Frustrated about lost medical

[carolineden11 2]

I posted yesterday about USCIS losing my medical and giving me an RFE. In summary, I came here on a k-1 visa (October 2011), which required me to get a medical (done in June 2011). I handed the medical documents in to an immigration officer at my visa interview at the Consulate in Montreal (August 2011). While filing AOS (received November 2011) I sent the vaccine supplement and my RFE states that I don't need to redo that part of the medical (ie the vaccine part is fine and I don't need just the vaccine supplement as some other people have received an RFE regarding). I've been trying to contact my Canadian panel physician to see if I can get a copy of the medical resent but haven't heard back from them. I have a few questions...

1. Does anyone know is Dr. Seiden's office in Toronto will mail you a copy of your past medical exam?

2. My RFE wants me to do an I-693 but if I am able to get a copy (in a sealed envelop) of my medical from Canada which includes forms DS-2053, DS-3024, and DS-3026, will that work instead of getting I-693 done?

3. My medical took place on June 8, 2011. I filed for AOS in November 2011, well within the 1 year period for my medical to be valid. However, I am now coming close to the 1 year mark and likely wouldn't be able to get a copy to USCIS by June 8th. Does that mean I need to redo my physical regardless of whether or not I can get a copy of my medical or is it fine because I filed AOS within 1 year and that's the date that matters? I'm not sure if the medical needs to be valid one year from when I filed (November 2011) or 1 year from when they actually look at your case (ie now).

I called USCIS to try to get help but they are useless. They acknowledge that it didn't make sense and told me to respond to the RFE by saying that I didn't need a medical because I had one already for k-1. From reading posts on VJ, I know people have been denied for doing just that. Infopass is a 6 hour drive and I've heard from others that they also were not helpful in relocating lost medicals.

My RFE date is still 2.5 months away so I have decided to try to contact a Senator and Ombudsman to help locate my lost medicals. If I can't get help within the next couple weeks I will just redo the medical rather than risk being denied. Senator Barbara Boxer is a friend of my mother-in-law and she has already agreed to help with my issue. I know this is a very common problem that is happening over and over again. Even if she cannot help me locate my lost medicals in time, I would like to see if she can do something to prevent this from happening to other people repeatedly. She seems very eager to help, especially since I am a military family. It would be very helpful if other people who have experienced USCIS losing their medicals were to contact her. Please private message me if this has happened to you and I can put you in touch with her. I also urge you to contact the ombudsman (http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/cisomb.shtm).

I find it appalling that so many people have a hard time dealing with immigration. I don't understand why I should have to pay such a high fee for AOS only to have mistakes be made by USCIS at my expense. If any business didn't provide a service that was paid for or if they made a mistake, they would have to pay for the expense of that mistake. However, because we are immigrants, and deportation/being separated from our loved ones is at risk, we often just go along with the ridiculous nature of this process.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Be careful about waiting to reschedule the medical. I called the civil surgeon a day or two after I received my RFE and the closest medical I could get was just last week, only a couple weeks before my RFE response was due. Depending on your area, it might be a bit of a wait before they can get you in. Good luck.

[carolineden11 2]

Thanks for the advice about the medical. I already made the appointment for June 5th. My RFE date is August 1st so plenty of time!

[April&Adam 5]

I would love to hear how this all turns out.

My timeline is similar to yours in that I got a medical at Dr Seiden's in Toronto June 20, 2011, applied for AOS November 2011, and just received an RFE May 21, 2012 stating that they didn't do an IGRA and/or TB test for my medical. How this is true is beyond me. The US certifies these Dr. to test us, and they therefore should know what tests we need for the immigration process. I also have my chest x-ray, so I know that part of the TB testing was completed. My guess is my medical was lost as well, or we have the same case agent who isn't trained properly.

Either way I plan on contacting my Congressman on Tuesday, but I would love to hear how everything turns out for you...and maybe it'll help if we let the Congressman know that it's also happened to someone with a similar timeline to us.

Paying for ANOTHER medical after all these immigration expenses (not to mention the 5 hour round trip drive) seems ridiculous, but most people seem to be willing to swallow the costs, because it's the easiest way.

[Italian Mom 1]

I posted yesterday about USCIS losing my medical and giving me an RFE. In summary, I came here on a k-1 visa (October 2011), which required me to get a medical (done in June 2011). I handed the medical documents in to an immigration officer at my visa interview at the Consulate in Montreal (August 2011). While filing AOS (received November 2011) I sent the vaccine supplement and my RFE states that I don't need to redo that part of the medical (ie the vaccine part is fine and I don't need just the vaccine supplement as some other people have received an RFE regarding). I've been trying to contact my Canadian panel physician to see if I can get a copy of the medical resent but haven't heard back from them. I have a few questions...

1. Does anyone know is Dr. Seiden's office in Toronto will mail you a copy of your past medical exam?

2. My RFE wants me to do an I-693 but if I am able to get a copy (in a sealed envelop) of my medical from Canada which includes forms DS-2053, DS-3024, and DS-3026, will that work instead of getting I-693 done?

3. My medical took place on June 8, 2011. I filed for AOS in November 2011, well within the 1 year period for my medical to be valid. However, I am now coming close to the 1 year mark and likely wouldn't be able to get a copy to USCIS by June 8th. Does that mean I need to redo my physical regardless of whether or not I can get a copy of my medical or is it fine because I filed AOS within 1 year and that's the date that matters? I'm not sure if the medical needs to be valid one year from when I filed (November 2011) or 1 year from when they actually look at your case (ie now).

I called USCIS to try to get help but they are useless. They acknowledge that it didn't make sense and told me to respond to the RFE by saying that I didn't need a medical because I had one already for k-1. From reading posts on VJ, I know people have been denied for doing just that. Infopass is a 6 hour drive and I've heard from others that they also were not helpful in relocating lost medicals.

My RFE date is still 2.5 months away so I have decided to try to contact a Senator and Ombudsman to help locate my lost medicals. If I can't get help within the next couple weeks I will just redo the medical rather than risk being denied. Senator Barbara Boxer is a friend of my mother-in-law and she has already agreed to help with my issue. I know this is a very common problem that is happening over and over again. Even if she cannot help me locate my lost medicals in time, I would like to see if she can do something to prevent this from happening to other people repeatedly. She seems very eager to help, especially since I am a military family. It would be very helpful if other people who have experienced USCIS losing their medicals were to contact her. Please private message me if this has happened to you and I can put you in touch with her. I also urge you to contact the ombudsman (http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/cisomb.shtm).

I find it appalling that so many people have a hard time dealing with immigration. I don't understand why I should have to pay such a high fee for AOS only to have mistakes be made by USCIS at my expense. If any business didn't provide a service that was paid for or if they made a mistake, they would have to pay for the expense of that mistake. However, because we are immigrants, and deportation/being separated from our loved ones is at risk, we often just go along with the ridiculous nature of this process.

Yes, they did exactly the same thing with my son's application. On my opinion, the best thing to do is have another medical visit (it will cost you on average 200$). Do not go for the long way to find the old medical report, you don't want to lose time. And after we sent the new RFE, my son's CG came very quick (two weeks). Good Luck!

[Messybrownhair 251]

Happened to me too. I was able to get an appointment with a CS the same day I received the RFE and was able to mail it back the same week when I got the results. Luckily my CS only charged $150 for the full medical and she also did my drivers license medical form at the same time for no additional cost. Still a hassle though.. I received my GC 3 weeks or so after that. It sucks but dont worry the end is near!

[BlueBonnet 84]

something was up with my medical too. I have to try to remember, but basicaly, I made the call the USCIS, and told them, that I had done the medical in Canada. I was told to the RFE with a response saying that I had already done it.

I sent emails between me and the dr. stating the date of my medical

I sent a copy of their website rules stating they dont due medicals until a letter is recieved

I sent a copy of emails between me and the consulate showing the date of interview.

( it was my intention to prove that this was my interview date, and this was my medical date )

My RFE was based on them saying that my medical was over a year old and therefore invalid.

When I got to the interview stage for my greencard, my medical was brought up again, he said that I hadnt responded correctly, even though on the phone this is what I was told to do, the CO left the room, came back within 5 minutes and said it was fine.

[moemac59 192]

I posted yesterday about USCIS losing my medical and giving me an RFE. In summary, I came here on a k-1 visa (October 2011), which required me to get a medical (done in June 2011). I handed the medical documents in to an immigration officer at my visa interview at the Consulate in Montreal (August 2011). While filing AOS (received November 2011) I sent the vaccine supplement and my RFE states that I don't need to redo that part of the medical (ie the vaccine part is fine and I don't need just the vaccine supplement as some other people have received an RFE regarding). I've been trying to contact my Canadian panel physician to see if I can get a copy of the medical resent but haven't heard back from them. I have a few questions...

1. Does anyone know is Dr. Seiden's office in Toronto will mail you a copy of your past medical exam?

2. My RFE wants me to do an I-693 but if I am able to get a copy (in a sealed envelop) of my medical from Canada which includes forms DS-2053, DS-3024, and DS-3026, will that work instead of getting I-693 done?

3. My medical took place on June 8, 2011. I filed for AOS in November 2011, well within the 1 year period for my medical to be valid. However, I am now coming close to the 1 year mark and likely wouldn't be able to get a copy to USCIS by June 8th. Does that mean I need to redo my physical regardless of whether or not I can get a copy of my medical or is it fine because I filed AOS within 1 year and that's the date that matters? I'm not sure if the medical needs to be valid one year from when I filed (November 2011) or 1 year from when they actually look at your case (ie now).

I called USCIS to try to get help but they are useless. They acknowledge that it didn't make sense and told me to respond to the RFE by saying that I didn't need a medical because I had one already for k-1. From reading posts on VJ, I know people have been denied for doing just that. Infopass is a 6 hour drive and I've heard from others that they also were not helpful in relocating lost medicals.

My RFE date is still 2.5 months away so I have decided to try to contact a Senator and Ombudsman to help locate my lost medicals. If I can't get help within the next couple weeks I will just redo the medical rather than risk being denied. Senator Barbara Boxer is a friend of my mother-in-law and she has already agreed to help with my issue. I know this is a very common problem that is happening over and over again. Even if she cannot help me locate my lost medicals in time, I would like to see if she can do something to prevent this from happening to other people repeatedly. She seems very eager to help, especially since I am a military family. It would be very helpful if other people who have experienced USCIS losing their medicals were to contact her. Please private message me if this has happened to you and I can put you in touch with her. I also urge you to contact the ombudsman (http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/cisomb.shtm).

I find it appalling that so many people have a hard time dealing with immigration. I don't understand why I should have to pay such a high fee for AOS only to have mistakes be made by USCIS at my expense. If any business didn't provide a service that was paid for or if they made a mistake, they would have to pay for the expense of that mistake. However, because we are immigrants, and deportation/being separated from our loved ones is at risk, we often just go along with the ridiculous nature of this process.

I asked Dr. Seiden's office if I could get a copy of my medical and they said anticipating that this may be a problem when I apply for AOS. I intend on asking if I can get a copy at the border when I go thru to activate my K1.