Civil Surgeon complaint

[alg_ 0]

Does anyone know what the official procedure is to file a complaint towards a civil surgeon? There are limited options regarding Civil Surgeons in our state and we picked the closest one to home but have had an awful and really stressful experience. As a K-1 I only needed the vaccine history transferred and I ticked the box on my I-693 form and told them but they had no idea what that was and made me have a new medical just so they can get more money. They refused to transfer the vaccine history from my DS-3025 saying the United States Government does not accept this document. They had no idea what it was at first and then they "called" someone and came up with this answer. I have pointed them to the Department of State and the CDC Websites as well as the I-693 form Instructions Guideline that make note of the DS-3025 document but they won't budge. They also managed to screw up my I-693 and not mark off MMR but only Measles because of a misunderstanding with my family doctor vaccine record after they refused my DS-3025. I got an updated vaccine form from my family in my home country and I called them before they sent out the form and let them know but they just sent it out anyway. Now they are refusing to redo the I-693 and correct their mistake. Have called multiple times trying to explain and resolve this but they are beyond unprofessional and incompetent and I do not use these words lightly.

 

Just to be clear, we will most likely using another Civil Surgeon and getting a new I-693 but I still want to file a complaint. Far too many people just suck it up and say that's just how it is but in my opinion this is misconduct and abuse towards patients.

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 08:21 PM by alg_

[K1visaHopeful 2,895]

Please fill out your blank timeline in reciprocity. 

Our answers help you while your timeline helps all VJ members. 

A blank to timeline helps no one.

I asked you to complete it last time I helped, and it's still blank.

[Gauchos 52]

I don't have an answer for you, but I had a similar experience. The civil surgeon told me that I should talk to my lawyer. When I told him that I was a lawyer he held his ground and we left. There's a thread somewhere here that has a list civil surgeons that I used to find a different doctor.

[Boiler 46,311]

Most civil surgeons from what I have seen only do the full medical so you need to shop around to find someone who will do just the vaccine.

 

As has been stated many times here best to get everything done before you enter the US

[alg_ 0]

3 hours ago, Boiler said:

Most civil surgeons from what I have seen only do the full medical so you need to shop around to find someone who will do just the vaccine.

 

As has been stated many times here best to get everything done before you enter the US

I have, everything is marked off on my DS-3025 except the Hep B which got waived for the last 2 doses. The panel physician did not mark it as complete for some reason though so I am forced to go through a civil surgeon.

 

Are Civil Surgeons allowed to force the full medical? The I-693 Instructions mention the specific K-1 case where only the vaccine part is done and they have to follow the instructions.

Edited Friday at 04:23 AM by alg_

[OldUser 7,949]

1 hour ago, alg_ said:

Are Civil Surgeons allowed to force the full medical? The I-693 Instructions mention the specific K-1 case where only the vaccine part is done and they have to follow the instructions.

They run the business and can decide what's worth their time?

[alg_ 0]

 

19 minutes ago, OldUser said:

They run the business and can decide what's worth their time?

Does that exempt them from following the rules? Question mark? Snarky answer?

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-c

Quote

1. Grounds for Revocation

USCIS may revoke a physician’s civil surgeon designation if he or she:

• Fails to comply with the Technical Instructions, Form I-693 Instructions, or fails to fulfill other responsibilities of a civil surgeon consistently or intentionally;

If the Instructions for Form I-693 say a medical exam is not necessary and they force people to pay full price, does that not mean they're refusing to comply?

 

[Boiler 46,311]

2 minutes ago, alg_ said:

 

Does that exempt them from following the rules? Question mark? Snarky answer?

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-c

If the Instructions for Form I-693 say a medical exam is not necessary and they force people to pay full price, does that not mean they're refusing to comply?

 

USCIS do not set the fees. No Civil Surgeon can force someone to use their services.

[appleblossom 3,358]

5 hours ago, alg_ said:

If the Instructions for Form I-693 say a medical exam is not necessary and they force people to pay full price, does that not mean they're refusing to comply?

 

It’s up to them to decide what services they offer and for what price, and if they only want to offer full medicals for US immigration they can choose to do so. Customers can decide if they want to use them or go elsewhere.

Edited Friday at 11:50 AM by appleblossom

[Lee Thacket 67]

20 hours ago, alg_ said:

 

Does that exempt them from following the rules? Question mark? Snarky answer?

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-c

If the Instructions for Form I-693 say a medical exam is not necessary and they force people to pay full price, does that not mean they're refusing to comply?

 

 

For what it is worth, I approached two clinics about having the vaccination only section of the medical. They charged $105 and $100. I chose the $105 one as it was 100 miles closer. The doctor did not see me at all. He just signed the form and, presumably, reviewed my immunisation record. I am sure if you shop around you can find some one offering a similar service 

[alg_ 0]

The I-693 arrived in the mail along with the copy. The envelope for the I-693 is opened in a corner, is that normal? The I-693 instructions say USCIS will return the medical if it is altered in any way. And the doctor's initials are over the seal when the instructions say they have to be under it, is that correct? Also the Civil Surgeon wrote "No documentation for Mumps and Rubella provided" but my vaccination record from my K-1 medical is literally in the documentation at the back showing MMR. Is this not a HUGE mistake?

 

 

On 2/21/2025 at 4:50 AM, appleblossom said:

It’s up to them to decide what services they offer and for what price, and if they only want to offer full medicals for US immigration they can choose to do so. Customers can decide if they want to use them or go elsewhere.

If the Instructions say K-1 visa holders are eligible to do the vaccinations part only, are they not breaking the rules? I am not talking about the prices, I'm just simply saying that they have to follow the instructions and the instructions say K-1 holders can skip the full medical. 

 

On 2/21/2025 at 7:20 PM, Lee Thacket said:

 

For what it is worth, I approached two clinics about having the vaccination only section of the medical. They charged $105 and $100. I chose the $105 one as it was 100 miles closer. The doctor did not see me at all. He just signed the form and, presumably, reviewed my immunisation record. I am sure if you shop around you can find some one offering a similar service 

Unfortunately there are only 6 or 7 civil surgeons in our location so the options are limited, would have to go out of state for anyone else. I don't mind paying for the full medical as long as everything is done correctly, which it was not.

Edited Sunday at 03:46 PM by alg_

[Lee Thacket 67]

Have you contacted the doctor about your concerns?  That would probably be the best thing to do before making any sort of official report.

 

Have a look at @boiler and @appleblossom's comment again to answer your question as to whether this conduct is "allowed".

 

Can you remind us where you are in the immigration process? Are you doing this in response to a request to evidence?

[Lee Thacket 67]

1 minute ago, Lee Thacket said:

Have you contacted the doctor about your concerns?  That would probably be the best thing to do before making any sort of official report.

 

Have a look at @boiler and @appleblossom's comment again to answer your question as to whether this conduct is "allowed".

 

Can you remind us where you are in the immigration process? Are you doing this in response to a request to evidence?

 

I have just looked at your timeline to try to answer one of the questions I posed you, but it is blank.

[alg_ 0]

47 minutes ago, Lee Thacket said:

Have you contacted the doctor about your concerns?  That would probably be the best thing to do before making any sort of official report.

 

Have a look at @boiler and @appleblossom's comment again to answer your question as to whether this conduct is "allowed".

 

Can you remind us where you are in the immigration process? Are you doing this in response to a request to evidence?

I have not called about the envelope as we got it late on Friday and it's still the weekend. Going to call on Monday but I do not expect any kind of help. I have called the clinic a dozen times since the medical and they have refused to help or do anything at all. I only got to talk to the people at the front desk and they seem uninformed about the procedures and instructions for the I-693 form. I was told to e-mail the assistant nurse all this information since she should know more but the only thing she did was call my wife and said "Your husband sent me a very long e-mail but there is nothing we can do since the envelope has already been sealed and sent out". It seems they are just refusing to help or even talk to me anymore so I am not expecting anything at all.

 

I am in the process of AOS-ing, my DS-3025 was not marked complete even though it technically was so now I have to go through a civil surgeon.

My DS-3025 has all the required vaccines with a B Waiver for the Hep B as there was no time for the last 2 doses, however the panel physician did not mark it as complete and told me to get them. I now have the last 2 doses of the Hep B, would it be possible to just send the DS-3025 in the AOS package with the proof of the 2 doses and a paper explaining the situation? I am just trying to find the best possible solution in order to AOS and not receive an RFE to further prolong the process.

Edited Sunday at 05:18 PM by alg_

[Lee Thacket 67]

You have started two threads recently.

 

One is about a problem with the doctor in your wife's home country and now you have a problem with another doctor. Sorry if I have got that wrong.

 

The first thing I would do is clarify your concerns with clinic that filled out the I-693. They probably have a better idea of what they need to do than you, I or anyone on here.

 

You could find another doctor to do the vaccination section. 

 

You could send off the paperwork you have and possibly get a Request for Evidence. (Lots of applications for AOS get them.)

 

Making an official complaint won't help the AOS application. That is not to say you should not do so if you want to.