Civil Surgeons in Alabama (long rant)

[mrschamp 0]

I came here on a K1 visa in April, married my fiance in June and now we're starting to file for my AOS. I understand that one of the first things I need to have is a transcription of my DS3025 from St. Luke's Manila where I had my medical exam. I made some calls and visited different clinics and I'm just baffled with the conflicting information these doctors have about the entire procedure for K1 visa holders. Most of them told me that I need another physical exam and the doctor won't sign anything that is done by another doctor. I explained to them over and over that a K1 visa holder does not require a medical exam according to the official I693 and I485 instructions. Most of them just shut me down and say they can't help me if I just want the paperwork because they have always done medical exams on K1 visa holders.

I read somewhere here (Civil Surgeons that don't rip you off topic) that in Alabama, Dr. Crow will do just the transcription for $50. So I called his office and spoke to someone and she said I don't need a physical exam. So, she scheduled me for an appointment and when my husband and I got there, the 3 ladies in Dr. Crow's office all told me that I need a physical exam. I said "No, I don't because I am on a K1 visa".

My husband and I try to reason out with them but they won't listen. They even told me that I need a copy of my visa packet. I told them "Mam, even if I shoot myself in front of an immigration officer, they won't let me have that yellow envelope" then she said well you should have made your own copy". I tried to make this one woman read the instructions from the USCIS website but she brushed it off and said 'I can't read that because I'm legally blind". I insisted that I talked to someone on the phone and they all shrugged their shoulders and said "It wasn't me". We drove from Huntsville to Birmingham to deal with this mess. I was getting frustrated so my husband told me to get back in the car and let him do the talking.

So he finally made this other girl read the official instructions and thought for a minute and turned around and said "Ok, we need a copy of her medical exam then come back here and we'll do the paperwork". My husband told them I don't have a copy of my medial exam because it was in the sealed yellow envelope and I surrendered everything to the immigration officer. They said they can't help me if I can't provide that. I found out later that the lady who does the immigration stuff at Dr. Crow's office is on a maternity leave. The 3 ladies I saw in his office should have just told me that they don't know the process and I am better off scheduling an appointment when the immigration lady is there. But after all that drama, I don't think I'd want to go back in there and deal with arro***t people who don't even have an idea how the process works.

So since we're in Birmingham already, thought I check out other civil surgeons in the area. We found Dr. Parsa and his staff told me that they are familiar with the process and I don't need another medical exam. Good news, right? Finally! She told me I need to bring my passport with the visa stamp to prove I really am a K1 visa holder. I asked how much will it cost for the transcription then she said $100. Wow... just wow! She went on and said so that's $100 plus MMR plus blah blah and pregnancy test so that's a total of $380. My husband and I looked at each other and told the lady I'll come back next time.

The following week, I decided to visit different doctors in Huntsville (I talked to them on the phone previously and all said I need another physical exam) and this time I carried the printed official I693 and I485 instructions. and here's what happened:

- Dr. Freddy McMurry - staff told me I need another medical exam then when we told them I just need the paperwork the lady said they can't help me and they don't know how to do it. Yeap, just like that! They didn't even try to ask the doctor or whatsoever if he knows the process for a K1 visa holder. So out we went. Didn't even argue anymore.

- Dr. Jerry M Graham - staff told me I need another medical exam plus Syphilis and TB test. We let her read the official instructions and she actually showed them to the doctor. She came back and said bring a copy of your medical exam, Dr. Graham will not sign anything based on this single sheet of paper (my vaccines from St. Luke's Manila). I called St. Luke's Manila and I was told that the US embassy does not allow reproduction of the medical exam results which means that getting a copy or proof of my medical exam is not even possible.

- Occupational Health Group in Huntsville, AL- staff told me that the transcription is $35 however, there's a big HOWEVER here... she said that I need MMR ($100), Varicella ($41), TDAP ($48) and TB Skin Test $25. She said if my TB Skin Test result is positive, I need chest X-ray and that's another $70.

My husband and I are on a dead end so we're going to do it at the Occupational Health Group. Hey $224 (assuming my TB skin test comes out negative) is better than $380, right? Plus we don't have to drive to Birmingham for 2 hours.

My question now is, am I required to get all the shots plus the TB skin test? I don't see anything on the official instructions that states I need to complete my shots for my DS3025 to be transcribed.

By the way, I called USCIS and asked if I can file a complaint against a doctor and the girl said she's not sure. Ok that helps a lot! Do they just accredit doctors to be civil surgeons without giving them an exam or something? They should know all the procedures for each type of visa. Don't they have a guide or a manual? Why do they say conflicting information. One doctor's office says this and another office says that. This is more frustrating than the whole K1 visa process, at least for me.

I'm sorry but I don't feel like spending a lot of money on something that is not necessary this time. The AOS filing fee alone is $1,070! It looks like they refuse to waste their time and just get a couple of dollars for a silly paperwork so they want you to do all these tests and get some shots.

Is there anyone here from Alabama who knows a civil surgeon who actually knows the process and won't try to get hundreds of dollars from me? Or do you know a doctor who will do it via fax?

I apologize for ranting here and thanks in advance for your inputs.

Edited September 2, 2014 by mrschamp

[clairegie 265]

I'm sorry to hear about your awful experience. Quick question though, you never had any of those vaccines before you left for USA? Actually, on the Embassy instructions for your interview, there was a portion that said that you have to complete required vaccinations before your adjustment. You will see on the link I provided on the bottom that all the vaccines they enumerated are required.

Link to this: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/325288/packets/K1%20and%20K2%20Interview%20Preparation%20Instructions%20-%20English%20_10%20October%202013_.pdf

[mrschamp 0]

I did get all the required shots at the time I left Philippines. I have my DS3025 form with me to show all the vaccines I received. Based from what I understand, I need a second shot of MMR but I don;t know if I have the option to have it done later and just have a civil surgeon do just the transcription.

[Caryh 5,206]

My wife had to get the follow up boosters before the Civil Surgeon would do the transcription. He said he could do them, but this would be the most expensive option. He said it was best if I took her to our clinic if she was insured, because wellness care such as vaccines are normally free. Otherwise he could point us towards clinics that could do less expensive boosters than he could provide. As I go my wife on my health insurance through work, we opted to visit our clinic, and she got the boosters at no cost. Then provided the documentation for us to bring to the civil surgeon showing her boosters were all now current, who then transcribed the paperwork we needed.

[clairegie 265]

I do believe you have the option to have the 2nd dose at a later time because AOS only requires the first shot in a series.

[mrschamp 0]

thank you for clearing this up Mrs. Regi!

Link to this: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/manila/325288/packets/K1%20and%20K2%20Interview%20Preparation%20Instructions%20-%20English%20_10%20October%202013_.pdf

[umberto 0]

i paid 202$ for the civil surgeon in WI, but i took the mmr and tetanus shoots from a community health center for the total cost of 24$.

[mrschamp 0]

My wife had to get the follow up boosters before the Civil Surgeon would do the transcription. He said he could do them, but this would be the most expensive option. He said it was best if I took her to our clinic if she was insured, because wellness care such as vaccines are normally free. Otherwise he could point us towards clinics that could do less expensive boosters than he could provide. As I go my wife on my health insurance through work, we opted to visit our clinic, and she got the boosters at no cost. Then provided the documentation for us to bring to the civil surgeon showing her boosters were all now current, who then transcribed the paperwork we needed.

We may do this option if we could save some $$$. This is a great idea but not sure if the husband is willing to visit another clinic. He said he's so tired of it and can't wait to just get it over with lol. I had no idea that a supposedly simple task can be this stressful.

[kehills 217]

You will also need another syphilis test, to prove you didn't pick it up between the first medical and now. I believe that plus the general appointment cost around $280 in Philly for my husband (who also traveled here on a K1).

[Caryh 5,206]

We may do this option if we could save some $$$. This is a great idea but not sure if the husband is willing to visit another clinic. He said he's so tired of it and can't wait to just get it over with lol. I had no idea that a supposedly simple task can be this stressful.

I do not believe the boosters were actually required by USCIS, but the civil surgeon we were going to wanted her to have them. I wanted her to have them also, as she had never received a vaccine before, and avoids doctors when ever she can. As she wanted her green card badly, she didn't raise any fuss going to the doctor to get the boosters.

Someone at one time posted a good primer here on what is truly needed with the vaccine sheet from St Lukes. Many who get that sheet do not actually need transcription, but is depends on which vaccines were given. They can turn in a photo copy of the sheet, and get through AOS just fine. My wife didn't want to risk any delay in her green card, so she didn't want to take the chance.

[_Paul&Jesica_ 70]

I came here on a K1 visa in April, married my fiance in June and now we're starting to file for my AOS. I understand that one of the first things I need to have is a transcription of my DS3025 from St. Luke's Manila where I had my medical exam. I made some calls and visited different clinics and I'm just baffled with the conflicting information these doctors have about the entire procedure for K1 visa holders. Most of them told me that I need another physical exam and the doctor won't sign anything that is done by another doctor. I explained to them over and over that a K1 visa holder does not require a medical exam according to the official I693 and I485 instructions. Most of them just shut me down and say they can't help me if I just want the paperwork because they have always done medical exams on K1 visa holders.

I read somewhere here (Civil Surgeons that don't rip you off topic) that in Alabama, Dr. Crow will do just the transcription for $50. So I called his office and spoke to someone and she said I don't need a physical exam. So, she scheduled me for an appointment and when my husband and I got there, the 3 ladies in Dr. Crow's office all told me that I need a physical exam. I said "No, I don't because I am on a K1 visa".

My husband and I try to reason out with them but they won't listen. They even told me that I need a copy of my visa packet. I told them "Mam, even if I shoot myself in front of an immigration officer, they won't let me have that yellow envelope" then she said well you should have made your own copy". I tried to make this one woman read the instructions from the USCIS website but she brushed it off and said 'I can't read that because I'm legally blind". I insisted that I talked to someone on the phone and they all shrugged their shoulders and said "It wasn't me". We drove from Huntsville to Birmingham to deal with this mess. I was getting frustrated so my husband told me to get back in the car and let him do the talking.

So he finally made this other girl read the official instructions and thought for a minute and turned around and said "Ok, we need a copy of her medical exam then come back here and we'll do the paperwork". My husband told them I don't have a copy of my medial exam because it was in the sealed yellow envelope and I surrendered everything to the immigration officer. They said they can't help me if I can't provide that. I found out later that the lady who does the immigration stuff at Dr. Crow's office is on a maternity leave. The 3 ladies I saw in his office should have just told me that they don't know the process and I am better off scheduling an appointment when the immigration lady is there. But after all that drama, I don't think I'd want to go back in there and deal with arro***t people who don't even have an idea how the process works.

So since we're in Birmingham already, thought I check out other civil surgeons in the area. We found Dr. Parsa and his staff told me that they are familiar with the process and I don't need another medical exam. Good news, right? Finally! She told me I need to bring my passport with the visa stamp to prove I really am a K1 visa holder. I asked how much will it cost for the transcription then she said $100. Wow... just wow! She went on and said so that's $100 plus MMR plus blah blah and pregnancy test so that's a total of $380. My husband and I looked at each other and told the lady I'll come back next time.

The following week, I decided to visit different doctors in Huntsville (I talked to them on the phone previously and all said I need another physical exam) and this time I carried the printed official I693 and I485 instructions. and here's what happened:

- Dr. Freddy McMurry - staff told me I need another medical exam then when we told them I just need the paperwork the lady said they can't help me and they don't know how to do it. Yeap, just like that! They didn't even try to ask the doctor or whatsoever if he knows the process for a K1 visa holder. So out we went. Didn't even argue anymore.

- Dr. Jerry M Graham - staff told me I need another medical exam plus Syphilis and TB test. We let her read the official instructions and she actually showed them to the doctor. She came back and said bring a copy of your medical exam, Dr. Graham will not sign anything based on this single sheet of paper (my vaccines from St. Luke's Manila). I called St. Luke's Manila and I was told that the US embassy does not allow reproduction of the medical exam results which means that getting a copy or proof of my medical exam is not even possible.

- Occupational Health Group in Huntsville, AL- staff told me that the transcription is $35 however, there's a big HOWEVER here... she said that I need MMR ($100), Varicella ($41), TDAP ($48) and TB Skin Test $25. She said if my TB Skin Test result is positive, I need chest X-ray and that's another $70.

My husband and I are on a dead end so we're going to do it at the Occupational Health Group. Hey $224 (assuming my TB skin test comes out negative) is better than $380, right? Plus we don't have to drive to Birmingham for 2 hours.

My question now is, am I required to get all the shots plus the TB skin test? I don't see anything on the official instructions that states I need to complete my shots for my DS3025 to be transcribed.

By the way, I called USCIS and asked if I can file a complaint against a doctor and the girl said she's not sure. Ok that helps a lot! Do they just accredit doctors to be civil surgeons without giving them an exam or something? They should know all the procedures for each type of visa. Don't they have a guide or a manual? Why do they say conflicting information. One doctor's office says this and another office says that. This is more frustrating than the whole K1 visa process, at least for me.

I'm sorry but I don't feel like spending a lot of money on something that is not necessary this time. The AOS filing fee alone is $1,070! It looks like they refuse to waste their time and just get a couple of dollars for a silly paperwork so they want you to do all these tests and get some shots.

Is there anyone here from Alabama who knows a civil surgeon who actually knows the process and won't try to get hundreds of dollars from me? Or do you know a doctor who will do it via fax?

I apologize for ranting here and thanks in advance for your inputs.

All the civil surgeons that I called in the Phoenix area also said they my wife would need to do a full exam for the i-693, even after I explained about her being K-1. Seems that they really don't understand K-1 requirements. They even gave her another TB test even though she had her results with her from her examine this past June.

We went ahead and paid for the full exam and got the completed I-693. We just wanted to get it done and unfortunately, there aren't many options for civil surgeons.

[mrschamp 0]

I do not believe the boosters were actually required by USCIS, but the civil surgeon we were going to wanted her to have them. I wanted her to have them also, as she had never received a vaccine before, and avoids doctors when ever she can. As she wanted her green card badly, she didn't raise any fuss going to the doctor to get the boosters.

Someone at one time posted a good primer here on what is truly needed with the vaccine sheet from St Lukes. Many who get that sheet do not actually need transcription, but is depends on which vaccines were given. They can turn in a photo copy of the sheet, and get through AOS just fine. My wife didn't want to risk any delay in her green card, so she didn't want to take the chance.

yeah some people were able to get away with not having the transcription when they filed for AOS but same with your wife, I don't want to risk any delay. We're planning to file end of sept because my medical exam will be one year in december so we don't want to cut it too close. I called the last doctor on my list (Dr. Lewis) and her staff is pretty knowledgeable. the only thing is their transcription alone is $125, $85 for MMR and $75 for TDAP. she didn't tell me the price of Varicella vaccine. it looks like we have no choice but to shell out a couple of hundred dollars. not cool! the good news is that with Dr. Lewis I don't need TB skin test or chest X-ray.

[mrschamp 0]

All the civil surgeons that I called in the Phoenix area also said they my wife would need to do a full exam for the i-693, even after I explained about her being K-1. Seems that they really don't understand K-1 requirements. They even gave her another TB test even though she had her results with her from her examine this past June.

We went ahead and paid for the full exam and got the completed I-693. We just wanted to get it done and unfortunately, there aren't many options for civil surgeons.

I can't imagine going through another physical exam. USCIS needs to do something about this ongoing problem. I even read in their website that they don't control the price for the transcription or medical exam. they need to at least educate the accredited civil surgeons but I guess nobody cares.

[_Paul&Jesica_ 70]

I can't imagine going through another physical exam. USCIS needs to do something about this ongoing problem. I even read in their website that they don't control the price for the transcription or medical exam. they need to at least educate the accredited civil surgeons but I guess nobody cares.

I should have clarified in my post. While we paid for the full exam, the civil surgeon only did an abbreviated exam, no x-rays (we had the sealed CD), and nothing really more than a simple physical and blood draw, plus the TB test. It wasn't as bad as we thought it was going to be, fortunately, but it did cost $200.

[mymarley 14]

we didnt go to the civil surgeon... only have two vaccines... about the copy of medical exam...the guy in my poe...gave me extra copy of that since i need to follow up my case about sputum here but stil never send that in our application...stil waiting to aos approval...but i already have my ead.