Spokane civil surgeon recommendations and missing medical help!

[Meg101 316]

Hi everyone, 

 

So, this is my first ever topic post so I am hopeful that I have put it in the right area/s correctly. 🙂 

 

For the backstory, I had my marriage based AOSgreencard interview on September 10th 2020. I was advised at the end that my medical file is missing so my case cannot be further processed until they could locate it. I guess they couldn’t find it and I have just been sent in the mail today an RFE detailing that I need to send in:

 

a full copy of your overseas medical exam (including the overseas vaccination documentation worksheet)

 

OR

 

a complete form I-693, report of medical examination and vaccination record. 

 

In the first instance, I have contacted where I got the medical exam done in London (Visa Medicals in Knightsbridge) to see what they can give to me.
 

In the meantime, I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations or contact details for a civil surgeon based in Spokane, Washington that would be able to help me. Or just anywhere in Washington state?  
 

I have found a couple of contacts on the USCIS website but I really need this to be as cost effective as possible due to COVID related business impact on my husbands work.  I mean, it should be very straight forward as I definitely meet all the vaccination requirements & such already so I would think I just need someone to sign the form for me. 
 

I really hope to hear from anyone/someone soon with suggestions! 🙂

 

Forever grateful for this fantastic resource,

Meg

[Wuozopo 4,293]

@Meg101

 

You were given a vaccination form at Visa medicals. Look at it and see if it says you met all requirements for AOS or complete. If you had everything when you had your visa exam, it was signed off and is good for AOS without a civil surgeon. It will be in your file from London if they can provide it. Go find it and see what it says.  

[Meg101 316]

Just now, Wuozopo said:

@Meg101

 

You were given a vaccination form at Visa medicals. Look at it and see if it says you met all requirements for AOS or complete. If you had everything when you had your visa exam, it was signed off and is good for AOS without a civil surgeon. It will be in your file from London if they can provide it. Go find it and see what it says.  

Hi, thank you for your reply! 🙂

 

I know which form you are referring to. It has my photo on it and lots of tick boxes. At the interview, I gave the officer that document to show I had a medical done and I was complete for all my vaccinations (I have also had a flu shot in this season too, so I’m confident I am at least complete with vax) and he photocopied it but it’s obviously not enough! 😔🤷🏽‍♀️ 

[Zoeeeeeee 797]

1 hour ago, Wuozopo said:

@Meg101

 

You were given a vaccination form at Visa medicals. Look at it and see if it says you met all requirements for AOS or complete. If you had everything when you had your visa exam, it was signed off and is good for AOS without a civil surgeon. It will be in your file from London if they can provide it. Go find it and see what it says.  

 

58 minutes ago, Meg101 said:

Hi, thank you for your reply! 🙂

 

I know which form you are referring to. It has my photo on it and lots of tick boxes. At the interview, I gave the officer that document to show I had a medical done and I was complete for all my vaccinations (I have also had a flu shot in this season too, so I’m confident I am at least complete with vax) and he photocopied it but it’s obviously not enough! 😔🤷🏽‍♀️ 

I think the version that Knightsbridge provides the embassy with (and then ends up in the sealed envelope) has extra info, such as mental health, plus info re infectious diseases etc? And we are only given a copy of the vaccs side of things?

 

Although, having said that, if a civil surgeon does it here, they would only be doing the vaccs side of things too...

 

I'm going to go find my Knightsbridge stuff, see what it says on it...

[Zoeeeeeee 797]

Just checked my Knightsbridge exam - it's form DS-3025. And they apparently want I-693..

[Wuozopo 4,293]

8 hours ago, Meg101 said:

Hi, thank you for your reply! 🙂

 

I know which form you are referring to. It has my photo on it and lots of tick boxes. At the interview, I gave the officer that document to show I had a medical done and I was complete for all my vaccinations (I have also had a flu shot in this season too, so I’m confident I am at least complete with vax) and he photocopied it but it’s obviously not enough! 😔🤷🏽‍♀️ 

( @Zoeeeeeee read this too)

Every K1 gets the copy of the vaccination form, but not are signed off as complete. A K1 can get a visa with no shots so having that form doesn’t mean it’s “Complete”. So you gave it away at the interview and kept no copy? It depends on what boxes are ticked, what waivers were allowed, and how the results portion was filled in. 
 

Your entire medical report was lost by USCIS sometime after you turned in the white envelope at the airport. The medical consists of four pages, one of which is the vaccination page. (They only gave you a photocopy of the vax page called DS-3025) If Visa Medicals can provide a new copy of that four page report, then that will be all USCIS needs to approve you medically, if your shot form says “complete”. A K1 does not need a new medical exam on form I-693 if the overseas medical is provided and all shots were signed off.  So wait to find out if Visa Medicals in London can supply the entire four page report that cleared you of all diseases, mental health, etc.

 

If you can’t get your overseas medical report replaced, then you will have to start over and do the full medical exam, blood tests, TB test, and prove all your immunizations again to a Civil Surgeon whose reporting form is called I-693. You’ll have to call the whole list of doctors and ask their prices for an entire exam. It’s not your fault that USCIS lost your paperwork, but your are stuck with the cost and hassle of doing it all over again. 
 

Edited October 29, 2020 by Wuozopo

[Meg101 316]

4 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

( @Zoeeeeeee read this too)

Every K1 gets the copy of the vaccination form, but not are signed off as complete. A K1 can get a visa with no shots so having that form doesn’t mean it’s “Complete”. So you gave it away at the interview and kept no copy? It depends on what boxes are ticked, what waivers were allowed, and how the results portion was filled in. 
 

Your entire medical report was lost by USCIS sometime after you turned in the white envelope at the airport. The medical consists of four pages, one of which is the vaccination page. (They only gave you a photocopy of the vax page called DS-3025) If Visa Medicals can provide a new copy of that four page report, then that will be all USCIS needs to approve you medically, if your shot form says “complete”. A K1 does not need a new medical exam on form I-693 if the overseas medical is provided and all shots were signed off.  So wait to find out if Visa Medicals in London can supply the entire four page report that cleared you of all diseases, mental health, etc.

 

If you can’t get your overseas medical report replaced, then you will have to start over and do the full medical exam, blood tests, TB test, and prove all your immunizations again to a Civil Surgeon whose reporting form is called I-693. You’ll have to call the whole list of doctors and ask their prices for an entire exam. It’s not your fault that USCIS lost your paperwork, but your are stuck with the cost and hassle of doing it all over again. 
 

Good morning! 
 

Thank you for taking time to write to me that information and for your help.

 

I kept MY original of the photocopy of DS-3025 form. The officer at the interview just photocopied it. I made 100% sure I got it back. 🙂

 

I have attached a photo of my form, with my photo and personal details cropped out. Looking at the form closer, it isn’t 100% clear to me what all the letters at the sides are referring to in terms of being age appropriate but it does have a tick at the bottom saying K1 visa applicant voluntarily completed vaccination requirements.  When I had my exam done it wasn’t flu season as it was in the summer time but I do get a shot every autumn without fail. I have also had one done here since moving so I know I am 100% sure that I at least am not going to need anymore vaccinations. Unless of course they have suddenly changed the requirements! 🤷🏽‍♀️ 
 

I have been in contact by email with the practice manager of visa medicals. I am not sure that I am understanding her response to me asking whether I can get hold of the full report of my completed medical.  If you have the time, I would be really interested to know yours & @zoeeeeeee ‘s thoughts? 🙂

Edited October 29, 2020 by Meg101

[Meg101 316]

Screenshots of the email that I received and the document sent to me. 
 

I am not fully understanding why I can’t have access to my medical exam or have it sent directly to USCIS. Perhaps the embassy can help? 🤷🏽‍♀️ It seems like it can’t hurt to have the manager write a letter to show it was completed too. I am hopeful I won’t need to redo the entire medical.  As you have said, it’s not my fault this has happened and incredibly frustrating to have the burden of stress and cost now at a really difficult time for my family. 😔 Not that there would ever be a ‘right time’ for this to happen, of course! 

[Ayrton 965]

1 hour ago, Meg101 said:

Screenshots of the email that I received and the document sent to me. 
 

I am not fully understanding why I can’t have access to my medical exam or have it sent directly to USCIS. Perhaps the embassy can help? 🤷🏽‍♀️ It seems like it can’t hurt to have the manager write a letter to show it was completed too. I am hopeful I won’t need to redo the entire medical.  As you have said, it’s not my fault this has happened and incredibly frustrating to have the burden of stress and cost now at a really difficult time for my family. 😔 Not that there would ever be a ‘right time’ for this to happen, of course! 

What they said is they don't keep copies of the medical. All originals are sent to the embassy. And the embassy puts it in the envelope that you gave to the officer at POE.

 

I'm sorry that happened, but I think you will have to redo your medical with a civil surgeon and send it to your local office.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

@Meg101

 

The short answer is your shots are perfect and you need to go to a Civil Surgeon for a complete exam. Take that DS-3025  vax form and he will copy that info onto his form. Take your proof of a flu jab and he will add it as well.

 

I spoke to the visa medical clinic on the phone once because so many people on VJ were having lost medicals. They go from the airport to storage at the National records center. When you apply for AOS, they pull your file and match it up to your AOS application. It’s probably just misfiled and they couldn’t be bothered to find it and send it. Anyway, the person at the clinic said they are contracted to the embassy (Dept of State) to provide the medical report,  so send everything they have to the embassy. They don’t keep a patient file on you because you won’t be back as their ongoing patient. Not sure how true that Is. The embassy doesn’t store every immigrant  file. They put all your paper files—petition, interview stuff, and medical report, in that white envelope and you transport it to the US and hand over at POE. I thought with the clinic doing digital files now and the embassy doing more digital, you might get lucky. The spouse visa people at London have no white envelop because they are all digital now.
 

 But it sounds like the clinic won’t release anything, even if they did maintain a digital file.  The embassy statement says they can’t release anything and you would have to file with their “parent”, the Dept of State for a release to the USCIS. Who knows how long that would take and would it ever find it’s way to you local office. But if you try it, be sure and make it clear the exact office, address, and officer ( if you have a name). They will not release to you, but I don’t know how the INA confidentiality applies to going straight to your local USCIS office from the Dept of State. If you want to get on with the greencard, then the easiest is a new medical. But look into that Freedom of Information Act link if you like.

[Meg101 316]

1 hour ago, Ayrton said:

What they said is they don't keep copies of the medical. All originals are sent to the embassy. And the embassy puts it in the envelope that you gave to the officer at POE.

 

I'm sorry that happened, but I think you will have to redo your medical with a civil surgeon and send it to your local office.

Thank you! 🙂 Reading it again, I would agree with you that it sounds like they don’t keep any copies of what I am asking for. I’m just so glad that I managed to get a very quick answer from her and didn’t at least need to go around the houses looking for nothing. 
 

1 hour ago, Wuozopo said:

@Meg101

 

The short answer is your shots are perfect and you need to go to a Civil Surgeon for a complete exam. Take that DS-3025  vax form and he will copy that info onto his form. Take your proof of a flu jab and he will add it as well.

 

I spoke to the visa medical clinic on the phone once because so many people on VJ were having lost medicals. They go from the airport to storage at the National records center. When you apply for AOS, they pull your file and match it up to your AOS application. It’s probably just misfiled and they couldn’t be bothered to find it and send it. Anyway, the person at the clinic said they are contracted to the embassy (Dept of State) to provide the medical report,  so send everything they have to the embassy. They don’t keep a patient file on you because you won’t be back as their ongoing patient. Not sure how true that Is. The embassy doesn’t store every immigrant  file. They put all your paper files—petition, interview stuff, and medical report, in that white envelope and you transport it to the US and hand over at POE. I thought with the clinic doing digital files now and the embassy doing more digital, you might get lucky. The spouse visa people at London have no white envelop because they are all digital now.
 

 But it sounds like the clinic won’t release anything, even if they did maintain a digital file.  The embassy statement says they can’t release anything and you would have to file with their “parent”, the Dept of State for a release to the USCIS. Who knows how long that would take and would it ever find it’s way to you local office. But if you try it, be sure and make it clear the exact office, address, and officer ( if you have a name). They will not release to you, but I don’t know how the INA confidentiality applies to going straight to your local USCIS office from the Dept of State. If you want to get on with the greencard, then the easiest is a new medical. But look into that Freedom of Information Act link if you like.

I want you to know that I really appreciate the time you have spent explaining that. It makes me feel less overwhelmed and things make much more sense. I hope anyone else who find themselves in the position of having a lost medical exam, finds this thread some day and it helps them. I did do a search on here before posting but I guess I was holding on to some glimmer of hope it could be resolved without trying to find hundreds for a new exam. 
 

I did look at the freedom of information act link and quickly realised that that is a waste of time and effort. 
 

I will contact some civil surgeons in Spokane & see if I can get this resolved. I’ll post an update in this thread with the price and process for anyone who cares/is interested! 🙂

 

Thank you again for your time and support. 🙂

[Wuozopo 4,293]

5 hours ago, Meg101 said:

Looking at the form closer, it isn’t 100% clear to me what all the letters at the sides are referring to in terms of being age appropriate but it does have a tick at the bottom saying K1 visa applicant voluntarily completed vaccination requirements.

I never explained the waiver letters on your shot form.

• Those marked A are baby shots that are not required for Adults so “Not age appropriate” for an adult.
• The Tdap has to be within the last 10 years because Tetanus (the T part) is recommended every 10 yrs. Since you would not be due another now, they put the waiver “insufficient time interval” (B) meaning 10 years hasn’t passed for you to get a new one at this time. 
• Varicella History is checked meaning you had varicella (chickenpox) and are immune so Varicella shot waived.
• And F is the waiver for “Not flu season” because your exam was in the summer. So you were good to go because you were signed off on shots in London. You would not be required to get a flu shot had your medical file been found because on the date you were signed off, you were complete. But with a brand new exam, you start over with a new exam date of record. It is flu season now so a flu shot would be appropriate on a new exam. Luckily, you already got one so nothing new needed now. 

Good luck to you. Hope you find a good price. Unlike the contracted Visa clinic, Civil Surgeons can charge whatever they want to. Your civil surgeon does not have to be local or even in your state. 

[Meg101 316]

3 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

I never explained the waiver letters on your shot form.

• Those marked A are baby shots that are not required for Adults so “Not age appropriate” for an adult.
• The Tdap has to be within the last 10 years because Tetanus (the T part) is recommended every 10 yrs. Since you would not be due another now, they put the waiver “insufficient time interval” (B) meaning 10 years hasn’t passed for you to get a new one at this time. 
• Varicella History is checked meaning you had varicella (chickenpox) and are immune so Varicella shot waived.
• And F is the waiver for “Not flu season” because your exam was in the summer. So you were good to go because you were signed off on shots in London. You would not be required to get a flu shot had your medical file been found because on the date you were signed off, you were complete. But with a brand new exam, you start over with a new exam date of record. It is flu season now so a flu shot would be appropriate on a new exam. Luckily, you already got one so nothing new needed now. 

Good luck to you. Hope you find a good price. Unlike the contracted Visa clinic, Civil Surgeons can charge whatever they want to. Your civil surgeon does not have to be local or even in your state. 

Thanks so much for that, very helpful. 🙂 Sometimes I just need someone to explain things in a different way before the lightbulb goes off and i’m like.. well OF COURSE! 😂🙈
 

There are two civil surgeons local to me who still do it. I wanted them to be local just because I’m not driving here yet and my husband is very tied up at the moment so I want to make things as simple as possible.
 

On the positive, the estimated prices are cheaper than I imagined and have heard others pay. I am phoning back at 8am tomorrow to get scheduled in. I was advised there’s a 2-2.5 week wait but I’m going to ask to be put on a cancellation list. Can’t hurt to try. 🙂  Unfortunately the ladies who do the bookings weren’t working when I called.  I was advised the results take a week to come back. 
 

Fingers crossed I can get this medical done and the results sent back to USCIS before the end of November. 🤞🏽 I know I have the extra days given due to COVID but would much rather get this out of the way as soon as possible and clear up some mental headspace for other things! 🙂

 

Thanks again. You are a gem! 🙂

[Meg101 316]

Got my medical booked for 11th November. Will post an update on here for the process, price etc, afterwards! 🙂

[Meg101 316]

So as promised, this is my update: 

 

I went to redo my missing/lost medical exam for AOS this morning at Unify Community Healthcare in Spokane. I saw Dr Cox (a female Dr, the only one there who does the I-693 medicals!) 

 

It took 45 minutes and was much simpler and quicker than the one I had done previously in England. I was surprised at how easy and quick it was. 
 

I saw the Dr’s medical assistant first who gathered my demographics, height, weight, blood pressure, temperature etc. Asked a few very simple, brief questions about medical history. She said I look all set for my immunisations.  Then the Dr came in and literally only checked my eyes, ears, inside my mouth and listened to my heartbeat.  Asked if I have any mental health conditions and then said okay, all set, you can go for your bloodwork now after you sign this form (It was the I-693 - I just had to write my basic information, A-number and name on every page and then sign in-front of her. 

 

I had my bloodwork done and gave a urine sample and that was that. No chest x-Ray or other tests done. 
 

$225 was the total cost. Much cheaper than the exam I had done in England (£350 which is I think around $450) thankfully and much more reasonable than what I have seen some other people have had to pay for their exams- $600-700 or more.
 

I will get my results in around a week or less and then I have to go collect the sealed envelope and copy of the I-693 to overnight FedEx back to USCIS in Spokane. 
 

Fingers, toes and eyes crossed that it all goes simple from here now. I’m patiently waiting for this process to be finished. 🙂🤞🏽

 

I hope this helps anyone who may find themselves in my position in the future!