I got a letter specifically about completing form I-693. Is this USCIS's way of telling me I'll need it?

[peanutismint 35]

I had my medical in the UK January 2019, flew to America on K1 in Feb 2019 and submitted my AoS forms March 2019. Now I have a green card interview March 2021 and I'm hoping I shouldn't need to pay for another medical examination by a civil surgeon.

 

A few days after I received my green card interview schedule notice, I received a separate USCIS letter reminding me that I might need to complete form I-693; I understand this form must be partially completed by a doctor and then sealed and presented at my interview, however if I understand the regulations correctly I don't need this because I already submitted my medical and vaccination details in the form of a DS-3025 form with my K1 interview which should still be valid as it was submitted only 2 months after my K1 was approved. 

 

Is this letter about the I-693 form just a matter of course for USCIS to send or are they targeting me specifically because they lost my medical forms or because they need more info or something? AFAIK, the only thing missing from my medical form was that they wouldn't give me a flu vaccine at the time of my medical, even though it was flu season, so I might just need to go to a pharmacy and get one of these but then wouldn't I have to have a civil surgeon confirm this on a form somewhere??

 

 

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

No that letter is mostly random. Some get it, some don't.

[peanutismint 35]

Thanks! That's what I expected. I'm also hedging my bets as to whether I need to get a flu shot becuase I didn't at my medical and don't want to pay for a civil surgeon just to 'add' the flu shot to my form. Worst they can say is "yes you do need this, your green card will be delayed another few weeks....", right?!

[Wuozopo 4,293]

23 minutes ago, peanutismint said:

AFAIK, the only thing missing from my medical form was that they wouldn't give me a flu vaccine at the time of my medical, even though it was flu season, so I might just need to go to a pharmacy and get one of these but then wouldn't I have to have a civil surgeon confirm this on a form somewhere??

You will probably need a civil surgeon to sign off on a new immunisation form that includes a flu shot. Had you been prepared and gotten a flu shot before your medical or insisted on one at Visa Medicals in London, you probably could skip the civil surgeon. Or if your AOS interview was after March 31 (not flu season) you wouldn’t need the shot or the civil surgeon. Civil surgeons who will do just the immunisation form without the full medical $$$ and TB test are hard to find.  You could also wait and see exactly what your interviewer needs from you, then go get it. 
 

Haven’t you already asked the question about three times or am I confusing you with somebody else.

[Ayrton 965]

20 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

You will probably need a civil surgeon to sign off on a new immunisation form that includes a flu shot. Had you been prepared and gotten a flu shot before your medical or insisted on one at Visa Medicals in London, you probably could skip the civil surgeon. Or if your AOS interview was after March 31 (not flu season) you wouldn’t need the shot or the civil surgeon. Civil surgeons who will do just the immunisation form without the full medical $$$ and TB test are hard to find.  You could also wait and see exactly what your interviewer needs from you, then go get it. 
 

Haven’t you already asked the question about three times or am I confusing you with somebody else.

If it's not the same flu season, no need to take it for the interview. I know someone was asked for it a couple months ago, but that was an unfortunate and wrong exception.

 

"If an applicant was required to obtain the flu vaccine at the time of the medical examination (the date of the civil surgeon’s certification governs) but a flu vaccine annotation is missing, the officer should only issue an RFE if it is still the same flu season and if it is reasonable to expect that the applicant will be able to obtain the flu vaccine within the time frame of the RFE."

 

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-b-chapter-9

 

And if a waiver was given, even if it's the same flu season, no need to take it.

Edited February 23, 2021 by Ayrton

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

40 minutes ago, peanutismint said:

Thanks! That's what I expected. I'm also hedging my bets as to whether I need to get a flu shot becuase I didn't at my medical and don't want to pay for a civil surgeon just to 'add' the flu shot to my form. Worst they can say is "yes you do need this, your green card will be delayed another few weeks....", right?!

Exactly. Like I and one other person who had their interview just recently stated in the other post we weren't asked about the flu shot even though we're in the same situation as the OP. 

 

No need to go crazy for a flu shot and a civil surgeon now. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, Letspaintcookies said:

Exactly. Like I and one other person who had their interview just recently stated in the other post we weren't asked about the flu shot even though we're in the same situation as the OP. 

 

No need to go crazy for a flu shot and a civil surgeon now. 

Based on your timeline, it appears your visa medical exam was prior to Oct 1, so the flu shot was waived for “not flu season” meaning you were as complete as possible on the date you were signed off and no flu shot needed. The OP’s exam was during flu season and not signed off or waived by the panel physician. It is still flu season until March 31 which would typically require a flu shot for this season since he has none on record nor signed off as complete. But as I said before, at this point just wait and see what the officer says. They don’t always study the nuances of requirements for K1s and could let it go. 

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

21 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

Based on your timeline, it appears your visa medical exam was prior to Oct 1, so the flu shot was waived for “not flu season” meaning you were as complete as possible on the date you were signed off and no flu shot needed. The OP’s exam was during flu season and not signed off or waived by the panel physician. It is still flu season until March 31 which would typically require a flu shot for this season since he has none on record nor signed off as complete. But as I said before, at this point just wait and see what the officer says. They don’t always study the nuances of requirements for K1s and could let it go. 

This is the other topic I was referring too were somebody who should have been good to go received a RFE for a missing flu shot.

 

I missed the part that @peanutismint doesn't received it even he should have during his medical. 

[Ayrton 965]

8 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

Based on your timeline, it appears your visa medical exam was prior to Oct 1, so the flu shot was waived for “not flu season” meaning you were as complete as possible on the date you were signed off and no flu shot needed. The OP’s exam was during flu season and not signed off or waived by the panel physician. It is still flu season until March 31 which would typically require a flu shot for this season since he has none on record nor signed off as complete. But as I said before, at this point just wait and see what the officer says. They don’t always study the nuances of requirements for K1s and could let it go. 

It shouldn't matter if it's flu season now. If it's not the SAME flu season, then it's not required. OPs medical was done 2 years ago. What matter is the day the medical was performed. I posted the instructions above.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, Ayrton said:

It shouldn't matter if it's flu season now. If it's not the SAME flu season, then it's not required. OPs medical was done 2 years ago. What matter is the day the medical was performed. I posted the instructions above.

It is flu season. Flu shots are currently available. He was not signed off or given a waiver at his visa medical.
 

Edited February 23, 2021 by Wuozopo

[Ayrton 965]

3 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

It is flu season. Flu shots are currently available. He was not signed off or given a waiver at his visa medical.
 

Please, read the USCIS website:

 

"If an applicant was required to obtain the flu vaccine at the time of the medical examination (the date of the civil surgeon’s certification governs) but a flu vaccine annotation is missing, the officer should only issue an RFE if it is still the same flu season and if it is reasonable to expect that the applicant will be able to obtain the flu vaccine within the time frame of the RFE.

 

This accounts for the fact that the flu vaccine is strain-specific and only available for a limited time each year. The officer should not issue an RFE if the applicant will not be able to obtain the strain-specific flu vaccine that had been required at the time of the medical examination because:

 

It is no longer the same flu season; or

 

It is not the flu season at all."

 

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-b-chapter-9

 

Flu shots are different every year, if it's not the same, it shouldn't be required anymore.

 

 

Edited February 23, 2021 by Ayrton

[beasty 8]

i had to do the medical 2 times . somewhere is a time frame how long they are useable or not.

 

[peanutismint 35]

Just wanted to update - had my green card interview yesterday, medical/vaccinations wasn't even MENTIONED - got approved 👍

 

Another warning to anyone in my situation - don't bother paying for another medical/civil surgeon unless you're 100% sure you need to complete the I-693, because i didn't have to.