Reporting for anyone else who have these problems - Did not give k1 visa yellow envelope to CBP at PoE. Got an RFE for a complete medical.

[happyscrub 36]

1. My wife did medical for K1 visa but did not get the hepatitis vaccine in her home country.

2. We arrived at port of entry with K1 visa. The process was extremely fast and CBP didn't ask for our envelope.  I assumed that maybe it was digitalized and already sent to them. They just waived us thru.
3. We get the hepatitis vaccine and took the DS-???? (can't remember the name) to a doctor in the U.S.. They told us we needed to do a new one but I had to go back and forth with them in emails to explain to them we did not need a completed medical.

4. We filed for AOS and got some RFEs about medical.

A: First was saying we needed to send a completed medical. I replied with "my wife is a K1 visa holder. She wasn't required to do a new one."

B: Then they replied saying there was no medial on their file so we must show proof or do a new one. After researching on what to do, I decided to mail them the unopened yellow envelope and explain to them what happened at port of entry.

5. Green card was approved.

6. happy dance.

I'm a stubborn person and I like to argue and research. I think my wife would have had her green card maybe 2-3 months earlier if I just paid to get a new medical from the start. But despite all the advice online saying to just do a new medical, even by lawyers, I'm here to say you do not have to.

 

[Boiler 46,821]

The best bet is to get a complete medical done, saves a lot of hassle. A lot of the Doctors seemingly do not want to do anything other than the full medical.

[Crazy Cat 43,453]

Maybe should have taken the envelope to a deferred inspection site. 

[happyscrub 36]

8 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Maybe should have taken the envelope to a deferred inspection site. 

 

I saw that advice, but the closet one was 4 hours away. But in my research, I seen a lot of people saying that once you are already in the borders, it's not CBP concern anymore, it's USCIS's... especially if it's months later. I talked to an USCIS agent and he told me to bring it to the field office, which was like 2.5 hour drive. He said no appointment was needed but I didn't trust that. So I tried to make an appointment but they denied me an appointment. I asked on a lawyer site, AVVO and one suggested to just mail it to them. Must easier than driving all those hours... and I would be pissed on the way back if I was turned away.

Edited April 17 by happyscrub

[JeanneAdil 6,884]

13 hours ago, happyscrub said:

 

I saw that advice, but the closet one was 4 hours away. But in my research, I seen a lot of people saying that once you are already in the borders, it's not CBP concern anymore, it's USCIS's... especially if it's months later. I talked to an USCIS agent and he told me to bring it to the field office, which was like 2.5 hour drive. He said no appointment was needed but I didn't trust that. So I tried to make an appointment but they denied me an appointment. I asked on a lawyer site, AVVO and one suggested to just mail it to them. Must easier than driving all those hours... and I would be pissed on the way back if I was turned away.

with return receipt to have proof delivery

surprised you had an envelope as even back in 2015 when Adil came no envelope as it was done online 

Are u sure the envelope was for USCIS or was this for your records (does it say do not open by bene?)

[MalloryCat 577]

 

my husband (then fiance) came through on his K1 visa in november

he had a "do not open" envelope that he had to give to CBP, which he did. I believe he just offered it to the officer at the same time he handed them his passport. I'm not sure they asked for it either. the officer had to get someone higher up cause he wasn't sure what to do.

his visa was issued by the Frankfurt embassy. maybe some of them are still choosing to do the physical envelopes?

[Edward and Jaycel 1,313]

6 hours ago, MalloryCat said:

 

my husband (then fiance) came through on his K1 visa in november

he had a "do not open" envelope that he had to give to CBP, which he did. I believe he just offered it to the officer at the same time he handed them his passport. I'm not sure they asked for it either. the officer had to get someone higher up cause he wasn't sure what to do.

his visa was issued by the Frankfurt embassy. maybe some of them are still choosing to do the physical envelopes?

 

As far as I'm aware, for K-1 visas all embassies are still doing the physical envelopes. None of the K-1 documentation for entry has gone digital yet like the IR-1/CR-1