AOS and Medical by Civil Surgeon

[Lovetoteach 53]

I have been looking into getting my medical done. The nearest designated civil surgeon (on the USCIS list) is only about 20 mins from me in South Bend IN. The rest are about 2 1/2 hours drive away.

I was told that I have to go have my HIV/syphilis/ TB skin test done at the local County Health Center, once I have these results I can then make an appointment to have the rest of the physical done at the civil surgeons office. She said if the skin reaction was larger than 5 mm then I would need to have a chest X RAY and would probably go somewhere else to do this . I've had the BCG in the UK, when I was 13 so I expect a positive reaction. Are both the skin test and X RAY required now anyway?

I'm concerned as I thought the exam took place altogether ie blood tests etc but she said this is how they do it. The blood tests are free at the health dept apart from the TB skin test which is $10, the physical I was told was $ 50. I already have a letter re my vaccinations as I had them all done back in 2004 when I first came on a K1 so that shouldn't be a problem..

I'm not worried about running around ,I have the time (not allowed to work yet) but don't have hardly any money so in that respect it would be a good option for me. What I am worried about is whether the medical exam will be accepted by USCIS since the Civil Surgeion won't be doing all the tests just reading the results. Has anyone had any experience doing it like this? Would you suggest I look elsewhere?

I don't want to mess anything up . It has already taken nearly two years for my I360 to be approved and to be allowed to AOS.

Can anyone give any insight ?

Thanks

Shona

Edited July 1, 2007 by shona

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I had all my tests (blood and TB skin test done at a local health clinic and then took the results to the CS... I too had the BCG vaccination when I was 13 and yes I had to go have the chest x-ray done at the local clinic..... I had no problems doing the medical this way....

Kez

[txgirl75 0]

I had a BCG and you can still see where I had my skin test back in March, if you can get away with just the xray get it done that way. It should be good enough as a test for TB.

[lisanne 0]

I can really see no reason why they would bother giving you a skin test as you will test positive (a wasted $10). That is why eveyone outside the US has to have an xray to test for TB because they've had the shot already.

[Cécy 44]

Careful,

it seems that the USCIS called Civil surgeons in the last 10 days and told them not to accept TB test read by the local health center. It seems that they don't check ID's and therefore it screws up the validity of the test.

I just found out. >.>

My CS is accepting the chest X-ray though.

I'm not sure who to call to make sure about this. It's fine if it's a doctor who checks your ID I would think, but that's all I know.

I don't know if it's the CS lying so you pay them or if it's just true.