HIV and Tuberculosis at Medical Exam

[Chitowngal 0]

I am a US citizen and sponsoring my husband to become a U.S. permanent residence.  My husband is HIV positive and that was disclosed in all the paperwork

submitted by my lawyer and also in the 601-A hardship letter.  We knew that part of the medical exam would include a test for tuberculosis.  He has been 

tested in the past for tuberculosis and his results always came back negative.  We were confident that the tuberculosis test in the medical exam would

also be negative.  I just read recently (last night!) that all HIV positive immigrants applying for a visa must undergo further testing for tuberculosis.  The results

of the "further testing" would take up to 3-6 months to get.  I assumed that if the x-ray at the interview came back negative for tuberculosis than everything would be

fine.  His interview is in two months and I do not know what to do.  Has anyone else experienced this or have any knowledge of this situation?  Thank you!

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Why are you doing a waiver?  HIV is not a reason for denial anymore 

[Chitowngal 0]

2 minutes ago, Transborderwife said:

Why are you doing a waiver?  HIV is not a reason for denial anymore 

We had to do the 601-A waiver because he entered the country illegally.  

[Ontarkie 13,915]

~~Moved to IR1/CR1, from Tourist Visas ~~

[Transborderwife 4,666]

2 minutes ago, Chitowngal said:

We had to do the 601-A waiver because he entered the country illegally.  

Ahh I see now.  I don't know about the testing timeline unfortunately 

[Chitowngal 0]

2 minutes ago, Transborderwife said:

Ahh I see now.  I don't know about the testing timeline unfortunately 

Thanks anyway.

Edited May 16, 2017 by Chitowngal

[sparkles_ 456]

If he self identified as HIV positive, which you said he did, then it goes like this. Positive skin test, leads to a flat plate chest x ray. One of two things happen here, he either is shown to have active TB (pretty sure you, him and everyone around him would know this by now so 99% not the case), or he has a negative x ray for which he must be referred for latent TB treatment since he self identified as HIV positive.

 

That 3-6mo is not the x ray itself, it is the time frame he must have treatment going for the latent aspect.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Outreach/Notes from Previous Engagements/2012/May 2012/civil-surgeonQA-11-13-12.pdf

 

It was Q.18 in the above link, good luck

[Chitowngal 0]

Thank you so much.

[sy1983 31]

3 hours ago, sparkles_ said:

If he self identified as HIV positive, which you said he did, then it goes like this. Positive skin test, leads to a flat plate chest x ray. One of two things happen here, he either is shown to have active TB (pretty sure you, him and everyone around him would know this by now so 99% not the case), or he has a negative x ray for which he must be referred for latent TB treatment since he self identified as HIV positive.

 

That 3-6mo is not the x ray itself, it is the time frame he must have treatment going for the latent aspect.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Outreach/Notes from Previous Engagements/2012/May 2012/civil-surgeonQA-11-13-12.pdf

 

It was Q.18 in the above link, good luck

Very well said by this post, 3-6 months is not simply xray purposes. He would be subject to sputum analysis and culture. An HIV+ individual may be in immunocompromised state, they can check for CD4 and CD8 count and any opportunistic infection that may as well be present. Prophylaxis regime of rifampicin and pyridoxine would be given, after completion of regime, they can do another test. This is purely from a medical perspective, although not necessary the protocol but, I wouldnt be surprise.