TB Test Positive. What next?

[daryl&lada 8]

Hello folks. I need some advice and help with this new problem for us. We married using the K1 route and have started the I-693 paperwork and want to file everything with the I-485 paperwork. We went the health department and my wife tested positive for latent TB saying that she had at some time she had possibly come in contact with someone with it and or the shot she had years ago made her test positive. She did the x-ray that was clear and had the quanteferum that had a positive result. The health department has already prescribed her with 9 months of medicine my wife absolutely refuses to take because she is afraid of the side effects that may result.

My question is, can she NOT take this medicine and get a second opinion? Can she take the medical in another state and have a civil surgeon sign off?

Any and all input will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Ryan H 3,791]

Moved from AOS from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas to AOS from Family Based Visas.

[Tygrys 143]

Why did you go to a new medical? She just had one in November before K1 was granted. Medical is valid 12 months.

[ssiino 0]

I'm not sure if this will help you out, but my K-1 experience was kind of similar.

Basically when my wife and step son were going through the K-1 process, they both had to be medically screened prior to the interview at the embassy (COLOMBIA).

My step son tested positive at the time as far as being latent and having come in contact with TB. They both passed the medical screening and were able to enter the States. Once they arrived, we received a letter with an appointment for a specialist clinic (RISE CLINIC) in Providence, Rhode Island. We went to the appointment and they tested him again. We were then given another appoint (1 week later) for test results. This time the test came back negative and the doctor annotated on the report that the initial positive reading was due to having just received the vaccination. A certificate of the screening and negative results were given to us and that was the end of that chapter. As of now the medical issue has not been an issue. We are currently in the process of applying for adjustment of status for the both of them.

[spectec 12]

Hello folks. I need some advice and help with this new problem for us. We married using the K1 route and have started the I-693 paperwork and want to file everything with the I-485 paperwork. We went the health department and my wife tested positive for latent TB saying that she had at some time she had possibly come in contact with someone with it and or the shot she had years ago made her test positive. She did the x-ray that was clear and had the quanteferum that had a positive result. The health department has already prescribed her with 9 months of medicine my wife absolutely refuses to take because she is afraid of the side effects that may result.

My question is, can she NOT take this medicine and get a second opinion? Can she take the medical in another state and have a civil surgeon sign off?

Any and all input will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

We had the same issue but upon getting a clear xray no medication was given. Just because the test was positive doesn't mean she has tb. Our CS included the negative xray results with the I-693 and signed off on it. If there is no positive evidence of tb after the xray then she shouldn't need treatment. See if you can have a CS sign the papers now that she has a clear xray. Im not sure why you went to the health department other than cost but ultimately a CS must sign the I-693. Tygrys mentioned she shouldn't be required to take a medical again although Alya needed 2 shots and no CS we could find locally would just give them without the medical exam.

Edited May 18, 2012 by spectec

[daryl&lada 8]

We did the blood test and the TB test as part of the I-693.

[spectec 12]

Why did you go to a new medical? She just had one in November before K1 was granted. Medical is valid 12 months.

My understanding is if you have a copy of the DS-3025 and it's marked complete then you don't need to send the I-693 for AOS and therefore don't even need to see a CS here. Some feel it's safer to send the I-693 anyways.

Edited May 18, 2012 by spectec

[mike42979 57]

My wife had the same issue we didnt have the i693 so we had her see a CS she tested positive but the doctor said if she had a test when she was younger she would always test positive, since her Xray from before she arrived in the U.S was clear he signed the i-693 and were currently awaiting the GC now. Sent off in FEB and no RFE as of yet.

[KayDeeCee 4,892]

We did the blood test and the TB test as part of the I-693.

If your medical was done within one year of filing for AOS, then no new medical is needed. Blood tests and TB testing is part of a medical, and were not required to be redone. I believe that is why you were asked why you did a new medical.

If your wife needed vaccinations, you needed to call around until you found a CS that would do just the vaccinations portion that is required for a K-1 without insisting on a new medical. The x-ray outweighs the skin test, and that is why an x-ray is done as part of the overseas medical. if she passed that medical, she was good to go.

Did she have all her vaccinations at the time of her medical when her DS-3025 was filled out? See this post to know if you needed to see a CS or not: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/335754-ds-3025-complete-or-not/page__p__4971318#entry4971318

If she had all the required vaccinations, then I would just go ahead and send a copy of the DS-3025 and skip the CS stuff. That way you can skip more testing and medications. If she needed vaccinations, then call around to different civil surgeons until you find one that won't insist on the medical again. You might have to call several and even drive farther away from your home to find one. Print out the instructions for the I-485 and I-693 that state a K-1 does not need a whole new medical and show it to them. You can check out the thread here on VJ for civil surgeons who don't rip you off to see if one near you is listed: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/231026-civil-surgeons-who-dont-rip-you-off/

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Hello folks. I need some advice and help with this new problem for us. We married using the K1 route and have started the I-693 paperwork and want to file everything with the I-485 paperwork. We went the health department and my wife tested positive for latent TB saying that she had at some time she had possibly come in contact with someone with it and or the shot she had years ago made her test positive. She did the x-ray that was clear and had the quanteferum that had a positive result. The health department has already prescribed her with 9 months of medicine my wife absolutely refuses to take because she is afraid of the side effects that may result.

My question is, can she NOT take this medicine and get a second opinion? Can she take the medical in another state and have a civil surgeon sign off?

Any and all input will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

The QuantiFeron test eliminates the possibility that the positive skin test was the result of a previous vaccine. There is still a possibility that she has a latent infection with some other bacteria, but those other bacterial infections would also require a similar treatment regimen.

Treatment usually involves 9 months of isoniazid. It's not as involved as the treatment regiment for active TB. Adverse reactions to isoniazid occur in only 0.5% of patients. If her liver is ok, and she doesn't have any issues with clinical depression, then she shouldn't have any problems with the treatment.

Latent TB can develop without warning into active TB. I wouldn't mess around with this. Seek other opinions, if you like, but if the consensus is that she has latent TB then get it treated.

[daryl&lada 8]

Thank you for all your replies, help and suggestions. A LOT of confusion has been cleared up. After looking at the DS-3025, she will need the Varicella shot. The Td box was checked but the Insufficient Time Interval box was checked. Last history was March 14, 2003. Does anyone know if that will be an issue?

[infusion 0]

hi,the best thing for her is to take the medicine i had taken my test and resulted in positive but with the xrays i was fine,and i did not recieve no medicine.she should be fine

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

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