A doctor violates requirements for I-693 (AOS)

[SuperDuper! 230]

I have to disagree with the posts here suggesting misconduct by the doctor for only offering to sign forms if the full sevice is provided. If you call the plumber for a broken toilet and say you only want to buy the toilet but not pay for the installation, many will tell you 'sorry, we either do it all or nothing. The doctor operates his business as he sees fit and is not obligated to divide his services for customer convenience. That said, I think it would be nice if he were a bit more flexible but he is free to do things as he wants regarding fees, etc. You, in turn, as the customer, have every right to take your business elsewhere! This is still a free country and it is up to the 'marketplace' to settle these things.

Thanks for bringing sanity and clarity to the discussion. +1

Yes, many a CS will try to give you a complete exam (for $350) when only transcription of your medical into a sealed envelope ($50) is required.

Think, people, if you could charge a customer $300+ instead of just $50, you would.

Just bring the AOS instructions that say what is required from the CS. SOmeone once posted it here, and it is likely in the guides.

Instead of filing complaints against the Dr, use your time wisely and shop around for an honest, informed CS. Most of them don't know their true role as a CS.

Edited November 30, 2010 by Boing!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I have to disagree with the posts here suggesting misconduct by the doctor for only offering to sign forms if the full sevice is provided. If you call the plumber for a broken toilet and say you only want to buy the toilet but not pay for the installation, many will tell you 'sorry, we either do it all or nothing. The doctor operates his business as he sees fit and is not obligated to divide his services for customer convenience. That said, I think it would be nice if he were a bit more flexible but he is free to do things as he wants regarding fees, etc. You, in turn, as the customer, have every right to take your business elsewhere! This is still a free country and it is up to the 'marketplace' to settle these things.

Pleas re-read the OP. The doc is trying to scam the OP. The doc said "you HAVE to have a complete medical" I suppose hoping the OP doesn't realise that that's not true, or not knowing the rules of his job. If the doc had said "sorry, I don't do that" then that's fine because he acknowledges that the vaccination transcription exists and is exercising his right to not carry out that service.

In your example it's as if the plumber only needs to replace the seal of the toilet but he decides you don't know better and tells you you need a whole new toilet. It's a scam.

One of your closing lines "You, in turn, as the customer, have every right to take your business elsewhere!" is correct.. but that's IF you know that the doc is lying to you that you need a whole new medical. A LOT of people have been scammed by docs telling them they HAVE to have a new medical and people not knowing better, pay the ridiculous fees because they trust the doc knows what they're doing.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Yes, many a CS will try to give you a complete exam (for $350) when only transcription of your medical into a sealed envelope ($50) is required.

Think, people, if you could charge a customer $300+ instead of just $50, you would.

Just bring the AOS instructions that say what is required from the CS. SOmeone once posted it here, and it is likely in the guides.

Instead of filing complaints against the Dr, use your time wisely and shop around for an honest, informed CS. Most of them don't know their true role as a CS.

You admit the CS isn't honest. This is the problem. The doc IS trying to scam the OP and hoping the OP doesn't know the rules and the sad thing is a LOT of people get scammed by dodgy doctors.

The OP is lucky, they knew a full medical wasn't required and so weren't scammed, but if they don't report this doc who knows how many other people will be scammed. Like I said, this OP was able to say no and find someone else, but not everyone is that lucky and these dodgy docs need to be told it's NOT acceptable to lie to people by claiming a full medical is REQUIRED when it's not.

[james&olya 1,121]

V&T, I think you might be making a few more assumptions than are actually in evidence here. Yes, if the doctor actively attempts to convince the OP that he MUST (emphasis yours) have a complete exam to satisfy requirements of the government, than I agree with you. However, it is unlikely the doctor ever even spoke with or was aware of this patient. Someone on his staff would have spoken to the OP and told him the only service they offer is the full exam, take it or leave it. This is then paraphrased by the OP into what he said. Neither of us know what was actually said and by whom. I just make the point that it is unfair to use pejorative terms such as 'scam' and 'dodgy' on the basis of what we know to be true. A more constructive approach to this might be for interested individuals like you and I to lobby our elected representatives to change the law or the agencies to change policy to explicitly point out to all concerned that they DON"T need the full physical, only a simple transcription which maybe ought to be done by a local county health department official for a much lower fee. I think that we would agree on most things here, our difference is only an attitude regarding the medical profession in general.

[Rob and Jill 82]

V&T, I think you might be making a few more assumptions than are actually in evidence here. Yes, if the doctor actively attempts to convince the OP that he MUST (emphasis yours) have a complete exam to satisfy requirements of the government, than I agree with you. However, it is unlikely the doctor ever even spoke with or was aware of this patient. Someone on his staff would have spoken to the OP and told him the only service they offer is the full exam, take it or leave it. This is then paraphrased by the OP into what he said. Neither of us know what was actually said and by whom. I just make the point that it is unfair to use pejorative terms such as 'scam' and 'dodgy' on the basis of what we know to be true. A more constructive approach to this might be for interested individuals like you and I to lobby our elected representatives to change the law or the agencies to change policy to explicitly point out to all concerned that they DON"T need the full physical, only a simple transcription which maybe ought to be done by a local county health department official for a much lower fee. I think that we would agree on most things here, our difference is only an attitude regarding the medical profession in general.

Scam and Dodgy might be a harsh way to put it, I agree. It also might be that the office staff is simple not used to handling properly processed K-1 Visas. The instructions in the I-485 form clearly state you do not have to have a second examination as long as your last exam was less than 1 year old.

When I called to set up the transcription for Rob's records, then woman on the phone ADAMANTLY argued with me that he had to have another examination. I simply read the instructions for the form off to her, and she said "please bring a copy of those, because we want to make sure we do it right the first time".

I think a lot of the office workers get just as confused as we do at times on this. Perhaps if the OP calls and explains it again and reads the instructions to the person answering the phone, the OP will get a different result.

Edited December 1, 2010 by Rob and Jill