Medical exam during main petition or later?

[dentsflogged 352]

We live in a bit of an out of the way area and the nearest Civil Surgeon who can do my medical is well over 3 hours drive away.   Hubby hasn't got any remaining time off work and since we just bought a house, taking 2 days of unpaid leave (for some reason this surgeon splits it over 2 days - blood tests & etc day one, actual exam the following day) isn't ideal (all our savings went into the deposit & associated fees, so we're trying to build up the savings again) and until I get my drivers license changed over & on the insurance, he's hesitant about me driving that far alone (which I understand, given that if I were to be in an accident, it could cost.... well, lets face it, an OBSCENE amount)

Sadly there's no one that can drive me except MIL who is currently going through Chemo (which is the reason our plans changed & I'm AOS - she was diagnosed with Cancer literally 4 days after I arrived) so she's obviously not the best person to ask.

 

So long question short - must I submit the medical exam form I-693 with our whole package or can I put a throwaway line in there about "This form was not missed, I have an appointment at X point and will bring with me to interview/send in at a later date" or similar?    I've seen a few people on this forum who didn't send it in and have gotten NOIDs or RFEs for it so I'm just trying to make sure we have all ducks in a row.

[Crazy Cat 41,851]

 

13 minutes ago, dentsflogged said:

I've seen a few people on this forum who didn't send it in and have gotten NOIDs or RFEs for it so I'm just trying to make sure we have all ducks in a row.

Purposely omitting initial, essential documents can be justification for outright denials now.....

[debbiedoo 2,339]

you need to submit everything, in its entirety.

 

time off work is one of the hidden costs of these adventures.

[p-ana 933]

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

 

Read the “where to file” part

[dentsflogged 352]

2 minutes ago, missileman said:

 

Purposely omitting initial, essential documents can be justification for outright denials now.....

OK so basically even stating that I can't get an appointment until X date and will send it in later is a risk?

Guess the hubs is taking a few days off work *shrug*

[Crazy Cat 41,851]

6 minutes ago, dentsflogged said:

OK so basically even stating that I can't get an appointment until X date and will send it in later is a risk?

Guess the hubs is taking a few days off work *shrug*

You might get lucky....you might not........it is a risk, imo...

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

I think they will just reject the application for insufficient documents. You won't even pass the lockbox step.

 

Unfortunately, this is one of those things you must do.

[geowrian 22,337]

Until a recent policy change this year, many people submitted AOS without the I-693 just fine. AOS was taking over a year in many cases, and submitting the I-693 at the same time meant it would expire, so people filed without it and just provided it at the interview.

 

With a recent policy change, the I-693 is valid for 2 years so long as it is provided with the AOS application within 60 days.

Send the medical exam with I-485 to minimize the chance of having it denied.

Edited December 14, 2018 by geowrian

[Lyondellic 5]

31 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Until a recent policy change this year, many people submitted AOS without the I-693 just fine. AOS was taking over a year in many cases, and submitting the I-693 at the same time meant it would expire, so people filed without it and just provided it at the interview.

 

With a recent policy change, the I-693 is valid for 2 years so long as it is provided with the AOS application within 60 days.

Send the medical exam with I-485 to minimize the chance of having it denied.

Just curious where to see that I-693 is now valid for 2 years if submitted with AoS package? I can only find reference to 1 year on USCIS site. Thanks!

[geowrian 22,337]

3 minutes ago, Lyondellic said:

Just curious where to see that I-693 is now valid for 2 years if submitted with AoS package? I can only find reference to 1 year on USCIS site. Thanks!

https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-policy-manual-update

[eckoin 211]

I'm confused, I don't see where anything has changed on submitting I-693 at the time of the interview? It couldn't have been signed more than 60 days before filing, but says nothing about days after filing. Instructions still say:

 

"If you are applying for adjustment of status, you may submit Form I-693 in one of the following ways:

• Submit Form I-693 by mail, together with your Form I-485, Application to Register for Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to the location specified for your Form I-485 (see “Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-485”).
• Submit Form I-693 by mail, after filing your Form I-485, to the location specified in your most recent communication with USCIS (for example, a Request for Evidence letter from USCIS).
• Submit Form I-693 in person, at an interview in a USCIS field office (if an interview is required)."

So why can't OP just wait to do the medical until later and submit it at the time of the interview? 

[geowrian 22,337]

14 minutes ago, eckoin said:

I'm confused, I don't see where anything has changed on submitting I-693 at the time of the interview? It couldn't have been signed more than 60 days before filing, but says nothing about days after filing. Instructions still say:

 

"If you are applying for adjustment of status, you may submit Form I-693 in one of the following ways:

• Submit Form I-693 by mail, together with your Form I-485, Application to Register for Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to the location specified for your Form I-485 (see “Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-485”).
• Submit Form I-693 by mail, after filing your Form I-485, to the location specified in your most recent communication with USCIS (for example, a Request for Evidence letter from USCIS).
• Submit Form I-693 in person, at an interview in a USCIS field office (if an interview is required)."

So why can't OP just wait to do the medical until later and submit it at the time of the interview? 

"The updated policy, which goes into effect on Nov. 1, 2018, will require applicants to submit a Form I-693 that is signed by a civil surgeon no more than 60 days before filing the underlying application for an immigration benefit. "

 

Edit: I guess that doesn't explicitly prohibit filing AOS and sending it later, but it certainly doesn't sound like the intent. The I-693 is listed as a required document for the I-485, and another policy change this year results in more NOIDs and denials being sent for missing evidence instead of sending RFEs.

 

Edit 2: The actual policy document states that the I-693 is only valid if signed within 60 days prior to filing the I-485, if adjudicated within 2 years.

Edited December 14, 2018 by geowrian

[eckoin 211]

3 minutes ago, geowrian said:

"The updated policy, which goes into effect on Nov. 1, 2018, will require applicants to submit a Form I-693 that is signed by a civil surgeon no more than 60 days before filing the underlying application for an immigration benefit. "

Right, so you can't get the form signed in January and apply 6 months later using that form. But you can apply in January and get the form signed after; it won't have been more than 60 days before filing the underlying application, it will have been more than 60 days after. Am I totally missing something? 

Edited December 14, 2018 by eckoin

[geowrian 22,337]

7 minutes ago, eckoin said:

Right, so you can't get the form signed in January and apply 6 months later using that form. But you can apply in January and get the form signed after; it won't have been more than 60 days before filing the underlying application, it will have been more than 60 days after. Am I totally missing something? 

See my edits above. Nothing is stated about sending it afterwards, and the term "only" is used in the actual document, with reference to the exam being before the date of filing.

 

For comparison, would it make sense for them to not require the marriage certificate at the time of filing, and then just send it in later or at the interview? But they have been either rejecting or denying cases for that.

The purpose of the "less RFE, more NOID/denial" policy from this year was to prevent what they called "placeholder" applications. They described this to be applications to get into the system sooner with the intent to provide the documentation later, or obtain a benefit (i.e. authorized stay in the case of an I-485) without yet fulfilling the requirements.

 

IMO, the safe approach is to file the I-693 with the I-485. It may result in an RFE (or presenting it at the interview) if doing otherwise, but it's an unnecessary risk at this time given the policy changes.

Edited December 14, 2018 by geowrian

[eckoin 211]

11 minutes ago, geowrian said:

See my edits above. Nothing is stated about sending it afterwards, and the term "only" is used in the actual document, with reference to the exam being before the date of filing.

 

For comparison, would it make sense for them to not require the marriage certificate at the time of filing, and then just send it in later or at the interview? But they have been either rejecting or denying cases for that.

The purpose of the "less RFE, more NOID/denial" policy from this year was to prevent what they called "placeholder" applications. They described this to be applications to get into the system sooner with the intent to provide the documentation later, or obtain a benefit (i.e. authorized stay in the case of an I-485) without yet fulfilling the requirements.

 

IMO, the same option is to file the I-693 with the I-485. It may result in an RFE (or presenting it at the interview) if doing otherwise, but it's an unnecessary risk at this time given the policy changes.

Fair enough on the unnecessary risk I guess, but I don't think you guys are right. I-693 instructions online still say that you can bring it with you to the interview, and I-485 instructions still say 

 

"You are NOT required to submit Form I-693 at the time you file your adjustment application, but may do so if you wish. Because of the time-limited validity of Form I-693, you may choose to submit your Form I-693 after you file your Form I-485. You may also submit Form I-693 in person at an interview in a USCIS field office, if an interview is required. By waiting to submit Form I-693, you may avoid having to repeat the immigration medical examination."

 

The policy document states that 

 

" A Form I-693 is valid only when a civil surgeon signs it no more than 60 days before the date an applicant files the application for the underlying immigration benefit; and USCIS 

adjudicates the application within 2 years from the date of the civil surgeon’s signature."

 

So the (E: I meant) earliest you can get it signed is 60 days before filing. There is nothing about getting it signed after. And the reasoning for the policy update appears to make it easier for applicants and officers, so they don't have to keep requesting new forms, as they're now valid for two years--so the 60 days before rule is to avoid people using old I-693 forms they already have filled out prior as part of the application. 

 

"USCIS is now updating the way the current maximum 2-year validity period is calculated to enhance operational efficiencies and reduce the need to request updated Form I-693 from applicants." 

 

E: I mean, at the end of the day, I fully support doing everything right on the first try since they might deny the whole thing off the bat, but I just don't see how there is any basis to do so in this case. The documentation is pretty clear. Then again, I ain't advocating fighting USCIS so there's that. 

Edited December 14, 2018 by eckoin