Sending additional documents after initial AoS filing?

[HI-UG 4]

My wife's initial AoS filing included a certified copy of our marriage certificate, and a photocopy of her DS-3025.

We noticed about a day before filing that her birth date was listed incorrectly on the marriage certificate - the person who initially entered the data on the marriage license had put "September" instead of "December." Vital Statistics is at the state level here, so although I notified them promptly, they will have to go back through the records some, and it will take a little while to get us corrected copies.

We didn't want to delay the filing, so we noted in her cover letter that her birth date was wrong on that certificate due to a clerical error.

We didn't file an I-693 because she came on a K-1, had her exam less than a year ago, has a DS-3025 with the "waiver" box checked, and had turned in a sealed envelope of medical exam results at the POE (JFK). However, opinions here on VJ are very mixed about whether or not one needs to file an I-693.

We're thinking of taking her original DS-3025 to the local Civil Surgeon and getting it transcribed onto an I-693 (I've already printed one out with her part filled in), so we could provide this at a later time, as well as a corrected certified copy of our marriage certificate.

I guess my question is, should we send these to... somewhere... as soon as we get a case number? Or should we hold onto them and only send them if we get an RFE? Or should we just be prepared to take them to the appointment if we don't get an RFE but do get an appointment?

Thanks all for your thoughts... which I'm sure will be all over the chart.

Edited February 2, 2011 by HI-UG

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

If you try to send something now, there is no chance it will get matched up with your application. All you can do now is wait for an RFE, if it comes. Good luck.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

My wife's initial AoS filing included a certified copy of our marriage certificate, and a photocopy of her DS-3025.

We noticed about a day before filing that her birth date was listed incorrectly on the marriage certificate - the person who initially entered the data on the marriage license had put "September" instead of "December." Vital Statistics is at the state level here, so although I notified them promptly, they will have to go back through the records some, and it will take a little while to get us corrected copies.

We didn't want to delay the filing, so we noted in her cover letter that her birth date was wrong on that certificate due to a clerical error.

We didn't file an I-693 because she came on a K-1, had her exam less than a year ago, has a DS-3025 with the "waiver" box checked, and had turned in a sealed envelope of medical exam results at the POE (JFK). However, opinions here on VJ are very mixed about whether or not one needs to file an I-693.

We're thinking of taking her original DS-3025 to the local Civil Surgeon and getting it transcribed onto an I-693 (I've already printed one out with her part filled in), so we could provide this at a later time, as well as a corrected certified copy of our marriage certificate.

I guess my question is, should we send these to... somewhere... as soon as we get a case number? Or should we hold onto them and only send them if we get an RFE? Or should we just be prepared to take them to the appointment if we don't get an RFE but do get an appointment?

Thanks all for your thoughts... which I'm sure will be all over the chart.

The "waiver" box on a DS-3025 would not be checked unless the "vaccination history incomplete" box is also checked. An immigration officer is not likely to decide on his/her own whether the missing vaccinations are eligible for a blanket waiver. They want confirmation from either a panel physician or civil surgeon that the requirements have been met. In all likelihood, you'll get an RFE for an I-693. Don't be surprised if the RFE also states your file is missing all of the other medical forms, as well. This happens a lot, and nobody really seems to know why. If that happens then you'll need a full medical documented on the I-693.

When an IO issues an RFE your file goes into a holding bin. The RFE indicates exactly which IO has your file, so when you respond they'll know who to give your documents to. Before an IO gets it, your file is sitting in a box somewhere. It could be at a lockbox facility, the National Benefits Center, a regional service center, or a local USCIS field office. If you send unsolicited documents to USCIS I can guarantee that nobody is going to try to figure out where your file is, and add your documents to it. Wait until you get the RFE.

[HI-UG 4]

Thanks for the replies - we don't at all mind waiting to hear officially whether we have to spend more money on paperwork.

And yes, the "incomplete" and "waiver" boxes are both checked, mainly due to things not being age-appropriate. (She had actually gotten shots as a kid, but those records were misplaced.)

[HI-UG 4]

Well, the appointment letter for the interview came, and it said to bring an I-693 unless we'd already submitted the paperwork.

Of course, she DID already submit the paperwork, to the Embassy when she got her visa in the first place... but we don't know whether it found its way from them to USCIS to our field office.

So... she has an appointment with the civil surgeon in our town, a couple weeks before the interview, to get things transcribed and/or get examined. The civil surgeon's office isn't sure whether she needs a full exam or not, but either way, it should be sorted.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Well, the appointment letter for the interview came, and it said to bring an I-693 unless we'd already submitted the paperwork.

Of course, she DID already submit the paperwork, to the Embassy when she got her visa in the first place... but we don't know whether it found its way from them to USCIS to our field office.

So... she has an appointment with the civil surgeon in our town, a couple weeks before the interview, to get things transcribed and/or get examined. The civil surgeon's office isn't sure whether she needs a full exam or not, but either way, it should be sorted.

She shouldn't need the complete medical, but that doesn't mean she won't. It all depends on whether the IO has her medical exam results in her file. I don't know what percentage of the time the medical results from the panel physician abroad don't make it into the alien's "A" file here in the US. It happens often enough that it's a fairly common topic here. I'm guessing it's still probably less than 10%, though.

A complete medical will probably add a couple hundred dollars to the civil surgeon's fees. If you have a severe phobia for RFE's then you might decide to bite the bullet and get it done. On the other hand, you might decide to just get the vaccinations transcribed. I think the odds are in your favor that this will be enough. If you decide to only get the vaccinations transcribed then don't let the civil surgeon talk you into getting the full medical. Many will insist it's needed, even though they know it's not, because they make a tidy profit doing immigration medicals. There was a family doctor at the medical group I'm a member of that was completely inept. She eventually left the medical group and started her own practice. I wasn't surprised to see her name on the USCIS list of civil surgeons.

Good luck with the civil surgeon and the interview!