Hi all Last week I posted where the Civil Surgeon here in Spokane wanted a TB skin test done before she'd transfer and sign my 693A vaccination supplement form
At that time I explained to her I had the complete medical done by a USCIS Civil Surgeon in Canada including the chest X-ray to check for TB and was Visa approved. All that wasn't good enough and I was basically told no test no signature.

So I set up an appt. with a DR. for the TB skin test at a cost of $32. Filled out the medical forms for it and was asked had I been vaccinated in Canada for TB.
I replied yes and the DR. then tells me sometimes because a person was vaccinated the test will show positive as the body's immune system kicks into gear and will react to the shot they give on the skin test.
She then says if that happens you'll have to get an X-ray. I then go into the same routine of already having an X-ray for my Visa requirement and it all came back okay nothing showing.
"Why then do you need this TB- PPD test I'm asked, that X-ray should be good for 1 yr". Because the Civil Surgeon here in Spokane won't sign my vaccination supplement without this test.
Then once again I'm reminded " if your immune system reacts to the test you'll need the X-ray in order to show negative even though the prior vaccination maybe the cause of the reaction"
By this time I'm frustrated with the whole thing and tell her let's just do the damn test. If it does show positive I'll be paying for an X-ray that I already know the results off.

I get stuck with a needle in the left forearm and told to come back 48 to 72 hrs. later to have it read. 6 hrs. after I'm needled it starts to turn red and itch. By the next morning there's a bit of swelling at the spot. I tell Lorry " there's the reaction she must have been referring to for 32 bucks I now know my immune system works"
2 days later I go to get it checked. she looks at it, measures the swelling and says it shows positive and knowing that you had a prior X-ray in Jan. it's probably a reaction from your vaccination you had as a child.
You'll need the X-ray to show negative for the Civil Surgeon. I ask how much for the X-ray and told $ 121. So I have the X-ray and the reports will be ready in 2 days.
2 days later Lorry and I go back for the reports and guess what they're negative. My pretty little pink lungs are the same now as they were in Jan. when the X-ray for the Visa medical was done.

That afternoon we're off to the Civil Surgeon to get the 693A signed. She looks at all my needle work and the TB test I had and says " this is everything I need to sign but sometimes for AOS you need a complete medical I tell her I already had that done in Canada and passed everything including the X-ray and came here on a K-1 Visa, they already have my medical and I'm not required to send one in with my AOS application that medical is good for up to one yr.
Then she tells me if I need another medical to come here and her husband who is a Civil Surgeon too will do the medical for me.
I finally get the 693A signed and give the receptionist $25 on the way out . In total it cost me $176 to get it signed and pay for things I already had done
After all this I think it's time to go buy a bottle of the Captain and sail with him for awhile lol lol

WHAT A CROOK.. that's all i have to say..

GAHHHHHH these "Dr's" drive me nuts.. They have 0 empathy and 0 realization of what the burden of going through this process is financially.

FRIG 'EM All!!!!!


*end of rant *

oooooo!! can we be a member in your club

the free CS I thought had found turned out to be 205 USD so far much better than the 600+ USD that I had found previously though for Nancy.
So, hopefully today she will get her I-693a and we will be done with it, and get this sucker on its way tomorrow

Sincerely,
Ramos

Rant on, Emancipation, Rant On!

I feel so bad for everyone who gets ripped off by these civil surgeons. I think all they care about is getting their money!

I was one of the lucky ones...I sent in my AOS with just the copy of the vaccination report that I had from my medical in Toronto because at the time, we couldn't afford to pay for the supplement. I was fully expecting an RFE, and would deal with it when it came....I didn't get an RFE and I was approved in just over 2.5 months.

When I read these types of stories...I cringe, because they seem to prey on our vulnerability. Shame on them.

GaryC did this for Luz's supplement...had fantastic results. I think several others have used the dr. Might be worth a shot for anyone else needing the vaccination supplement:

Dr. L.E. Arnold
4534 Westgate Boulevard, Suite 106
Austin, TX 78745
Tel: (512)444-3131
Fax: (512)447-4699

He charges $10 to fill this out by mail and send it back. All you need to do, from what I understand, is mail him a copy of your current vaccination record and he'll do the rest. You might want to call first though, and make sure. But $10??? That's awesome!!!!!

For my own AOS (K-1), I sent the Vaccination Worksheet from my medical exam in Canada..... receive no RFE and GC was approved.

For my daughter's AOS (K-2), I got the Vaccination Supplement done (using her worksheet from her medical in Canada)..... it only cost us $32.00 at a Civil Surgeon in Seattle.

myself as well. I guess those days are long over!