Civil Surgeon refuses to transfer vaccionations AFTER the exam

[Wisconsinbly 30]

Hello, VJ friends.

 

I am about to send in my AOS paperwork, adjusting from K-1 visa. I came here in Oct 2016, we got married in Dec 2016.

Since my medical exam results overseas were expired, I needed a new medical for I-693. So, I found a Civil Surgeon in my area and went to see him yesterday. After asking me a few general questions about my health, he told me what tests needed to be done. Among the regular ones (TB skin test, blood work for syphilis and gonorrhea), he also mentioned blood work to determine what vaccines I had received in my life. That's when I told him that I have my vaccination history with me (copy of the form DS-3025), that was given to me after my overseas medical exam. He immediately said that that wouldn't do because it was done outside of the United States. I explained to him that it was performed by a Panel Physician, approved by USCIS, and that USCIS actually have a copy of those records too. So I just need him to transfer the vaccines, do the rest of the exam, fill out the I-693 form, and that's it. He said he couldn't transfer anything. Then he actually looked at my vaccination records and went out of the room with them. I assumed he was showing them to someone, because when he came back, he said, "She said it'll be fine". So we continued on with the exam. I was given the TS test and they took my blood. The payment had been done by me at the reception desk before I even saw the CS.

 

Now, tomorrow I'm going back to the clinic to read my TB skin test results. And I can't help but fear that the CS will try arguing about the vaccinations again because he did not sound convincing when he said my vaccination records would be fine. And I didn't press the question at that point because I had spent 1,5 hours just waiting to be seen by the CS, and I did not get a chance to speak with him again after a nurse came in to give me the TB test.

 

So, my question is, first for my own sanity, am I right saying that a Civil Surgeon is supposed to transfer my vaccinations from DS-3025 to I-693?

Considering that I needed and paid for a full medical exam, I did not expect to have an issue with transferring the vaccinations.

 

And second, what proof can I show to the CS that he's supposed to transfer my vaccinations, in case he tries arguing the point again?

I'm considering printing a page from the USCIS website about finding a doctor - https://my.uscis.gov/findadoctor

Anything else I could show him?

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Look in the pinned post in the AOS forum, there should be a link stating the regulations that the CS is supposed to transfer the vaccs
and not give them to you again. You can show him these, sorry but I don't have time right now to dig them out myself, let me know if you found them.
 

[piff 46]

1 hour ago, Wisconsinbly said:

Hello, VJ friends.

 

I am about to send in my AOS paperwork, adjusting from K-1 visa. I came here in Oct 2016, we got married in Dec 2016.

Since my medical exam results overseas were expired, I needed a new medical for I-693. So, I found a Civil Surgeon in my area and went to see him yesterday. After asking me a few general questions about my health, he told me what tests needed to be done. Among the regular ones (TB skin test, blood work for syphilis and gonorrhea), he also mentioned blood work to determine what vaccines I had received in my life. That's when I told him that I have my vaccination history with me (copy of the form DS-3025), that was given to me after my overseas medical exam. He immediately said that that wouldn't do because it was done outside of the United States. I explained to him that it was performed by a Panel Physician, approved by USCIS, and that USCIS actually have a copy of those records too. So I just need him to transfer the vaccines, do the rest of the exam, fill out the I-693 form, and that's it. He said he couldn't transfer anything. Then he actually looked at my vaccination records and went out of the room with them. I assumed he was showing them to someone, because when he came back, he said, "She said it'll be fine". So we continued on with the exam. I was given the TS test and they took my blood. The payment had been done by me at the reception desk before I even saw the CS.

 

Now, tomorrow I'm going back to the clinic to read my TB skin test results. And I can't help but fear that the CS will try arguing about the vaccinations again because he did not sound convincing when he said my vaccination records would be fine. And I didn't press the question at that point because I had spent 1,5 hours just waiting to be seen by the CS, and I did not get a chance to speak with him again after a nurse came in to give me the TB test.

 

So, my question is, first for my own sanity, am I right saying that a Civil Surgeon is supposed to transfer my vaccinations from DS-3025 to I-693?

Considering that I needed and paid for a full medical exam, I did not expect to have an issue with transferring the vaccinations.

 

And second, what proof can I show to the CS that he's supposed to transfer my vaccinations, in case he tries arguing the point again?

I'm considering printing a page from the USCIS website about finding a doctor - https://my.uscis.gov/findadoctor

Anything else I could show him?

Privet! You do NOT need medicals adjusting from K-1 as medicals were submitted at the Embassy in Moscow. 

 

If you received a medical examination prior to admission as a K nonimmigrant, then you are not required to have another medical examination at time of adjustment as long as:

• Your Form I-485 is filed within 1 year of your overseas medical examination
• The medical examination did not reveal a Class A medical condition
• If you did have a Class A medical condition, you received a waiver of inadmissibility and you have complied with the terms and conditions of the waiver

Edited November 8, 2017 by piff

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

5 minutes ago, piff said:

Privet! You do NOT need medicals adjusting from K-1 as medicals were submitted at the Embassy in Moscow. 

 

If you received a medical examination prior to admission as a K nonimmigrant, then you are not required to have another medical examination at time of adjustment as long as:

• Your Form I-485 is filed within 1 year of your overseas medical examination
• The medical examination did not reveal a Class A medical condition
• If you did have a Class A medical condition, you received a waiver of inadmissibility and you have complied with the terms and conditions of the waiver

As you can see from the OP's timeline, their medical was done in September of 2016, and they also state when they came here, making it evident that the medical is indeed expired.

[Eric-Pris 1,602]

1 hour ago, Wisconsinbly said:

Hello, VJ friends.

 

I am about to send in my AOS paperwork, adjusting from K-1 visa. I came here in Oct 2016, we got married in Dec 2016.

 

10 minutes ago, piff said:

Privet! You do NOT need medicals adjusting from K-1 as medicals were submitted at the Embassy in Moscow. 

 

If you received a medical examination prior to admission as a K nonimmigrant, then you are not required to have another medical examination at time of adjustment as long as:

• Your Form I-485 is filed within 1 year of your overseas medical examination
• The medical examination did not reveal a Class A medical condition
• If you did have a Class A medical condition, you received a waiver of inadmissibility and you have complied with the terms and conditions of the waiver

OP came to the US in Oct 2016, so the medical must have been prior to that.  It's now November 2017, do the math. 

[piff 46]

31 minutes ago, Eric-Pris said:

 

OP came to the US in Oct 2016, so the medical must have been prior to that.  It's now November 2017, do the math. 

Sad

[candybabe 46]

1 hour ago, Wisconsinbly said:

Hello, VJ friends.

 

I am about to send in my AOS paperwork, adjusting from K-1 visa. I came here in Oct 2016, we got married in Dec 2016.

Since my medical exam results overseas were expired, I needed a new medical for I-693. So, I found a Civil Surgeon in my area and went to see him yesterday. After asking me a few general questions about my health, he told me what tests needed to be done. Among the regular ones (TB skin test, blood work for syphilis and gonorrhea), he also mentioned blood work to determine what vaccines I had received in my life. That's when I told him that I have my vaccination history with me (copy of the form DS-3025), that was given to me after my overseas medical exam. He immediately said that that wouldn't do because it was done outside of the United States. I explained to him that it was performed by a Panel Physician, approved by USCIS, and that USCIS actually have a copy of those records too. So I just need him to transfer the vaccines, do the rest of the exam, fill out the I-693 form, and that's it. He said he couldn't transfer anything. Then he actually looked at my vaccination records and went out of the room with them. I assumed he was showing them to someone, because when he came back, he said, "She said it'll be fine". So we continued on with the exam. I was given the TS test and they took my blood. The payment had been done by me at the reception desk before I even saw the CS.

 

Now, tomorrow I'm going back to the clinic to read my TB skin test results. And I can't help but fear that the CS will try arguing about the vaccinations again because he did not sound convincing when he said my vaccination records would be fine. And I didn't press the question at that point because I had spent 1,5 hours just waiting to be seen by the CS, and I did not get a chance to speak with him again after a nurse came in to give me the TB test.

 

So, my question is, first for my own sanity, am I right saying that a Civil Surgeon is supposed to transfer my vaccinations from DS-3025 to I-693?

Considering that I needed and paid for a full medical exam, I did not expect to have an issue with transferring the vaccinations.

 

And second, what proof can I show to the CS that he's supposed to transfer my vaccinations, in case he tries arguing the point again?

I'm considering printing a page from the USCIS website about finding a doctor - https://my.uscis.gov/findadoctor

Anything else I could show him?

the only thing I can tell you is that the CS does not feel comfortable signing off on something he has not performed - it is ingrained in their behavior to look at every new patient as exactly that - the liability is too high here to put your name on something you have not yourself verified....

 

so most likely he would like you to take blood tests showing immunity to the diseases you claimed to be vaccinated against - he would not automatically go straight to giving you the shots unless they were yearly boosters - such as the flu shot.

so the one thing you may expect is that they would want you to get blood tests to show if you are immune.

 

that being said, to read your TB you will most likely see the nurse and probably never see that dr again - the nurse will write down the TB test results and will then probably give the form to the dr to authorize and seal ....

 

again these are all presumptions based on what the regular dr experiences are here - don't take anything for a guarantee obviously .....

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

1 hour ago, candybabe said:

unless they were yearly boosters - such as the flu shot.

Just a side-note, flu vaccinations aren't boosters. They are new vaccines for a new strain each year.

[candybabe 46]

4 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

Just a side-note, flu vaccinations aren't boosters. They are new vaccines for a new strain each year.

correct

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

1 hour ago, candybabe said:

correct

Which is why I corrected you

[Wisconsinbly 30]

4 hours ago, Ebunoluwa said:

Look in the pinned post in the AOS forum, there should be a link stating the regulations that the CS is supposed to transfer the vaccs
and not give them to you again. You can show him these, sorry but I don't have time right now to dig them out myself, let me know if you found them.
 

Hey! I didn't find what you were talking about, but I reread the instructions to form I-693, and I think I found what I needed.  In the instructions it says:

 

Quote

All applicants for adjustment of status must present documents showing they were vaccinated against a broad range of vaccine-preventable diseases.  The civil surgeon will review your vaccination history with you to determine whether you have had all the required vaccinations.  Make sure you take your vaccination records with you to your appointment with the civil surgeon.

...

If you never received certain vaccines, or you are unable to prove you received them, the civil surgeon can provide them to you.

Thank you for reassuring me I was right and nudging me in the right direction! I appreciate it.

 

3 hours ago, candybabe said:

the only thing I can tell you is that the CS does not feel comfortable signing off on something he has not performed - it is ingrained in their behavior to look at every new patient as exactly that - the liability is too high here to put your name on something you have not yourself verified....

 

so most likely he would like you to take blood tests showing immunity to the diseases you claimed to be vaccinated against - he would not automatically go straight to giving you the shots unless they were yearly boosters - such as the flu shot.

so the one thing you may expect is that they would want you to get blood tests to show if you are immune.

 

that being said, to read your TB you will most likely see the nurse and probably never see that dr again - the nurse will write down the TB test results and will then probably give the form to the dr to authorize and seal ....

 

again these are all presumptions based on what the regular dr experiences are here - don't take anything for a guarantee obviously .....

I understand your point but I respectfully disagree. Had I not have any proof of previous immunizations, I would have agreed to get blood tests to show my immunity. But I had my vaccination records with me as proof, signed by a panel physician, who is approved by USCIS. Should a Civil Surgeon be responsible for something he didn't perform himself? No. But if he is presented with papers, signed by a doctor who is approved by USCIS (basically, his colleague in another country), in my opinion, he should be able to trust those papers and transcribe the vaccinations.

 

I also just checked the I-693 form. In part 9, Vaccination Record, there's a table with the vaccines, and on top it says: "Vaccine history transferred from a written record". How do I acquire a written record of my vaccinations? I take my vaccinations card (written in Russian, performed by Russian doctors), go to a USCIS approved panel physician to have those vaccination records translated into English and transferred to a USCIS approved medical form. Then, upon arriving to the U.S., I go to a Civil Surgeon to have those records transferred to a different medical form, so that I could use that form for immigration, as well as personal purposes. I do not see any other way to do it.

[candybabe 46]

1 hour ago, Wisconsinbly said:

Hey! I didn't find what you were talking about, but I reread the instructions to form I-693, and I think I found what I needed.  In the instructions it says:

 

Thank you for reassuring me I was right and nudging me in the right direction! I appreciate it.

 

I understand your point but I respectfully disagree. Had I not have any proof of previous immunizations, I would have agreed to get blood tests to show my immunity. But I had my vaccination records with me as proof, signed by a panel physician, who is approved by USCIS. Should a Civil Surgeon be responsible for something he didn't perform himself? No. But if he is presented with papers, signed by a doctor who is approved by USCIS (basically, his colleague in another country), in my opinion, he should be able to trust those papers and transcribe the vaccinations.

 

I also just checked the I-693 form. In part 9, Vaccination Record, there's a table with the vaccines, and on top it says: "Vaccine history transferred from a written record". How do I acquire a written record of my vaccinations? I take my vaccinations card (written in Russian, performed by Russian doctors), go to a USCIS approved panel physician to have those vaccination records translated into English and transferred to a USCIS approved medical form. Then, upon arriving to the U.S., I go to a Civil Surgeon to have those records transferred to a different medical form, so that I could use that form for immigration, as well as personal purposes. I do not see any other way to do it.

I am not disagreeing with you - I am just talking from experience - I needed vaccination records for a volunteer job - I had complete paperwork showing vaccinations and also what childhood diseases I had and when- all medical records from europe - the dr office would not sign anything without a blood test to show immunity even if I showed him the chicken pox scars  - 

unfortunately the dr’s here only trust what is being done here on US soil under US regulations. 

And the philosophy is that they have to ensure that whatever they put their name on stands the test of time and is not a liability -

they could care less about a “ colleague” in Europe - if you are a dr and want to immigrate here you can’t even practice medicine here without taking their own tests - they won’t recognize any medical degreees unless they are vetted by a US university - 

And keep in mind they see thousands of people like you - so it’s not personal , just standard process - 

[piff 46]

13 hours ago, Wisconsinbly said:

Hey! I didn't find what you were talking about, but I reread the instructions to form I-693, and I think I found what I needed.  In the instructions it says:

 

Thank you for reassuring me I was right and nudging me in the right direction! I appreciate it.

 

I understand your point but I respectfully disagree. Had I not have any proof of previous immunizations, I would have agreed to get blood tests to show my immunity. But I had my vaccination records with me as proof, signed by a panel physician, who is approved by USCIS. Should a Civil Surgeon be responsible for something he didn't perform himself? No. But if he is presented with papers, signed by a doctor who is approved by USCIS (basically, his colleague in another country), in my opinion, he should be able to trust those papers and transcribe the vaccinations.

 

I also just checked the I-693 form. In part 9, Vaccination Record, there's a table with the vaccines, and on top it says: "Vaccine history transferred from a written record". How do I acquire a written record of my vaccinations? I take my vaccinations card (written in Russian, performed by Russian doctors), go to a USCIS approved panel physician to have those vaccination records translated into English and transferred to a USCIS approved medical form. Then, upon arriving to the U.S., I go to a Civil Surgeon to have those records transferred to a different medical form, so that I could use that form for immigration, as well as personal purposes. I do not see any other way to do it.

I know a doctor who accepted it for me and my wife,  he is in NorVA. What state are you in?

 

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

13 hours ago, candybabe said:

I am not disagreeing with you - I am just talking from experience - I needed vaccination records for a volunteer job - I had complete paperwork showing vaccinations and also what childhood diseases I had and when- all medical records from europe - the dr office would not sign anything without a blood test to show immunity even if I showed him the chicken pox scars  - 

unfortunately the dr’s here only trust what is being done here on US soil under US regulations. 

And the philosophy is that they have to ensure that whatever they put their name on stands the test of time and is not a liability -

they could care less about a “ colleague” in Europe - if you are a dr and want to immigrate here you can’t even practice medicine here without taking their own tests - they won’t recognize any medical degreees unless they are vetted by a US university - 

And keep in mind they see thousands of people like you - so it’s not personal , just standard process - 

It's done all the time and it's what they are supposed to do according to USCIS. They are obliged to follow those rules if they want to stay as USCIS certified civil surgeons. The problem is they don't sometimes know that, and sometimes they do and don't expect you to be able/care to do something about it, cause then they can charge you more. We see this a lot here on VJ. The OP isn't talking about taking "any" vaccination records. Only the one that has been transcribed by a USCIS approved panel physician (that also is required to follow the regulations set forward by USCIS). It's not about whether or not that Doc would be able to work in the US or not (most countries have their own recognition process in place for validation of a foreign MD) - it's about whether they have been deemed qualified by USCIS to perform the specifics of their medical and its requirements. 

[DrEllaNJ 288]

My CS fortunately didn't perform any other unneeded vaccinations based off of my school record that showed required immunizations.

However, I recently got the antibodies tests for MMR+chicken pox because of pregnancy and let me tell you, those blood tests in the US aren't exactly cheap either  Hopefully you'll be able to show him the evidence that he really should transfer your vaccination history!