Confused about medical exam requirements for AOS

[Gage 2]

My fiancee' and I will be married next week and will file for AOS as soon as possible afterwards. We are confused by the following paragraph from the Visajourney AOS guide:

I-693, Medical Examination of Aliens Seeking Adjustment of Status. (If you already have this from your overseas Visa Interview submit a copy that medical check form; No fee is required in this case. 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 (I-693A), not the entire medical report. You may include the vaccination supplement with your adjustment of status application.)

My fiancee' had her medical exam in Moscow for her K-1 just a few months ago. Unfortunately the doctor did not give her a copy (he put it in a sealed envelope that said "do not open"). The Embassy took the exam results and also put it in a envelope also marked "do not open" that she had to give to the POE official. In other words, she has no records or copies of the exam but clearly CIS has them somewhere. So does she need an entirely new medical exam at this point just to file for AOS? She has no vaccination records, so I'm not sure how she could file a "vaccination supplement." No one ever asked for evidence of vaccinations during the entire K-1 process and she has no idea how she could get them.

[Nicoxcx 1]

Gage perhaps the russian section of the forum will be more help to you.

Usually you also get a copy of the medical/vaccinations, they have to be transcribed into the I-693 by a certified USCIS Doctor and that is your proof you had those vaccinations.

You dont need any vaccinations to enter the USA. You do however need them to adjust status (that caught me offguard also!) She will probably need a new medical including any additional vaccinations. I do however hope I am wrong. Goodluck.

Edit: I noticed she hasn't actually left Russia yet, perhaps there is a way she can a duplicate from the embassy?

Edited August 6, 2009 by Nicoxcx

[Gage 2]

No, she's already here and has been for two months. In any case she definitely has no records of her medical exam in Moscow (they gave her nothing that wasn't in a sealed envelope) and she says she also has no records of vaccinations. I'm guessing she's not only going to need a new complete medical exam, but she's also going to need all vaccinations.

Edited August 6, 2009 by Gage

[Gage 2]

I may have just answered my own question. I dug a little deeper in the forums and found this FAQ:

Q: Do I need to complete another full medical to adjust status?

Per Section 1245.5 in the Code of Federal Regulations, a medical examination shall not be required of an applicant for adjustment of status who entered the United States as a non-immigrant spouse, fiancée, or fiancée of a United States citizen or the child of such an alien as defined in section 101(a)(15)(K) of the Act and §214.2(k) of 8 CFR chapter I if the applicant was medically examined prior to, and as a condition of, the issuance of the non-immigrant visa; provided that the medical examination occurred not more than 1 year prior to the date of application for adjustment of status.

I interpret this to mean that she's not going to need another exam, but she is going to need to get complete vaccinations since she has no record of them.

[Nich-Nick 3,355]

Her medical exam results in the brown envelope turned in at POE are supposed to meet up with her AOS application. So K1 medical exam for her is fine. She doesn't need another. Sometimes the file doesn't meet up and USCIS sends an RFE for medical results. It's their fault for losing the file, but in that case about all you can do is pay for another exam, but don't do that unless they say they don't have it.

What people are normally given by the K1 medical office is a copy of only the immunization sheet (DS3025). If all the shots needed for AOS are recorded on that form, then that can be sent in with the AOS papers as the "supplement." The VJ instructions (and the USCIS instructions) are out of date because there is no I-693A any longer. The I-693 was redesigned to include the info on the former I-693A.

If people wait to get shots in the US, then they will get them anywhere they like as long as they get a record with a name of clinic, address, and signed by the doctor. THEN they find a Civil Surgeon off the USCIS approved list. They show them the DS3025, any childhood records from the former country if you don't have DS3025, and any new shot records from the US. The Civil Surgeon will fill out the immunization section 3 of the I-693 and combine all the shots onto one form for AOS. Beware of Civil Surgeons telling you that a complete exam is needed. It is not, unless it's been more than one year.

With no shot records for her at all, you've got a little more to sort out or take what's needed again, or take a Titre test to show if she is immune.

[Nich-Nick 3,355]

This document tells all the shots needed for AOS. Pay attention to the ages. If she doesn't fall into that age group, she doesn't have to get the shot. If it's a series of 3 shots, she only has to get the first dose. It's a long list, but most are for babies. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5753-Immunization.pdf

[Gage 2]

This document tells all the shots needed for AOS. Pay attention to the ages. If she doesn't fall into that age group, she doesn't have to get the shot. If it's a series of 3 shots, she only has to get the first dose. It's a long list, but most are for babies. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5753-Immunization.pdf

Thank you very much for that document. That's very helpful!

[Omar G. 4]

im in the same situation and still dont understand......my fiance has been in the US for almost 3 months, we are getting married next week and im working on the AOS paperwork to have it reay to go. She also did her medical exam and vaccines with the doctor recommended by the US embassy. the only record that they gave her is her vaccines. what i have read is that the enclosed envelope will be sent to the USCIS but im still not sure what we are to do with the I-693? do we need to call and set up an appt. with a USCIS doctor and have him fill out and sign? is there a charge? we have no insurance.....

[edp333 9]

Gage, can a relative or someone contact the place that performed the physical in Russia to see if you can get a copy of the DS-3025? Manila's SLEC allows you get one copy after the physical. Maybe somone on the Russian forum can give further information on getting the DS-3025.

Omar G., if your fiancee/wife still needs vaccines then you need to have a USCIS Civil surgeon transcribe the DS-3025 to the I-693. Determining if all the vaccines were taken is the hard part and having a Civil Surgeon transcribe the DS -3025 will let you know if any vaccines are still needed. Otherwise, if all vaccines have been taken the a copy of the DS-3025 can be sent in. See the DS-3025 and I-693 sticky at the top of this AOS forum.

Some vacines may be covered by insurance, but the civil surgeons are generally not covered by insurance. You may need to take a copy of the directions to your local civil surgeon as many want to do a whole physical. If you cannot find a local civil surgeon for a reasonable fee, the many VJers use Dr. L.E. Arnold in Texas. He will do it through the mail for $30 or $35. Call 512) 444-3131 and leave a message. Someoe will call you back with directions.

[Gage 2]

Gage, can a relative or someone contact the place that performed the physical in Russia to see if you can get a copy of the DS-3025? Manila's SLEC allows you get one copy after the physical. Maybe somone on the Russian forum can give further information on getting the DS-3025.

Omar G., if your fiancee/wife still needs vaccines then you need to have a USCIS Civil surgeon transcribe the DS-3025 to the I-693. Determining if all the vaccines were taken is the hard part and having a Civil Surgeon transcribe the DS -3025 will let you know if any vaccines are still needed. Otherwise, if all vaccines have been taken the a copy of the DS-3025 can be sent in. See the DS-3025 and I-693 sticky at the top of this AOS forum.

Some vacines may be covered by insurance, but the civil surgeons are generally not covered by insurance. You may need to take a copy of the directions to your local civil surgeon as many want to do a whole physical. If you cannot find a local civil surgeon for a reasonable fee, the many VJers use Dr. L.E. Arnold in Texas. He will do it through the mail for $30 or $35. Call 512) 444-3131 and leave a message. Someoe will call you back with directions.

Thanks, edp333. I'm a bit confused by this Doc in Texas and exactly what he does. It sounds like my fiancee' is not going to be able to get her vaccinations records. She can't even remember what clinic she went to in Moscow for her exam. I think what we'll do at this point is just get new vaccinations. Is there any way to avoid having to visit a civil surgeon after getting the vaccinations? Does this guy in Texas fill out the right paperwork so we can avoid a trip to the civil surgeon? The nearest civil surgeon to us is 2.5 hours away and it would be nice not to have to make the drive.

[Nich-Nick 3,355]

The guy in Texas is a Civil Surgeon who fills out the I-693 immunization section by mail. It's the same service you would get by going in a CS office, if you can send him records showing what shots she has received. You can get those shots at a public health clinic or a private doctor. Some have gotten HPV at Planned Parenthood. Once you figure out getting the shots, then you can send records to Dr. Arnold.

[Gage 2]

The guy in Texas is a Civil Surgeon who fills out the I-693 immunization section by mail. It's the same service you would get by going in a CS office, if you can send him records showing what shots she has received. You can get those shots at a public health clinic or a private doctor. Some have gotten HPV at Planned Parenthood. Once you figure out getting the shots, then you can send records to Dr. Arnold.

Thank you very much.