I-130 and what to file for when both are in the US.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=i130faq

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=i130guide2

Basically what you should be doing is filing the I-130 with the I-485 as well as the I-765 (if you wish to work) and the Advance parole document (if you wish to leave the country, and that does include going to Canada. Now that you are married your immigration status going back and forth will be alot harder. On here I have read of other Canadians refused entry because they were now married to a USC.

Edited May 1, 2007 by kim&james

[misa 2]

You can get the required vaccinations and/or blood titre tests done anywhere and then bring those results to the civil surgeon when you get your medical done. Since you don't have insurance, it will probably be cheaper just to get the required vaccinations.

Not sure how old you are but the required ones for someone aged 18-64 are (someone correct me if I'm wrong):

- MMR (mumps, measles, german measles/rubella)

- Td (tetanus diptheria) - it's a series needed or a booster depending on what you had done before

- Varicella (chicken pox).

- Hepatitis B (19 and under)

- Influenza (age 50 and older)

With chicken pox, you may be able to give them a verbal declaration that you have had them, but it might depend on the civil surgeon.

Another thing, do NOT leave the country until you have your greencard in hand.

Edited May 1, 2007 by misa

[jw07 0]

Oh..wow...so i guess i can add on another $190 with the fee for I-130-good times! I'm just really surprised because i haven't seen anywhere that i need this form- i was under the impression that it was for people that aren't already in the US etc. All i was going to file is I-485,G325,I-693,I-765 and I-131 (and of course everything that goes along with all that) I haven't seen this form in anyone's checklist.I realize that most people on here came in on an actual fiance visa etc..but i know there are others like me that are adjusting from marriage only that were either canadian,or had a visitor visa etc.Upon reading the description of what I-130 is,I guess i just don't understand what the difference is between that and the I-485.

Edited May 1, 2007 by jw07

[StormnRolly 0]

jw07.... from the link that kim and james posted"

I want to marry my fiance/fiancee who is here in the US on a visa, can I marry him/her here in the U.S, and if I do, will he/she be sent back to his/her home country until the I-130 is approved??

If your fiance/fiancee is currently in the U.S legally on any type of visa other than the J-1 visa (the J-1 requires a waiver), and you are a U.S citizen, then you CAN marry him/her, and he/she will NOT be sent back to his/her home country unless the marriage took place while the spouse was under deportation or if your fiance/fiancee came to the US on a tourist visa with the intent of immigration and marriage. (This is considered immigration fraud.)

However, you must immediately file your I-130 along with forms I-485 and I-765. If your fiance/fiancee DID come to the US on a tourist visa with the intent of immigration and marriage, and you are not yet married, then he/she should return to his/her home abroad, and the K-1 visa should be filed instead of the I-130 to avoid a denial or deportation.

If you are already married, and your spouse came to the US on a tourist visa with the intent of immigration and marriage, then he/she should return to his/her home abroad, and the I-130 should be filed with the relative outside of the U.S to avoid deportation or denial. (Better safe than sorry)

Hope this helps. Unless you're in a hurry to get back home you don't need to file the AP... that saves you $170!

Edited May 2, 2007 by StormnRolly

[kim&james 0]

In a nutshell and a basic explaination, you are applying to adjust your status to Permanant Resident based on marriage to a US citizen and filing form I-485. Based on your marriage, a immigrant visa number is immediately available but you still need to apply for this, hence the I-130.

Have a read of the instructions on the I-485 form, it clearly states that you must qualify to adjust status and your using the I-130 to do so(an immigrant visa number is immediately avail as the spouse of a USC).

Send all the paperwork including the I-130 in one package to Chicago. Do not send it to your service center as instructed on the I-130 instructions as this is for processing of those people who are out of the country.