I-693 Help

[Henrinawrocki 2]

Dear VisaJourney Members,

 

I have just recently received a letter of courtesy for my I-693 which I didn’t do yet. My status has recently also changed to case scheduled for interview - so I’m getting to the point where I want to get this stuff completed and taken care of.

 

I have a few questions/concerns around which I’m a little confused.

-Can I go to a Civil Surgeon and have them tell me which Vaccines I still need to take after a blood test with them? I lost my immunization record, but am getting documents from old doctors for a few vaccines. My hope is to take as little as possible. 

-Or do I figure out myself which vaccines I have to take and take them before my appointment with a Civil Surgeon?

-If I have my interview scheduled for sometime in the next 4-6 weeks, will this give me enough time to complete the required vaccines? 

-Can I get the vaccines after the meeting with the CV elsewhere for a cheaper cost and then come back? 

 

Im trying to find the best and fastest process now to get this thing sorted out before our interview. Tomorrow I’m going to look and call up some affordable CVs. 

 

Answers to my Qs and extra tips would be greatly welcome and appreciated! 

 

Thanks,

Henri 

[eckoin 211]

7 hours ago, Henrinawrocki said:

-Can I go to a Civil Surgeon and have them tell me which Vaccines I still need to take after a blood test with them? I lost my immunization record, but am getting documents from old doctors for a few vaccines. My hope is to take as little as possible. 

Absolutely. Keep in mind that blood tests are quite expensive and not covered by insurance for this purpose. If you're OK with that, then yes the civil surgeon will tell you what you need. 

 

You said your interview is already scheduled, meaning that you have around a month. Bloodwork can take a bit of time depending on which lab they use. Inquire on how long it would take. 

Quote

-Or do I figure out myself which vaccines I have to take and take them before my appointment with a Civil Surgeon?

You can do that as well. You could also ask the civil surgeon which vaccines are required for your age and situation, and they should give you a list. What you don't have proof of, you can get those done. 

 

Quote

-If I have my interview scheduled for sometime in the next 4-6 weeks, will this give me enough time to complete the required vaccines? 

It takes a few minutes to get the vaccines done, plus office visit wait. The only ones I'm not sure of is something like MMR, which you need two rounds of. Maybe if you get it as an adult, one is enough? This is assuming you have no records, so you'd be starting "from scratch" from the perspective of the paperwork. Something to ask about, depending on your available records. 

 

Quote

-Can I get the vaccines after the meeting with the CV elsewhere for a cheaper cost and then come back? 

Sure. You'd go back to your civil surgeon and provide proof. 

 

Quote

Im trying to find the best and fastest process now to get this thing sorted out before our interview. Tomorrow I’m going to look and call up some affordable CVs. 

 

Answers to my Qs and extra tips would be greatly welcome and appreciated! 

 

Thanks,

Henri 

If it were me, I would skip the bloodwork for titers (to see what you're immune to and therefore don't require vaccines for) and just get the vaccines. If you have insurance, chances are vaccines are covered 100%. You can get them done at any pharmacy, and Costco (if you don't have insurance) does many vaccines for very cheap--you don't need a Costco membership. Some areas also have public health departments that vaccinate literally for free. There's no harm in getting vaccines even if you're already immune. 

 

Skip walkin clinics and urgent care centers for vaccinations unless absolutely necessary--you will spend unreasonably more money for something your local grocery store can do for pennies on the dollar. 

Edited February 4, 2019 by eckoin

[junkmart 320]

7 hours ago, Henrinawrocki said:

Dear VisaJourney Members,

 

I have just recently received a letter of courtesy for my I-693 which I didn’t do yet. My status has recently also changed to case scheduled for interview - so I’m getting to the point where I want to get this stuff completed and taken care of.

 

I have a few questions/concerns around which I’m a little confused.

-Can I go to a Civil Surgeon and have them tell me which Vaccines I still need to take after a blood test with them? I lost my immunization record, but am getting documents from old doctors for a few vaccines. My hope is to take as little as possible. 

-Or do I figure out myself which vaccines I have to take and take them before my appointment with a Civil Surgeon?

-If I have my interview scheduled for sometime in the next 4-6 weeks, will this give me enough time to complete the required vaccines? 

-Can I get the vaccines after the meeting with the CV elsewhere for a cheaper cost and then come back? 

 

Im trying to find the best and fastest process now to get this thing sorted out before our interview. Tomorrow I’m going to look and call up some affordable CVs. 

 

Answers to my Qs and extra tips would be greatly welcome and appreciated! 

 

Thanks,

Henri 

-Can I go to a Civil Surgeon and have them tell me which Vaccines I still need to take after a blood test with them? I lost my immunization record, but am getting documents from old doctors for a few vaccines. My hope is to take as little as possible. Yes. In fact, they were able to tell from my blood work that I had had chicken pox, so I didn't need the Varicella vaccine

 

-Or do I figure out myself which vaccines I have to take and take them before my appointment with a Civil Surgeon? That is what I did, but I have my vaccination records. I only needed the flu shot, MMR and Tdap. You can find out which vaccines are age appropriate for you here: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/easy-to-read/adult-easyread.html

 

-Can I get the vaccines after the meeting with the CV elsewhere for a cheaper cost and then come back? Yes! In fact, my CV suggested this option. I went to my county's health clinic and got the MMR and Tdap for $15 because I don't have insurance. I got the flu shot at Walgreens.

 

 

[junkmart 320]

5 minutes ago, eckoin said:

Absolutely. Keep in mind that blood tests are quite expensive and not covered by insurance for this purpose. If you're OK with that, then yes the civil surgeon will tell you what you need. 

 

You said your interview is already scheduled, meaning that you have around a month. Bloodwork can take a bit of time depending on which lab they use. Inquire on how long it would take. 

You can do that as well. You could also ask the civil surgeon which vaccines are required for your age and situation, and they should give you a list. What you don't have proof of, you can get those done. 

 

It takes a few minutes to get the vaccines done, plus office visit wait. The only ones I'm not sure of is something like MMR, which you need two rounds of. Maybe if you get it as an adult, one is enough? This is assuming you have no records, so you'd be starting "from scratch" from the perspective of the paperwork. Something to ask about, depending on your available records. 

 

Sure. You'd go back to your civil surgeon and provide proof. 

 

If it were me, I would skip the bloodwork for titers (to see what you're immune to and therefore don't require vaccines for) and just get the vaccines. If you have insurance, chances are vaccines are covered 100%. You can get them done at any pharmacy, and Costco (if you don't have insurance) does many vaccines for very cheap--you don't need a Costco membership. Some areas also have public health departments that vaccinate literally for free. There's no harm in getting vaccines even if you're already immune. 

 

Skip walkin clinics and urgent care centers for vaccinations unless absolutely necessary--you will spend unreasonably more money for something your local grocery store can do for pennies on the dollar. 

Agree with poster about titers. It's probably cheaper to visit your county's health clinic and get all age appropriate vaccines in lieu of titers. The blood work included in the CV costs typically only test for syphilis, gonorrhea, and varicella. Titers would be extra.

[eckoin 211]

15 minutes ago, junkmart said:

Agree with poster about titers. It's probably cheaper to visit your county's health clinic and get all age appropriate vaccines in lieu of titers. The blood work included in the CV costs typically only test for syphilis, gonorrhea, and varicella. Titers would be extra.

Isn't a TB blood test also required nowadays? 

 

I had bloodwork for immunity done during pregnancy, I think about 8-10 screens or so, and it cost $1,700. So I'd never recommend anyone doing titers just because. Zero harm in getting a new MMR shot. I think varicella is the only one where it kind of makes sense, since the shot is useless for someone who already had chicken pox at best. 

[junkmart 320]

Just now, eckoin said:

Isn't a TB blood test also required nowadays? 

 

I had bloodwork for immunity done during pregnancy, I think about 8-10 screens or so, and it cost $1,700. So I'd never recommend anyone doing titers just because. Zero harm in getting a new MMR shot. I think varicella is the only one where it kind of makes sense, since the shot is useless for someone who already had chicken pox at best. 

Yes! I forgot about the TB blood test.

[Henrinawrocki 2]

2 hours ago, junkmart said:

Agree with poster about titers. It's probably cheaper to visit your county's health clinic and get all age appropriate vaccines in lieu of titers. The blood work included in the CV costs typically only test for syphilis, gonorrhea, and varicella. Titers would be extra.

Hey thanks for your reply.

 

So if I find a decent base cost for a CV it will include the blood test with which they can check which vaccines I need? And if I then return to the office with the shots done elsewhere, I wouldn’t Have to pay more for an extra visit? 

[junkmart 320]

25 minutes ago, Henrinawrocki said:

Hey thanks for your reply.

 

So if I find a decent base cost for a CV it will include the blood test with which they can check which vaccines I need? And if I then return to the office with the shots done elsewhere, I wouldn’t Have to pay more for an extra visit? 

Usually, the CV base cost WILL NOT include titers to test for vaccines. In a previous response to your post, eckoin mentioned that she paid $1,700 for titers.

[eckoin 211]

1 hour ago, junkmart said:

Usually, the CV base cost WILL NOT include titers to test for vaccines. In a previous response to your post, eckoin mentioned that she paid $1,700 for titers.

Yep. @Henrinawrocki, an average civil surgeon will have a cost breakdown available, and usually it is as follows:

 

- $ for just filling out the form and signing it. This is anywhere between $75-300, with outliers (plus minus). 

- $ for required bloodwork: this is TB, syphilis, gonorrhea, and varicella if you don't have proof of having done this before (for example, I had proof of no immunity to varicella and proof of subsequent vaccination against varicella, so I didn't have to worry about it). If you have US records of recent blood tests against one or more of these, they may accept them and skip the bloodwork for these. Usually, civil surgeons will send your bloodwork to a separate lab to do these tests; few have their own labs. 

- $ for vaccines you do require - you're free to do them elsewhere and show proof

- $ for additional bloodwork like every other disease per vaccinations - measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, etc. This will cost a lot of money (each one is a separate blood test! MMR = 3 samples, TDAP = 3 samples, etc.) and may come back negative (no immunity), and you'll still have to be immunized. This also takes a bit of time. This is the part I don't recommend--just get the vaccinations and save yourself up to thousands of dollars. 

Edited February 4, 2019 by eckoin

[Henrinawrocki 2]

Thanks @eckoin and @junkmart for your help & support.

 

I just found this: 

At Chicago Medical Center, we offer the immigration physical for $195.00 with valid vaccination records. This includes PPD (tuberculosis skin test), syphilis blood test, gonorrhea test, and the physical exam. If you do not have valid vaccination records, the exam will cost $350 and includes the above, as well as a tetanus shot, blood test for varicella, and blood test for MMR. During flu season, the flu vaccine will cost an additional $25. If you test positive for certain conditions or do not have the necessary vaccinations, there will be additional fees to have the required vaccinations or for treatment of positive medical conditions.

 

Do you guys think that if I do all my vaccinations that I need beforehand, I can do it for $195? What is considered valid vaccination records?

 

I also have documentation being prepared from my home country where I did some shots 9 years ago for 3 of the needed vaccinations. If they will give me a document and my mother will scan/email it to me & send a translation under perjury - would that be considered valid records?

[junkmart 320]

16 minutes ago, Henrinawrocki said:

Do you guys think that if I do all my vaccinations that I need beforehand, I can do it for $195? What is considered valid vaccination records?

Yes. Valid vaccination records can be many things. It can be records from your doctor back home. Below is an image of one from Mexico. In my case, I had one similar to the photo. I took it to my county's public health department and they transferred all the information from the card to their system. They then gave me a print out that showed all the vaccines I had, plus the ones they gave me that day. I took both the new record and the old record from Mexico with me to the CV.

16 minutes ago, Henrinawrocki said:

I also have documentation being prepared from my home country where I did some shots 9 years ago for 3 of the needed vaccinations. If they will give me a document and my mother will scan/email it to me & send a translation under perjury - would that be considered valid records?

That may work. Its better than nothing.

Also attached is an image of the immunization record I got from the county health department, who gave me the required vaccines I was missing.

Edited February 4, 2019 by junkmart

[Henrinawrocki 2]

5 minutes ago, junkmart said:

Yes. Valid vaccination records can be many things. It can be records from your doctor back home. Below is an image of one from Mexico. In my case, I had one similar to the photo. I took it to my county's public health department and they transferred all the information from the card to their system. They then gave me a print out that showed all the vaccines I had, plus the ones they gave me that day. I took both the new record and the old record from Mexico with me to the CV.

That may work. Its better than nothing.

Okay - so you think it’d be a good idea to get all documentation and bring it to the PHD and they can transcribe it? Do they do that for free? (Even if you don’t do any vaccines with them?) 

 

just called my nearest PHD.

MMR 100$

TD 95$ 

VARICELLA $153

 

Not really free like other people said about theirs lol. 

 

[junkmart 320]

1 minute ago, Henrinawrocki said:

Okay - so you think it’d be a good idea to get all documentation and bring it to the PHD and they can transcribe it? Do they do that for free? (Even if you don’t do any vaccines with them?) 

 

just called my nearest PHD.

MMR 100$

TD 95$ 

VARICELLA $153

 

Not really free like other people said about theirs lol. 

 

I don't know what PHD is. Those prices sounds like pharmacy prices to me, similar to Walgreens. I would encourage you to contact the health department in the county in which you live.

 

In Texas, we have a program called the Texas Adult Safety Net. The program provides free or low cost vaccines for adults who do not have insurance, no matter one's immigration status. Perhaps your state or county has a similar program. I got MMR and Tdap for around $25 total.

[eckoin 211]

34 minutes ago, Henrinawrocki said:

Thanks @eckoin and @junkmart for your help & support.

 

I just found this: 

At Chicago Medical Center, we offer the immigration physical for $195.00 with valid vaccination records. This includes PPD (tuberculosis skin test), syphilis blood test, gonorrhea test, and the physical exam. If you do not have valid vaccination records, the exam will cost $350 and includes the above, as well as a tetanus shot, blood test for varicella, and blood test for MMR. During flu season, the flu vaccine will cost an additional $25. If you test positive for certain conditions or do not have the necessary vaccinations, there will be additional fees to have the required vaccinations or for treatment of positive medical conditions.

 

Do you guys think that if I do all my vaccinations that I need beforehand, I can do it for $195? What is considered valid vaccination records?

Valid vaccination records is anything your civil surgeon will accept. I had printouts from my school in Canada (not certified in any way, and truthfully, nothing I couldn't have printed out myself). Maybe another civil surgeon would disagree, but I believe it's unlikely. If you have a receipt from a US business that did it recently, there can be zero issues as long as the business is legitimate--they could always call and confirm. 

 

So yes, if you bring proof, you're good with $195. I'm just not sure which vaccinations you actually would need, since the CDC website differentiates between "definitely need" and "maybe need". I still don't know which ones are genuinely required, which is why I'd ask the office. 

 

Quote

I also have documentation being prepared from my home country where I did some shots 9 years ago for 3 of the needed vaccinations. If they will give me a document and my mother will scan/email it to me & send a translation under perjury - would that be considered valid records?

Maybe, probably, who knows. Ask the civil surgeon what they accept. 

22 minutes ago, junkmart said:

 

 

 

15 minutes ago, Henrinawrocki said:

Okay - so you think it’d be a good idea to get all documentation and bring it to the PHD and they can transcribe it? Do they do that for free? (Even if you don’t do any vaccines with them?) 

 

just called my nearest PHD.

MMR 100$

TD 95$ 

VARICELLA $153

 

Not really free like other people said about theirs lol. 

 

https://www.costco.com/Pharmacy/adult-immunization-program.html check this out. 

 

And for the rest: https://m.goodrx.com/mmr and confirm which place offers what, and and at what price. Guaranteed cheaper than the above, at least somewhat. 

Edited February 4, 2019 by eckoin

[eckoin 211]

And honestly, since you're not checking your insurance plan, most of which cover vaccinations--maybe this is a sign to look into health insurance because the US doesn't go easy on the uninsured.