Civil Surgeon and Vaccines

[Vann 0]

Hello. My wife opted to have her vaccinations done here in America rather than at St. Lukes. The USCIS woman over the phone told us that a civil surgeon must do this.

Does the City Health Department have civil surgeons that can do this or do I need to go somewhere else?

Also--is there a cost for doing this in America? If so--how much?

Any help will be appreciated, thanks.

[YuAndDan 153]

USCIS person is miss-informed.

You can have family doctor, county health dept, local clinic, etc give the vaccinations, and if your fiancee thinks they had things like chicken pox or mumps when young, they can even get tested for immunity (titer test), and that will satisfy the CS.

You will then take test results, and vaccination record to CS for transfer to supplement.

Costs can vary from Free, to quite expensive if you have the CS do the vaccinations.

Edited February 22, 2008 by YuAndDan

[lirachadsbaby 0]

Vaccines cost too much here. You will have to pay about over a hundred dollars if all her vaccines are to be taken here. Though she can have it in City Health dept for a lesser rate but then you still have to pay for the civil surgeon to transcribe (I-693 form for AOS application) what she got in the health dept which would cost a lot as well. You can find a civil surgeon close to your area and just inquire for decision making. Just check this https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=of...office_type=CIV

I suggest to take her vaccines at St. Lukes and just take her TD shot here. Anyway, vaccines are included in what she's paying. That way, it would be cheaper for you.

[DeeZee 0]

Does she have health insurance? I got covered from husband's and was able to get the TD shot for free at Kaiser. Then I paid $35 to have my medical records transcribed to the I-693 which can only be done by a civil surgeon. But the immunization can be done by any physician or clinic. Try to look around from the list at USCIS. The rates of civil surgeons are very expensive. I called around here in San Francisco for more than 10 clinics and the price range are way too high. Good thing I was able to find a cheap one.

[Jasman0717 8]

I suggest you call around to several civil surgeons in your area, the pricing can vary tremendously. We paid $70 for Claudeth's tetanus shot and for them filling out the supplemental. the CS should seal it in an envlope for you but should also make you a copy. You need to mail the sealed envelope to the USCIS with the AOS petition. Good luck

[payxibka 10,044]

Hello. My wife opted to have her vaccinations done here in America rather than at St. Lukes. The USCIS woman over the phone told us that a civil surgeon must do this.

Does the City Health Department have civil surgeons that can do this or do I need to go somewhere else?

Also--is there a cost for doing this in America? If so--how much?

Any help will be appreciated, thanks.

If your wife is now on your health insurance... Many plans cover required vaccinations 100%....

[DavidandJenny 1]

As I read here in this post, it is also an option to have the health department administer a TD shot as well? This is acceptable with USCIS, without the possibility of a rfe or denial? Here in this area there is only one CS, and his fee is outrageous.

[Elmira 1]

Hello. My wife opted to have her vaccinations done here in America rather than at St. Lukes. The USCIS woman over the phone told us that a civil surgeon must do this.

Does the City Health Department have civil surgeons that can do this or do I need to go somewhere else?

Also--is there a cost for doing this in America? If so--how much?

Any help will be appreciated, thanks.

USCIS people told me same thing... and they also gave me the addresses of doctors in Orlando who have the certification to do that for potential immigrants... we paid $250 which included all vaccines I needed + HIV, TB and syphilis test... after they gave me a sealed envelope to send to USCIS + my updated vaccination passport (list) for my future records..... at least now I know that I shouldn't worry about that anymore in my life as I have all vaccines required my American Health Care System... as living in Kazakhstan (former USSR Soviet Republic) we had different vaccination standards...

I hope it will help you

[Nina+Matt 0]

you can get the missing vaccinations at any doctor, doesnt have to be a registered civil surgeon. did your wife already have her medical in her home country?

the medical is valid for one year so you should file for aos before the year is over, otherwise you will have to get a new medical done in the us which can get really expensive. thats problably why elmira payed so much......

when you have all the required vaccinations you can take the vaccination sheet to a registerd civil surgeon to get it transfered to the I693a. theres a doctor in austin, tx you should call, she jsut charges $20 for the transfere. you can find her address in the pinned thread at the top of the forum.

[Elmira 1]

you can get the missing vaccinations at any doctor, doesnt have to be a registered civil surgeon. did your wife already have her medical in her home country?

the medical is valid for one year so you should file for aos before the year is over, otherwise you will have to get a new medical done in the us which can get really expensive. thats problably why elmira payed so much......

when you have all the required vaccinations you can take the vaccination sheet to a registerd civil surgeon to get it transfered to the I693a. theres a doctor in austin, tx you should call, she jsut charges $20 for the transfere. you can find her address in the pinned thread at the top of the forum.

we actually paied so miuch because USCIS told us to do that... We called and a lady said that we need to have new one as HIV and TB expires after 3 months... when I told her that I came here with K-1 visa and I already had my medical exam in my country she didn't want to listen to me She said that I need to get new medical exam and it is an USCIS rule and if I don't want my AOS application to be refused I better follow these rules therefore my husband and myself thought that probably something changed within USCIS rules and got a new medical exam... all this AOS process confuses me more that I-129F

[payxibka 10,044]

we actually paied so miuch because USCIS told us to do that... We called and a lady said that we need to have new one as HIV and TB expires after 3 months... when I told her that I came here with K-1 visa and I already had my medical exam in my country she didn't want to listen to me She said that I need to get new medical exam and it is an USCIS rule and if I don't want my AOS application to be refused I better follow these rules therefore my husband and myself thought that probably something changed within USCIS rules and got a new medical exam... all this AOS process confuses me more that I-129F

That is why it is referred to as the USCIS MIS-Information line