EXPENSIVE! transfer of vaccination data to the I693A

[nycbdg 0]

Hi all,

We live in NYC. We are calling up several doctors to inquire transferring my wife's vaccination data to the I693A form.

First of all, many of them who called themselves US CIS' official civil surgeons did not know that K-1 visa holders need no medical exam and lab work (HIV, etc.). I have to argue with them and some could not even be convince that was the case.

Second, if no additional vaccination is needed and all the doctor has to do is transferring the vaccination data, i.e. paper work, the doctor fee is so EXPENSIVE. So far, I have got quotes where they will charge office visit fee for immigration exam. Many of them charge $140, $170, $180, $300, and so on. It's not rare to find one that will charge $300.

I think I may have to go through paying $140 for the transfer of vaccination data.

US CIS should take a look at this and eliminate practices that charge K-1 visa holders excessively!

I remember reading several posts that say there was a doctor in Austin TX who could transfer the information, mail I-693A, and charged $10 or $20. But there is also another post of someone who got drilled during the interview because the person had the austin doctor doing the I-694A while living in another place.

[YuAndDan 153]

Moving this to AOS forum. K-1 forum has to do with filing an I-129F for a visa.

Read the post at the top of the AOS forum, the pinned post talks about a doctor who will do this by mail for 20-$30.

There is no such thing as an I-693A, only the vaccinations section of I-693 needs to be done.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=101202

Edited May 4, 2009 by YuAndDan

[Nich-Nick 3,355]

As far as Dr. Arnold is concerned, hundreds, maybe thousands of VJers have used him while there was only one reported CO in one town that questioned it, so I think you're pretty safe going with Dr. Arnold. I also wanted to mention that we did not submit an I-693 (new form for medicals after June '08). We felt, like you, that paying somebody just to copy a completed shot record was excessive. We sent the completed DS-3025 vaccination worksheet from the panel physician K1 medical and it was accepted with no RFE and a green card was approved. I know of at least 6 others with medicals after the new form deadline who did the same, and they were also approved withinin the last couple of months. If any shots were taken after arriving in the US, then you would have to have everything transcribed to the new form.

[JeremyR 8]

First of all, many of them who called themselves US CIS' official civil surgeons did not know that K-1 visa holders need no medical exam and lab work (HIV, etc.). I have to argue with them and some could not even be convince that was the case.

The cynic in me says that it's less that they don't know that K-1's don't need a new medical exam, more that they're trying to convince you that they do because just transferring the paperwork for a nominal fee is bad for their bottom line

[Terri and Seb 0]

I made a thread about this concerning who to contact if you want to report this behavior to someone. Dr. Arnold is a great recommendation, though.

If you're interested, here it is!

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=192524

[cEzYcHiC 0]

I agree. Dr. Arnold is by far the cheapest civil surgeon I know.

[TwoTravelers 0]

Hi all,

We live in NYC. We are calling up several doctors to inquire transferring my wife's vaccination data to the I693A form.

First of all, many of them who called themselves US CIS' official civil surgeons did not know that K-1 visa holders need no medical exam and lab work (HIV, etc.). I have to argue with them and some could not even be convince that was the case.

Second, if no additional vaccination is needed and all the doctor has to do is transferring the vaccination data, i.e. paper work, the doctor fee is so EXPENSIVE. So far, I have got quotes where they will charge office visit fee for immigration exam. Many of them charge $140, $170, $180, $300, and so on. It's not rare to find one that will charge $300.

I think I may have to go through paying $140 for the transfer of vaccination data.

US CIS should take a look at this and eliminate practices that charge K-1 visa holders excessively!

I remember reading several posts that say there was a doctor in Austin TX who could transfer the information, mail I-693A, and charged $10 or $20. But there is also another post of someone who got drilled during the interview because the person had the austin doctor doing the I-694A while living in another place.

Hi there,

I don't know if you had the vaccination data transferred to the I-693A yet but whatever you do don't pay those fees they are telling you. What a scam. I went through the same thing calling around. I am thinking about contacting that Doc in Austin TX, Dr. Arnold also but I have found two civil surgeons where I'm from in Chicago that charge $60 and the other $40 and then plus vaccinations... if any are needed. Don't know what we are going to do because we don't want to end up at the doctors office with them telling us that my husband needs a bunch of vaccinations. His DS-3025 says he has all vaccinations required so we don't think that will happen but I just don't trust anyone. If you contacted Dr. Arnold I would love to hear how it went for you?!

Thanks!! Good luck!

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

In my opinion CSs are scam artists pure and simple. We went to one recently who quoted one thing, charged another and then made sure to collect all the extras he could. The problem with Dr. Arnold (at least here in CA...and only very recently) is that the local offices are catching on. I've talked to one person who had to redo theirs. The IO said that it must be done in the same state...which of course isn't a rule but there was no getting around him.

[Eric-Pris 1,609]

In my opinion CSs are scam artists pure and simple. We went to one recently who quoted one thing, charged another and then made sure to collect all the extras he could.

Let me understand this... you contacted a CS and agreed on a fee. When you went there, he renegged and upcharged?

AND YOU PAID IT???? That's the problem, that people still pay even after they get played for a fool. I would have told him to kiss my a** and walked out.