FAQs: Forms I-693 and DS-3025

[inlove4life 0]

So from what I have read here, as long as my fiancee has had her medical exam within 1 year of sending in AOS papers then she doesn't need to get her 3025 transcribed to the I-693? Is that correct? She had her full medical in the Philippines along with her vaccinations. Can somebody please tell me if we need to send in the I-693. I called a civil surgeon in our area, Los Angeles, and the secretary was saying it would cost $175 to do a full medical exam again. I told her my fiancee already did that and we just need the papers transcribed and she said it doesn't matter, we need to do the entire process! That seems ridiculous if she has already done the medical.

Thank you for clarifying!

B&C

[Brandi n Michael 8]

No it needs to be transcribed and you have to have a recent/current MMR vaccination. Keep looking around for someone that will do it and cheaper. You do not have to do the full medical again but you might need an MMR shot. You will need to send in the sealed I-693 envelope though and they will give that to you when the civil surgeon transcribes the forms for you.

Brandi

[montanabrit 0]

Hi

I am about to start filing for my Green Card, It's been a long time coming, been here in the USA for 9yrs, I am married to a US citizen.

Anyway i need some info about the medical since I have been here for so long do I still have to have one, plus I am from the United Kingdom, so when I originally came over I didn't need any vaccines etc.

any info about this would be great

thanks

[inlove4life 0]

No it needs to be transcribed and you have to have a recent/current MMR vaccination. Keep looking around for someone that will do it and cheaper. You do not have to do the full medical again but you might need an MMR shot. You will need to send in the sealed I-693 envelope though and they will give that to you when the civil surgeon transcribes the forms for you.

Brandi

Okay thank you Brandi...hopefully I can find a reasonably priced CS in our area that will do it without having to do the full medical. She had her MMR in the Philippines, but are there multiple shots needed for the MMR?

Thank you and take care...

B&C

[h1a1 5]

Because sometimes we only hear the worst case scenarios I thought I'd post about my situation:

I filed for AOS back in July sending only the DS-3025 form. My vaccinations were checked as "incomplete: may be eligible for blanket waiver" as I hadn't have the chicken pox vaccine but had the virus as a child. I didn't get the vaccination supplement transcribed to the I-693. Received no RFE and was approved.

If you don't believe in spending money unless you 100% have to and if getting a RFE won't be the end of the world for you then I'd advocate taking the same risk I did. Might work out well, like it did for me.

[A + M 29]

Hello !

I did my medical examination back in May ( in Slovenia ).

I was advised by the Homeland security not to send in any medical paperwork. The Homeland security said " it' s all in my file already " .

The giant brown envelope was left at the POE.

Here, I see people talking about different medical forms and RFE' s.

What is the real truth around it ?

Thanks !

[arwilson80 0]

Can someone confirm whether or not i need to include the copy of my chest X-ray (it's on a CD in a sealed envelope) when i submit my AOS forms

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Can someone confirm whether or not i need to include the copy of my chest X-ray (it's on a CD in a sealed envelope) when i submit my AOS forms

Do not send your x-ray. It's just for your personal amusement or records...a gift from Knightsbridge.

Your medical report will have any needed info gleaned from the x-ray.

[hart11b 0]

I sent in only the DS 3025 with my wife's K-1 AOS paperwork and we were approved without an RFE. Attached to the paperwork I attached a letter explaining myself:

1. In accordance with the instructions from both the I-693 and the I-485 I am submitting XXXXXX's DS-3025 to validate her vaccination requirements for the Adjustment of Status from a K-1 Visa to a permanent resident.

2. The following excerpts were taken from the Instructions on Form I-693 (Rev 2/25/10) and Form I-485 (rev. 12/03/09). These will show no I-693 is required to validate vaccinations:

a. Excerpt from I-693 instructions, page 4. Specifically Section III, Para 2.c.b

i. Even if a new medical examination is not required, you still must show proof that you complied with the vaccination requirements. If the vaccination record (DS3025) was not properly completed and included as part of the original, overseas medical examination report, you will have to have the vaccination report completed by a designated civil surgeon. In this case, you are required to Part1, Information about you, Part 2, the vaccination chart and Part 5, the Civil Surgeon’s Certification, of Form I-693.

--This tells me that I still must show proof of Vaccinations and if I don’t have a DS-3025 then I must complete the I-693. I am showing proof of vaccination with a DS-3025 and therefore do not need an I-693.

b. Excerpt from I-485 instructions, page 4, paragraph 8 under Initial Evidence

i. If you are a K-1 fiancé(e) or K-2 dependent who had a medical examination within the past year as required for the nonimmigrant fiancé(e) visa, you only need to submit a vaccination supplement, not the entire medical report. You may include the vaccination supplement with your Form I-485.

--We are applying under a K-1 Visa. XXXXXXXXXXX had her examination within the last year and we are including her DS-3025 with the I-485 for proof of the vaccinations.

3. The above show that an I-693 is not required with the AOS for a K-1 Visa. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact XXXXXXXX. Thank you.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

The flaw I see in the above statement is that a DS-3025 won't prove meeting the requirements if the needed shots are not actually shown on it. Everybody gets a copy of the DS-3025, but not all get the AOS shots prior to entering the USA.

Also the "results" section of the DS-3025 should have one of two boxes checked - "Complete", or "Incomplete...eligible for blanket waiver". If the results section is left totally blank, the panel physician did not follow his Technical Instructions to Panel Physicians and the USCIS can deem that as not properly completed and RFE.

The immunizations for the proper ages are based on the date of the exam: Verify that the vaccinations required as of the date of the medical exam had been received by the applicant or that the vaccinations required as of that date were marked as "not medically appropriate."

Here's a breakdown of the immunizations I found by age. Note: A VH marked by Varicella indicates that the person had Varicella disease (chickenpox) and thus does not have to get the shot.

Birth through 5 weeks: Hepatitis B

6 weeks through 7 weeks:Hepatitis B; Rotavirus

2 months through 5 months: DT, DTaP, or DTP;IPV or OPV (OPV not available in U.S.); Hib; Hepatitis B; Pneumococcal (PCV); Rotavirus

6 months through 7 months: DT, DTaP, or DTP; Hib; IPV or OPV (OPV not available in U.S.); Hepatitis B; Pneumococcal (PCV); Influenza (during flu season only, October 1 through March 31); Rotavirus

8 months through 11 months: DT, DTaP, or DTP; IPV or OPV (OPV not available in U.S.); Hib; Hepatitis B; Pneumococcal (PCV); Influenza (during flu season only, October 1 through March 31)

12 months through 23 months: DT, DTaP, or DTP; IPV or OPV (OPV not available in U.S.); · MMR; Hib; Hepatitis B; Varicella; Pneumococcal (PCV); Influenza (during flu season only, October 1 through March 31); Hepatitis A

2 through 4 years: DT, DTaP, or DTP; IPV or OPV (OPV not available in U.S.); MMR; Hib; Hepatitis B; Varicella; Pneumococcal (PCV); Influenza (during flu season only, October 1 through March 31)

5 through 6 years: DT, DTaP, or DTP: IPV or OPV (OPV not available in U.S.); MMR; Hepatitis B; Varicella; Influenza (during flu season only, October 1 through March 31)

7 through 9 years: Td or Tdap (if DT, DTP, DTaP shown: okay to accept); IPV or OPV (OPV not available in U.S.); MMR; Hepatitis B; Varicella; Influenza (during flu season only, October 1 through March 31)

10 years: Td or Tdap (if DT, DTP, DTaP shown: okay to accept); IPV or OPV (OPV not available in U.S.); MMR; Hepatitis B; Varicella; Influenza (during flu season only, October 1 through March 31)

11 through 17 years: Td or Tdap (if DT, DTP, DTaP shown: okay to accept); IPV or OPV (OPV not available in U.S.); MMR; Hepatitis B; Varicella; Meningococcal; Influenza (during flu season only, October 1 through March 31)

18 years: Td or Tdap (if DT, DTP, DTaP shown: okay to accept); MMR; Hepatitis B; Varicella; Meningococcal; Influenza (during flu season only, October 1 through March 31)

19 through 26 years: Td or Tdap (if DT, DTP or DTaP shown: okay to accept); MMR; Varicella

27 through 49 years: Td or Tdap (if DT, DTP or DTaP shown: okay to accept); MMR; Varicella

50 through 59 years: Td or Tdap (if DT, DTP or DTaP shown: okay to accept); MMR (if born in 1957 or later); Varicella; Influenza (during flu season only, October 1 through March 31)

60 through 64 years: Td or Tdap (if DT, DTP or DTaP shown: okay to accept); Varicella; Influenza (during flu season only, October 1 through March 31)

65 and older: Td, or Tdap (if DT, DTaP or DTP shown: okay to accept); Varicella; Pneumococcal (PPV); Influenza (during flu season only; October 1 through March 31)

We too submitted only the DS-3025, but the required shots were recorded on it; VH was marked by Varicella showing having had chickenpox, it was not flu season when the exam was conducted, and the results section was marked "incomplete...may be eligible for blanket waiver". If this is too complicated for somebody to follow the details, then they should see a civil surgeon who will advise them.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

There is a November 2010 update to immunizations

November 2010

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has issued updated recommendations regarding the use of the influenza vaccination for the 2010-11 influenza season.

The ACIP recommendations indicate that the 2010-11 seasonal flu vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older unless they have a specific contraindication to flu vaccine. See Persons Who Should Not Be Vaccinated.

Based on this information, the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has the following update for civil surgeons who provide influenza vaccination as part of the medical examination for status adjustment.

Effective immediately, all applicants 6 months of age or older are required to present proof of the influenza vaccine for the 2010-11 influenza season or receive a single dose of the seasonal influenza vaccine as provided in the ACIP 2010 recommendations for the influenza vaccine. The table on page 12 of the Vaccination Technical Instructions has been revised to reflect this change.

[jennareid 20]

Any idea how that would affect AOS filers who have already filed? I filed at the end of October and my DS-3025 (didn't send the i-693) doesn't show a flu vaccine. Ignoring the fact that I didn't send the i-693, would the lack of flu shot be grounds for an RFE even if I filed before November? I've somehow managed to escape the flu for 23 years without a vaccine so I don't really want to have to get it when it clearly isn't necessary.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Any idea how that would affect AOS filers who have already filed? I filed at the end of October and my DS-3025 (didn't send the i-693) doesn't show a flu vaccine. Ignoring the fact that I didn't send the i-693, would the lack of flu shot be grounds for an RFE even if I filed before November? I've somehow managed to escape the flu for 23 years without a vaccine so I don't really want to have to get it when it clearly isn't necessary.

I have read (USCIS) that the vacs must be correct/right age, etc as of the date of the exam or correct as of the date filing for cases where a person "aged out" and at their current age wouldn't need the shot. (Example: a person was 18 years old at their exam, but by the time the adjudicator is checking the vac records, he is 19 years old and Hepatitis B and Meningococcal are no longer age appropriate. The adjudicator is instructed that's okay if he doen't have those shots because he has" aged out" of the requirement while his case was in progress.)

Anybody that had an exam and filed already should be covered by the clause saying they met the requirements in effect on the date of the exam (or transcription). The people it would affect would be people going now for the I-693 or people seeing panel physicians abroad with the intention of getting everything covered on their DS-3025. I didn't notice a specific date of enactment, but didn't really look for more specifics yet. The CDC page just said November like I copied and pasted. I'm thinking there's going to be RFEs for those going after this new requirement and during the transition. You know there are civil surgeons/panel physicians who don't keep up with their bulletins and may not advise their patients from now forward to get the flu shot. And perhaps there will be officers across the US who read about the changes and others who don't bother to keep up with their memos leading to more confusion amongst the immigrants. Yeah, it could get crazy again, but hopefully yours will make it through as it should.

[TheBoyWonder 0]

This is only my own experience and in no way am I suggesting that this is "normal", "guaranteed to work" or anything else.

On my DS-3025, I had a "vaccine history complete". I did not submit an I-693. When I sent in our last packet for the AOS interview, I attached the I-693 instructions front page and highlighted the section describing how it was not required if a medical in my home country had been completed within the last year.

I never received an RFE, and it was never mentioned in our successful AOS interview.

[Natashia 0]

Hi,

I have already visited a Civil Surgeon last week and asked me for my second Tdap and MMR shots. Would it better if I'll just go ahead submit my DS-3025 along with those shots that I have recently got so at least i could save hundred bucks to pay for civil surgeon vaccine transcription fee?

Please let me know coz I am really financially tight here.

Thank you. God bless.