RFE for I-693 - Do We Really Need to Have a New Medical Done?

[BlueberryMuffin 2]

My spouse got a notice in his USCIS account that there was an RFE for the AOS because they needed form I-693, which he didn't include in the original AOS packet he sent to USCIS. My spouse followed the instructions in the RFE and used the find a doctor link to find a Civil Surgeon to sign the form, give him the vaccines he needed, and include the COVID-19 vaccines he got. 
This is what the RFE said:

Spoiler

What You Need to Do
Submit a completed Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. A
USCIS civil surgeon must complete and sign the form, and you must also sign the form. If the civil
surgeon refers you to a specialist, the specialist must include his or her medical exam results and
complete the proper sections of the Form I-693 before the civil surgeon may sign the form. Once
everyone has signed, the civil surgeon will place the completed Form I-693 in a sealed envelope and
give it to you. You must submit the sealed envelope containing the original Form I-693 that the civil
surgeon signed and the medical exam results; we will NOT accept photocopied Form I-693 and
medical exam results.
Civil surgeons must use the current Edition of Form I-693. You can find the current edition of Form
I-693 on USCIS’s website at www.uscis.gov. In addition, the civil surgeon must ensure that all parts
of Form I-693 were properly completed.

 

I was under the impression that if you filed the I-485 (AOS) within one year of the overseas medical exam, which we did, you didn't need to redo the medical. The medical examiner back in the UK found no class A medical conditions. In the instructions for form I-693 it says the following:

Spoiler

"What if I am a K nonimmigrant visa holder and already had a medical examination overseas?
If you were admitted as a:
A. K-1 fiancé(e) or a K-2 child of a K-1 fiancé(e); and
C. You received a medical examination prior to admission, then:
(1) You are not required to have another medical examination as long as you file your Form I-485 within one year
of an overseas medical examination; and
(a) The panel physician did not find a class A medical condition during your overseas examination; or
(b) The panel physician did find a class A medical condition, you received a waiver of inadmissibility, and
you have complied with the terms and conditions of the waiver.
(2) Even if a new medical examination is not required, you must still show proof that you complied with the
vaccination requirements. If the vaccination record (DS 3025) was not properly completed and included as
part of the original overseas medical examination report, you will need to have the Part 10. Vaccination
Record completed by a designated civil surgeon. In this case, you must submit Parts 1. - 5., 7., and 10.
of Form I-693."

 

So today, we went to the Civil Surgeon, and he insisted he needed to do the whole medical. We explained that my spouse entered on a K1, and we filed the AOS within one year of the overseas medical. I tried to show him the page with the above information from the I-693 instructions, but he didn't even look at it. The doctor glanced at the RFE and said, "I do this all the time, I know what I'm doing," which I'd like to believe, but I'm getting a lot of conflicting information. I held the instructions and said, "so this means nothing? Why does my spouse need another medical exam?" He didn't answer the question; he just told me the cost of the medical again. Real helpful. The doctor charged us for a full medical, the Hep B vaccine, and the tests for STDs. All that came to $640! Today he took blood and a urine sample but didn't do the vaccine. He said, "you're done," then left the office. When I tried to ask the nurse at the desk what the next steps were or if and when we needed to come back, she said, "I don't know, we'll have to call you" when I asked when they would call, she also didn't know. She didn't know the answer to anything we asked.

 

I'm so confused. I thought we just needed the vaccine record. Do we really need to do the whole medical all over again? Is this normal and what we need to do, or was there some miscommunication?

 

 

Also, I'm now confused about what office is processing our case. We had to go to the Providence, RI office for biometrics, but the RFE says to mail it to Boston, MA.

[powerpuff 6,697]

Some civil surgeons agree to transcribe the vaccination portion only but most don’t. It’s really about finding the one that would just do the vaccines and you’d have to pay less. But it doesn’t really matter now, you already had it done.

 

Yes, it is true that if you filed AOS within 1 year of the overseas medical with a panel physician, you do not need to do another medical. However, USCIS can still request it and there’s nothing much you can do. Arguing with them is unproductive, it’s just easier and faster to get the medical done and send it off.

 

There’s a good chance your interview will be waived. There’s been a trend that K1 AOS applicants have had their cases approved and interviews waived after an RFE for I-693.

 

10 minutes ago, BlueberryMuffin said:

Also, I'm now confused about what office is processing our case. We had to go to the Providence, RI office for biometrics, but the RFE says to mail it to Boston, MA

Mail it to Boston. As I mentioned, if you sit there and try to figure out how USCIS works and why it does things the way it does, there would be no end in sight.

[BlueberryMuffin 2]

38 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

Some civil surgeons agree to transcribe the vaccination portion only but most don’t. It’s really about finding the one that would just do the vaccines and you’d have to pay less. But it doesn’t really matter now, you already had it done.

 

Yes, it is true that if you filed AOS within 1 year of the overseas medical with a panel physician, you do not need to do another medical. However, USCIS can still request it and there’s nothing much you can do. Arguing with them is unproductive, it’s just easier and faster to get the medical done and send it off.

 

There’s a good chance your interview will be waived. There’s been a trend that K1 AOS applicants have had their cases approved and interviews waived after an RFE for I-693.

 

Mail it to Boston. As I mentioned, if you sit there and try to figure out how USCIS works and why it does things the way it does, there would be no end in sight.

Thank you for the information!

Yeah, I didn't want to waste time arguing with them or searching for someone who would be willing to only do the vaccines; that's why I just went and did it. I figured it probably wouldn't hurt to have the full medical on the updated forms. It was just that this doctor was such a condescending jerk to every single person I saw him talk to (me, my spouse, the nurse [he was really awful to her], another patient...), and he didn't even pick up any of the paperwork, so I was worried that maybe there was a misunderstanding or that he may have messed us around. Social Security insisted that my spouse wasn't eligible for a SSN when he absolutely was, so my faith in people is low. It's good to know he was doing what almost everyone does. I am a bit bitter about the cost, but getting to keep my spouse in the country is worth it, haha!

 

K1s who got an I-693 RFE are getting their interviews waived? Wow! That would be so nice. Fingers crossed! I'm so freaking tired.

 

I knew to mail it to Boston; I was wondering what office was processing it because the processing times are different, and I wanted to make sure my timeline info here was correct. But thank you! Yep, I've pretty much given up trying to understand what is going on at USCIS because my hair would turn grey.

 

Thanks again!

Edited January 5, 2023 by BlueberryMuffin
Typo

[Mike E 11,739]

1 hour ago, BlueberryMuffin said:

K1s who got an I-693 RFE are getting their interviews waived?

There are exceptions but in general the rules  are:

* RFE for I-693:  waiver 

* Notice of deficiency for I-693: interview not waived 

 

If money is no object, K-1s should always submit I-693.  

 

 

Edited January 6, 2023 by Mike E

[Milmauka 80]

Along the same line...

 

What would you do if 2 days before you received your AOS approval email, you got the RFE for medical (I-693)?  Would you postpone your medical and wait for the approval letter or would you just get the medical done?  I am thinking, if we get our approval letter and green card, no need for medical.  Or do you think that's nonsense, they know a RFE was generated and will not grant the green card until RFE is completed?

 

Thanks mil

[Mike E 11,739]

Green cards can be rescinded. 
 

If DIY

 

I’d  call USCIS to have a tier 2 officer call me regarding my case. If the tier 2 didn’t call the. With  10 working days before the RFE deadline I’d get the medical. 
 

If I was using a lawyer,

 

I’d follow the lawyer’s advice. 

[Polly3 18]

On 1/14/2023 at 11:18 AM, Milmauka said:

Along the same line...

 

What would you do if 2 days before you received your AOS approval email, you got the RFE for medical (I-693)?  Would you postpone your medical and wait for the approval letter or would you just get the medical done?  I am thinking, if we get our approval letter and green card, no need for medical.  Or do you think that's nonsense, they know a RFE was generated and will not grant the green card until RFE is completed?

 

Thanks mil

Can you explain what happened with you again? You received rfe and approval at the same time? 
 

we received an rfe on medical but we have already submitted it in October and now they want it again? It costs around $500 that we need to pay again. This is so ridiculous 

[Milmauka 80]

On 1/24/2023 at 1:52 PM, Polly3 said:

Can you explain what happened with you again? You received rfe and approval at the same time? 
 

we received an rfe on medical but we have already submitted it in October and now they want it again? It costs around $500 that we need to pay again. This is so ridiculous 

2 days apart.  and now we have received our greencard.  hehe

[Lusha 1]

On 2/1/2023 at 5:36 PM, Milmauka said:

2 days apart.  and now we have received our greencard.  hehe

How is your green card doing? It didn't get revoked, right? I hope everything is alright 

[Jessica and Umar 3]

On 1/5/2023 at 5:39 PM, BlueberryMuffin said:

Thank you for the information!

Yeah, I didn't want to waste time arguing with them or searching for someone who would be willing to only do the vaccines; that's why I just went and did it. I figured it probably wouldn't hurt to have the full medical on the updated forms. It was just that this doctor was such a condescending jerk to every single person I saw him talk to (me, my spouse, the nurse [he was really awful to her], another patient...), and he didn't even pick up any of the paperwork, so I was worried that maybe there was a misunderstanding or that he may have messed us around. Social Security insisted that my spouse wasn't eligible for a SSN when he absolutely was, so my faith in people is low. It's good to know he was doing what almost everyone does. I am a bit bitter about the cost, but getting to keep my spouse in the country is worth it, haha!

 

K1s who got an I-693 RFE are getting their interviews waived? Wow! That would be so nice. Fingers crossed! I'm so freaking tired.

 

I knew to mail it to Boston; I was wondering what office was processing it because the processing times are different, and I wanted to make sure my timeline info here was correct. But thank you! Yep, I've pretty much given up trying to understand what is going on at USCIS because my hair would turn grey.

 

Thanks again!

Hi! We are in similar situation and in Boston! My husband arrived on K1, and we submitted AOS in June. Just received RFE asking us to submit I-693 with a completed vaccination record section. What was the outcome of your case? And who was the civil surgeon you used (as I would not like to use the same one!)