ujongjoe

7 hours ago, SGtoMurica said:

Assuming your wife is between the ages of 18 - 64 years, here are the vaccines / proof of immunity needed:

1. Tdap/Td (every 10 years)
2. Measles, Mumps, Rubella
3. Hepatitis B
4. COVID-19 ("fully vaccinated"; no boosters needed)
5. Influenza (yearly)

Thanks!
 

Also looks like #6 - Varicella. She has pock marks, but probably not sufficient.

I read somewhere Influenza is only required seasonally, Oct 1 - Mar 31 but not sure if that has changed.

16 hours ago, SGtoMurica said:

Apparently its only Gonorrhea/Chlamydia that is required for age 18-24. Syphilis is required for all ages. The staff had it reversed. Syphilis is also the cheaper one. Gonorrhea is much more expensive because it is a PCR test.

 

Yes, I had proof of TDaP vaccine (within last 10 years) and Varicella immunity (IgG; valid for lifetime), so didn't need to pay for those. 

Thanks for the info. Did they require any other vaccination or immunity proof besides those?
 

My wife hasn’t had a vaccination (other than Covid) since childhood, and not sure she has any records (around 40 years ago). 

23 hours ago, SGtoMurica said:

Hello, how did your interview go? 

 

We just had our medical today and the physician (Dr. Chew) and staff were all very pleasant. We paid $500.04 each ($330 for Medical, $116 for CXR, $17 for Syphilis (VDRL), $37.04 GST). Was told it would take around 2-3 days for VDRL to be processed.

It was mentioned upthread that Syphilis testing is only required for those aged 18-24, is this true?

Also, I see you did not need the $117 Tdap or $75 chicken pox vaccination, was that because you had proof that you were up to date on those vaccinations, or… ?

On 4/4/2023 at 7:44 AM, FJT said:

Yes I wasn't able to prove I had immunity and the dr decided to order the blood test.

 

I dont know if when the consulate receives it after Dr sends the results over. I imagine it was instantaneous since it was e-filling. When he was asking me a bunch of medical history questions, it was on a web platform so I imagine the Dr just had to submit through there. I suppose you can email the consulate for more concrete details

From what I’ve read previously, it is sufficient for the doctor to make a determination of chicken pox immunity based purely on physical evidence of pox scars. Not sure if that has changed. 

5 hours ago, FJT said:

Just done with my medical. The doctor checked for the covid vaccinations.

 

The doctor will determine if you or your baby require any vaccinations. After the medical exam with the doctor, you will get the vaccinations by a nurse.

 

If you want to save money, get a flu vaccine elsewhere before the appointment and bring along the vaccine certificate. I recently got a free flu vaccine via my company's health plan. The doctor would have ordered for a flu vaccine if I haven't had one in the past 6 months.

 

In total I paid S$ 702 at IMC Camden.

 

Prices excluding GST in SGD

$330 ‐ medical exam

$116 - chest x-ray

$75 + $17 - 2 blood tests

$112 - TDap vaccine booster

Wow, that is pricey! Did they charge extra for being a new patient? I recall IMC charged me extra on my first visit (many years ago).
 

Assume the Tdap vaccine could also be done outside for cheaper too!

22 hours ago, bellez214 said:

they want me to ammend my birth cert and other supporting docs .

Wow, I didn’t think such a thing was possible, but a quick check on Google says otherwise. Do let us know how it goes!

On 2/19/2023 at 3:10 PM, breadlover408 said:

Hi all, sorry if wrong forum but I think this is for travel related questions too.

I literally (and perhaps for most) have not travelled since 2019 because of Covid (and because I was waiting for the GC), and a lot of things seem to have changed.
I have some questions as I've been reading stuff here and there regarding customs etc. 

I am going to visit Malaysia next week and have many friends and family whom I'm bringing food and snacks (of course) for from the US.
I would like to ask for those who have travelled to Malaysia recently:

1. Is there a customs declaration form now we have to fill in?

2. Can I bring 1 regular sized pack of strawberries? Do I have to declare this?

3. Can I bring in 2 sealed packs of salami and cured meats? (like the ones from Costco already packed from the shelves, not from over the counter deli).
I wasn't sure about this because it's pork...

 

4. My luggage is pretty empty. How much snacks (chips and chocolate) am I allowed to carry? (is there a limit? eg under US$100)?

Any help is appreciated, thank you!

Let us know how it went. In my experience, Malaysia is usually not super thorough at checking… but better safe than sorry. If caught, they can make things very difficult & costly for you.
 

If me, I would limit to packaged food only - no fresh meat or fresh produce. However, if you fly into Singapore first, you can bring in fresh meat and produce — there are no farms to protect here.

On 2/24/2023 at 10:03 AM, bellez214 said:

and my mom did not use our middle name in our birth cert. She has a different spelling. No other docs also.

 

During Uscis application, we submitted a affidavit about one and same person , and they accepted that and thats why got approved and proceed to NvC. but at the singapore us consulate they did not accept that. so confusing.

I would ask the embassy what they require if they deem the affidavit unacceptable. 

9 hours ago, bellez214 said:

this is a long process then. All my documents will be changed from birth certificate down to drivers license, naturalization, birth cert of my kids etc.Not only me, also ny sisters. 

You can change your birth certificate? That sounds interesting!

3 hours ago, FJT said:

Oh... I just thought that applying via CEAC for the NVC stage meant e-filling and only AIC would be equipped to handle our cases. Would you know about what are the different implications for e-filling vs paper? Like for paper, do I have to carry around a packet or something?

I have yet to go through the process yet (later this year - hopefully), so I’m not totally sure. My understanding was that you give the doctor the forms, they carry out the required procedures and then they send it in per the instructions on the form.

Others can correct me if I am mistaken.

36 minutes ago, FJT said:

Thats unfortunate... I was planning to go to IMC Camden for my medical.

 

Similar to Camden, Novena also has many other medical services providers. I hope we can do the entire medical exam in the same building/area.

If you read what Nj005 said carefully, AIC accepts e-filing, but it looks like their system is not ready yet. In other words, you are probably stuck with paper for both.
 

I agree with you, the AIC location should have an x-ray facility nearby or in the same building.
 

Comparing the two, both AIC and IMC have been in business for a long time here in Singapore, but one difference I see… AIC appears to be mainly one doctor and maybe one secondary. For IMC they have up to a half dozen working at each clinic, which can mean less waiting if you aren’t precious about which doctor to see.

14 hours ago, FJT said:

what do you mean by "everything done in the same building"? 

 

have you tried contacting the IMC clinics? sharing the contact details below

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/SGP-Singapore.html#step1

Approved Physician

American International Clinic
10 Sinaran Drive #10-10
Novena Medical Centre
Singapore 307506
Tel: 6397-7129
Email: enquiries@aiclinic.com.sg

 

International Medical Clinic
1 Orchard Boulevard #14-01
Camden Medical Centre
Singapore 248649
Tel: 6733-4440
Email: camden@imc-healthcare.com

 

International Medical Clinic
293 Holland Road #02-03/04
Cold Storage Jelita
Singapore 278628
Tel: 6465-4440
Email: jelita@imc-healthcare.com

The IMC location at Camden Medical can send you to the x-ray facility on another floor of the building. I found this out when I broke my foot and called them before coming in. If you go to their location at Jelita, you’d need to go to another location to get the x-ray done; not convenient at all.

18 hours ago, bellez214 said:

Hello, 

I do not know yet how much. We are still waiting for them to accept my mom. 

Should be fairly quick. If AIC can’t get you in, the embassy page has now added IMC which I’ve used many times — they can usually get me in on the same day I call, but that is for regular doctor’s appointments. If you do go to IMC, I’d recommend Camden so you can get everything done in the same building.

Appreciate if you can share how much you ended up paying at the newly appointed clinic. Back in 2017, it was S$190 - - already on the high side compared to other locations around the world. 
 

These newly appointed clinics appear to be very expat focused, typically charging a stiff premium compared to local clinics.

6 hours ago, Mike E said:

When the embassy has another clinic for you to use, you get type medical done there. 
 

So reload the embassy  web page each day. I would do it from a private window so that you’re less likely to get a stale web page.  
 

It’s sad the embassy can’t update its web page instead of letting people spin their wheels.  

The embassy in Singapore is pretty good about answering emails if you give them 24-48 hours. That is what I recommend.

8 hours ago, FJT said:

Yikes... seems like the clinic that usually does the medical exam is closed permanently 

In that case, they should waive the requirement until further notice. Probably best to email the embassy in Singapore for advice.

On 12/9/2022 at 11:20 AM, Yosemite said:

Hi! I'm looking for some insights regarding withdrawing CPF after renouncing Singaporean citizenship. Did you do it? Was it considered taxable? Thanks!

I am not a tax advisor, but my understanding is this: from a US tax perspective, a withdrawal from CPF is no different than a withdrawal from a bank account, you only owe tax on the interest earned each year. Plus, if you or your employer contribute to CPF after you become US taxable, those contributions are not tax deductible and must be included as taxable income each year.
 

One exception is CPF LIFE payments. The tax code on annuities has a special provision making the entire payment taxable as income if the funds were contributed while you were not US taxable (usually the case). For this reason, it is usually better to withdraw (or try to get an exemption) before age 70.

This works similarly in Singapore where you are either Chinese, Malay, Indian or Others (CMIO) because CMI are the 3 dominate races… they don’t really care about other small minorities (at least for the purposes of data collection). It only has meaning to individuals, and this results in everyone who is not CMI feeling like a square peg that doesn’t fit.

My wife had an approved I-130 (unbeknownst to her at the time) when she landed in LAX last month (Dec, 2022), luckily the officer didn’t ask about that, but did ask why she was traveling with two US citizen children (it’s because their father is a US citizen) and asked how long she was staying… wanted to see the return tickets. We have already returned overseas now. We will probably make another trip to the US before the process to get her IR1 visa is completed. We live abroad, and have clear intentions of staying for at least the rest of this year (2023). Even after they issue “the packet” we do not want to execute it until 2024, for tax reasons, so she will continue to use her valid B1/B2.

2 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

If you work for a major US company, are you planning to get a job transfer to the US?  If so, that may qualify you for the much faster DCF process.  I know you may not be in a hurry, but DCF has advantages other than the very fast timeframe -- it will let you bypass USCIS and NVC altogether.  All the interaction and processing will be through the consulate.

 

Thanks for this. Yes, I am aware of this option, but I read that you must provide evidence of an eminent transfer back to the US by the employer - I do not have this evidence. I also do not know whether I will keep working after we move back. I wouldn’t mind, but could also retire. 

I’ve already got the approved petition now after filing it in Feb last year. Singapore embassy is pretty efficient, so we will wait until the later this year to proceed with the NVC. We don’t want to move to the US before June 2024. Once they issue “the packet” we’ll only have 6 months.

10 hours ago, Lil bear said:

How does it bypass the domicile requirement? 2 different   things You must demonstrate that you will be establishing domicile in the US either prior to or at the time the immigrant enters the US   You must either be already in the US when your spouse enters or enter together   What you do remove is tue need to have stable adequate income in the US at the time if the interview 

We will enter together. 

We have lived abroad for 26 years and will move to whatever state our daughter goes to college in the fall of 2024. We have enough to retire, so no issue showing adequate financial means during the interview.

The issue with the AOS is that the petitioner/financial sponsor must already have domicile (residence) in the US when they execute it. The waiver gets around that.
 

The only alternative — I work for a major US company abroad and should qualify for that exception under the AOS — but hopefully won’t need to.

4 hours ago, Chancy said:

*** Moved from IR1/CR1 Progress Reports to IR1/CR1 Process & Procedures ***

 

 

NVC says you are not required to pay the AOS fee, but I don't know how you can bypass the AOS fee payment step to be able to upload the I-864W.  Best to ask NVC directly -- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/ask-nvc.html

 

From the NVC Fee Payment FAQs -- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-1-submit-a-petition/step-3-pay-fees/nvc-fee-payment-faqs.html#fee9A

 

Who is not required to pay the AOS fee?

If you are not required to submit an Affidavit of Support form, you do not need to pay an AOS fee. For a list of scenarios that do not need to submit an Affidavit of Support form and do not need to pay an AOS fee, please visit https://nvc.state.gov/aos. The most common exemptions are for applicants with 40 quarters of creditable employment under the SSA and for applicants who will immediately gain U.S. citizenship upon entry to the U.S. under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.

 

Wow, thank you for spotting that! You may have just saved me $120! 
 

In that case I shall not pay the AOS fee and submit the I-864w (by snail mail if needed). We are not in any kind of hurry, so if this delays things it won’t be an issue for us. 

1 hour ago, Crazy Cat said:

I think it would be easier to just pay the fee and submit the I-864. I guarantee you will not easily convince NVC of the exemption.  Good luck.

One other reason I want to use I-864w is to bypass the US domicile requirement. I’m domiciled in Singapore. I could try to use my US employer as an exception, but hard to prove it is temporary when I’ve been working there over 20 years.

52 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

The I864w is an exemption from the responsibilities of the I864 and your circumstances seem to meet the criteria But the fee for filing is not “exempted”. The fee reflects the NVC costs of the assessment of the documentation The instructions for the I864 state the same info for the fee .. 

Thanks for confirming. This info is not readily apparent, but I did find a few websites that indicated the same. I think the only way out is expedited processing at the Singapore embassy, but that needs proof of eminent transfer from my employer, which I don’t have. 

1 hour ago, Crazy Cat said:

I think it would be easier to just pay the fee and submit the I-864. I guarantee you will not easily convince NVC of the exemption.  Good luck.

Thanks for the response. I was planning to include my marriage certificate (2003) and my latest social security statement which shows consistent contributions from 2003 until now. Should be 80 full credits, and most years I maxed out earnings-wise.