finally got my RFE letter

[rising spring 0]

so i finally recieved my RFE in the mail. turns out they want me to get another medical done. but i am really confused.

the letter states i need to get a medical with form I-693, i need to get a tuberculosis test, and i need to do a blood test for syphilis & HIV.

but i did ALL THOSE things in canada before moving. i got a full medical, even got shots done. i got a chest x-ray (which i still have in my room!) and i got a full blood test done. their letter even says that i didn't get a tuberculosis test done because i was pregnant? haha i never said that. i am really confused!

why do they not have this information on file? why was this information not passed on to US immigration?

this sucks, i live 3h away from all the civil surgeons. uggggh...

[Fetaria 0]

Try and contact the medical office that did your initial blood work and testing, if they have a copy of your file they could send the information for you to prove that it has already been done. Sounds like wires got crossed somewhere along the way.

[Leasel7 0]

I'm sorry to hear this happened to you...it almost sounds like a case of mistaken identity, i.e they got your medical file mixed up with someone else's. Whether it is worthwhile to try and fight it is another story; from what I've read, they have the right to arbitrarily demand another medical examination despite their own rules and guidelines. I'm wondering if this is starting to be a trend for CSC transferees, because the same thing just happened to KikiDoug.

[Peter Miami 0]

These people do not have a clue as to what they are doing most of the time.

Good luck,

Peter Miami

[Reba 2]

call your state senator and see if the immigration liason there can help you with this. Also call the panel physician in Canada where you had your medical and get a duplicate copy from them.

Last year I got the medical RFE as well and fought it successfully. The Senator's liase helped alot in determining that USCIS had misplaced my file, and helped them "find" it again. After the Senator's office assured me I would not have to endure the expense of a second medical exam, I sent this letter in reply to the RFE:

Enclosed is a copy of the Request for Further Evidence (RFE) received from your offices dated May 4, along with a duplicate copy of my medical exam results from Dr. Seiden’s office in Toronto.

As a K3 beneficiary, I had to have the medical exam prior to applying for the visa, in order to be granted the K3 visa. Further, the rules state that for a K3 beneficiary to apply for Adjustment of Status (AOS), if the application for AOS is submitted less than one year after the K3 medical, then another medical exam is not necessary. My medical exam was completed in August of 2004, and my AOS application submitted in April of 2005. All of my vaccinations are also up to date, and documentation is included with the original medical exam. The medical exam results envelope was turned over at the POE inspection when I entered the US on October 11, 2004 and should have been forwarded to the appropriate office by DHS employees.

After receiving this RFE, we spoke with Bob Meek at Senator Elizabeth Dole’s office (R, NC) who assured us that after some investigating by their office, my medical record envelope had been located by USCIS, and that a second medical exam would not be required.

I trust that this duplicate copy, and the assurance from Senator Dole’s office that a second medical is not necessary, will satisfy the requirements of this RFE.

YMMV, but definitely do get the Senator's office involved before you do anything drastic.

[rising spring 0]

I'm sorry to hear this happened to you...it almost sounds like a case of mistaken identity, i.e they got your medical file mixed up with someone else's. Whether it is worthwhile to try and fight it is another story; from what I've read, they have the right to arbitrarily demand another medical examination despite their own rules and guidelines. I'm wondering if this is starting to be a trend for CSC transferees, because the same thing just happened to KikiDoug.

yeah i think i remembered this happening to someone else.

either way, the office i dealt with in canada actually changed locations and i already had to deal with them before moving - they had to dig up my file out of their archives and it was a horrible mess. i really don't know if they would be of any help. i guess i will try calling them.

either way, i think i will still go for a medical here, just to make immigration happy. at this point i just want my green card, i just want to get it over with. i just don't want to pay for extra bloodwork and tuberculosis testing that i really don't need. i mean, i still have the actual chest x-ray, i have it on my desk right now, i can bring that to my medical here. hopefully they would accept that.

time will tell. i will keep you all posted!

[classic 0]

I would just do the medical. This has been a confusing part of the process, and the civil surgeon (a family friend) who did the medical on my spouse & children told me that he anticipates that problem (USCIS asking for another medical & tests despite this being done in the country of origin). Its easier to comply than to fight it.