the experience with the civil surgeon

[maria&bill 0]

I went to the civil surgeon in Ft Myers, FL today. I called few of them yesterday in order to compare the rates - the cheapest was 145 $ for full vaccinations (the rates were between 145$ and 285$ with the different surgeons). The receptionist tried to convince me during 30 minutes that I needed to pay for the full medical examination (280 $) I am thankful for visajourney. Finally I was charged only 45 $ for 1 vaccination (my record was not complete) and for the transcript of the vaccinations record to i693 but I had to negotiate (at the beginning they wanted 80 $ for the transcript). It is sad that they are trying to tricks people. Most of these surgeons are foreigners, too.

[Inky 1,111]

It is sad! not only is it sad they are tricking people but its people that already spent all kinds of money to get here legally!!

[Fred N Emilia 0]

Our civil surgeon told my family to go to the Public Health Clinic to get them cheaper. The public health clinic gave my wife and kids all the vaccinations they needed and advised to return the paperwork that was signed by the nurse/doctor who gave the shots. Civil Surgeon provides I-693 in sealed envelope

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Good for you for negotiating and getting a fairer deal. I really do think that things like immigration medicals and vaccination reports should be regulated by USCIS with a set fee so there is not such a discrepancy.

[Miranda&John 0]

I'm going to see a civil surgeon in Modesto next week that charges $100 "cash only" for the medical, TB and transription (bloodwork & vaccinations are extra, but that's fine because my daughter and I are on my husbands health insurance so they will be free). I was just amused at the "$100 cash". Makes me think I'm going to some back-alley doctor

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Good for you for negotiating and getting a fairer deal. I really do think that things like immigration medicals and vaccination reports should be regulated by USCIS with a set fee so there is not such a discrepancy.

I agree. I have been working with our Senator, Bernie Sanders for just such a thing. The USCIS has taken the position (see the pinned topic in the K-1 forum) that is is not their responsibility and that these vaccinations are available for free (or very cheap) at public health clinics and CS's need to sign off on the documents (they can charge a reasonable fee for this) USCIS basically agrees the CSs are parasites but believes anyone can inform themselves and avoid the scam. They do not believe they need to oversee doctors (I tend to agree) I WOULD love to see an instruction sheet delivered with the NOA2 letter from USCIS stating this fact, along with instructions on how K-1s should obtain an SSN and that DMV regulations are regulated by the states. I do not think it too much to ask to provide information for their "clients"

There is no law to prevent CSs from taking advantage of people and suggesting other services (as so often we see in the legal profession, lawyers suggesting they are "needed" or somehow make a difference) There are obviously legal and medical profiteers (parasites) in this process, hoping to catch a ride from uninformed people.

Being informed of the post-visa process and the other agencies you will deal with, will protect you. This includes the SS adminsiration, your state DMV the CS network etc. Ignorance will cause you to be preyed upon by parasites and your rights denied by untrained government clerks. I am not sure that USCIS is the agency to regulate all this, but it definitely should be something all visa holders are informed of at the very least

The legislation I discussed with our Senator is to simply eliminate the CS role in the process and allow ANY medical doctor to sign off that the vaccinations have been given. When a group of people clearly abuse the authority given them, the best way out of it is to cut them off at the ankles...get them out of the process. There simply is not need for it. The USCIS role would be an information "packet" even if it is one page, sent with each K visa petition approval