Gar9

9 minutes ago, Shiro0827 said:

It’s an EPO, it’s close to about $900+ each person, $6900/individual and I think for family around $13K 

you cannot add parents to your own health insurance, only your own children(until 26yrs old) and also your spouse. Separate for parents. I had to look at each health insurance and compared all of them and consulted with my both my siblings.

if you are trying to get it for your family member I’d look at each of them as well.

This is what we chose best for them given their age etc.

Currently, there’s a special enrollment due to COVID but ends on May 15. But applying for a new insurance, you must apply before May so it’ll start may1.

it doesn’t prorate. It took me awhile to finalize it otherwise it would have started April 1. 
 

lesser premiums mean you pay a little bit more for your deductible. I didn’t want to worry about co insurance so I went with this instead. We were ready to get the expensive premium, $0-$800 deductible but still out of pocket max was still quite high. 

Thanks for quick response .

1- You said $900+ per person for full year . So for two parents it will be $1800 per year . Right ? 

2- Then what do you mean by $6900/individual ? 

3- For family you said $13000 per year - By family do you mean your existing family plus two parents ? 

Your clarification will help a lot . Thanks 

On 3/30/2021 at 7:07 AM, Gar9 said:

 

Anxiously awaiting details of the interview experience .

Good Luck .

Presuming that your parents must have successful Interviews on 04/09/2021 , my congratulations . 

2 hours ago, Shiro0827 said:

Hi all! Anyone tried getting g health insurance for their family members who are green card holders?

we recently went through the marketplace for my parents health insurance. We just a paid for the private insurance,etc.

my question is when you do the process of getting insurance in marketplace,

is it correct you include every single person in that house under the household information? Do they take the total income of the household in determining the eligibility for a reduced rate? 
It currently doesn’t show us any discounts but it says they may be eligible for help from the state and now it is also pending.

They haven’t been legal aliens for over 5 yrs., now will that application sent to the state for medical affect them or us? We’ve only ever claimed them on our taxes in ‘19 since they were here more than 6months with us. 
My coworker’s parent had Medicare/Medicaid  issued on her being her less than a year but it was a few years back, definitely after ‘96. She said it didn’t have any issues.

Anyone have any experience on this? 

I’m contemplating pulling that application from the state. We already have theur health care private insurance paid starting May anyway but hey if they get some help for the deductible part that’d be awesome. Either way me  and my siblings are already building up a little nest for the $6900 deductible already.

I have. Flexible spending account but I don’t think I can use it for any co pay for doctor visits or even routine labs since we didn’t have them on our taxes from last year.
Any info  is great! Thanks all!

 

 

Could please share some information on your parents' health insurance policy 1) what is the amount of premium you paid for your both parents per year ?  2) what is the name of insurance company you have chosen ?  3) what is the amount of deductibles which you have to bear first ?  4) Can you not club your parents with your existing health insurance policy or otherwise you must take a separate health insurance policy for your parents ?  Thanks

5 hours ago, Radioherd said:

Ugh - yes that's what i'm hearing - London has almost no movement on IR5 - really looks like it's going to be 2022 for my parents (Nov 2020 DQ) if some of you are still waiting on one from June 2020 DQ..... Here's hoping the UK-USA travel opens up this summer and they can come on a travel visa for a few weeks as if the interview is gonna be 6 months out they may as well!

Your DQ date is in Jun.2020 or Nov.2020 ? 

1 hour ago, Asmaa1989 said:

Category: IR5 parent of US citizen

My parents  had their interview scheduled for last March 2020 before we were notified that it was canceled due to Covid-19 situation.

What we have to do know wait for the Consulate  to call for new appointment ? do we have to do anything from our end to initiate this process or are we going to be automatically notified once such a date is picked?

Thank you

What are your PD and DQ dates ?  I think you must contact US Consulate in your country . Good luck.

3 hours ago, gsb1953 said:

While for my medical exam at Mohali hospital I met a lady whose IR5 visa interview was in April 2020 but got cancelled due to lockdown. Now she has her IR5 VISA interview scheduled for 9th April 2021. So there is a movement under this category.

Mine visa got expired due to inability to travel during last March. Now I have my visa reissue interview fixed for 8th April. Hope it moves smoothly.

Good news ! Atleast they have started IR-5 Interviews which were cancelled last year . 

After clearing old cases , they will call new IR-5 cases . 

Please let us know your interview experience in details in this forum . Please give details of questions asked in the interview and other observations / advices .

Best wishes .

9 hours ago, HanhChi said:

From our experience, the immigration officers are often capable of speaking the local language, in our case, it is Vietnamese. I am not sure if that is the case in India. If not, my guess is that they will provide a translator for your parents. I’d check the website of US embassy/consulate in Mumbai to see if they have any information on that.

 

 

My parents will be on their own. They have done several B2 Visa interviews by themselves  before so they have some experience. Of course, this time is a little bit different, but I am pretty confident that they know what to expect. I do prepare a list of potential questions and answers for them though.

 

 

Yes, the NVC scheduled the appointment and informed me via email. Those email serve as Letter of Appointment that my parents will be bringing to the interview. Unlike non-immigration visas, for immigration visas, you can’t choose the appointment date yourself. I hope this helps!

Anxiously awaiting details of the interview experience .

Good Luck .

1 minute ago, Gar9 said:

 

Will you also join your parents for the interview or both of them will manage it themselves ? 

Anxiously awaiting details of the interview experience .

Good Luck .

P.S. - Your interview date 04/09/2021 was scheduled by NVC/Consulate and informed to you through a letter/email  ? Or otherwise they advised you to choose the date through VAC/ OFC / or UStraveldocs.com website ? 

Best wishes . 

12 hours ago, HanhChi said:

Oops! It was a typo. I meant 2021, in less than two weeks. Sorry for the confusion. And yes, my parents are scheduled to have their interview together on the same date and at the same time. I didn’t do anything. It was NVC that handled the scheduling. I think any case that involves two parents of the same petitioner, they will automatically be scheduled to have one interview together. It happened the same way whenever my parents were interviewed for their tourist visas in the past as well.

Will you also join your parents for the interview or both of them will manage it themselves ? 

Anxiously awaiting details of the interview experience .

Good Luck .

15 hours ago, HanhChi said:

Hello Gar9! It has been a while. Have you received any updates on your parents’ cases? I am from Vietnam. The US consulate there has resumed IR-5 visa services since mid March, I think. I have seen people who got documentarily qualified in August, 2020 scheduled for interview. So they are actually moving surprisingly fast.

 

Anyway, here is the timeline of my parents’ cases in case someone is interested in knowing

 

10/15/2019: application packages sent

10/17: application packages received by USCIS

10/23: received notice of USCIS Account Access

10/31: received NOA1, cases being processed by Texas Service Center

04/24/2020: I-130 Approval Notice received via email ( about six month wait since PD.)

06/16/2020: documentarily qualified

03/18/2021: interview scheduled for 04/9/2022 (almost 18 months since priority date)

You have mentioned above that your parents interview scheduled for 04/9/2022 (almost 18 months since priority date) . 

Is it in April 2022  or  2021  ? 

2 hours ago, HanhChi said:

Hello Gar9! It has been a while. Have you received any updates on your parents’ cases? I am from Vietnam. The US consulate there has resumed IR-5 visa services since mid March, I think. I have seen people who got documentarily qualified in August, 2020 scheduled for interview. So they are actually moving surprisingly fast.

 

Anyway, here is the timeline of my parents’ cases in case someone is interested in knowing

 

10/15/2019: application packages sent

10/17: application packages received by USCIS

10/23: received notice of USCIS Account Access

10/31: received NOA1, cases being processed by Texas Service Center

04/24/2020: I-130 Approval Notice received via email ( about six month wait since PD.)

06/16/2020: documentarily qualified

03/18/2021: interview scheduled for 04/9/2022 (almost 18 months since priority date)

Hi !  Very nice to connect with you once again .

In India , IR-5 interviews have not yet started . Our case was DQed in mid Oct. 2020 , so our interview is expected in about 2-3 months .

I would like to know if your both parents have Interview on the same date & time . Will they both be allowed to appear for the interview jointly or seperately ?  Both were allowed to have Interview on the same date by NVC on its own or you had to make some efforts for it ?

Please write about your parents' interview experience in details in this forum or otherwise you can write to me by Personal Message also , as you wish . 

    Best wishes for your parents' interview . 

9 hours ago, HanhChi said:

It has been a while! Anyone cares to update their cases? Any interview scheduled? My parents are scheduled to have their interview on April 9! The interview appointment came so unexpectedly because I kept thinking it wouldn’t happen until at least like June. We have only three weeks to do medical exams/vaccination and gather all required documentation. But I am glad the journey is almost over, 18 months since the priority date. And the delay caused by COVID-19 turned out to be a good thing, who would have thought, right? The Biden administration no longer requires immigrant visa applicants like our parents to present the DS-5540 form, Public Charge Questionnaire, at the interview (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/update-on-public-charge.html). I will share their interview experience. Good luck to everyone’s parents!

Good that IR-5 Interviews have started . Which country are you from ? Best wishes . 

2 hours ago, AnDenW said:

Interviews have started. This was not as a result of an expedite request. 

Which country are you from ? 

On 3/23/2021 at 7:17 AM, AnDenW said:

 

Here is my update:

Timeline

------------------ 

I-130 filing  - 11/07/2019

NOA1 - 11/13/2019  (Potomac Service Center)

RFE - 09/02/2020

Response to RFE - 09/08/2020

I-130 Approval - 09/14/2020

NVC Received - 09/14/2020

Paid NVC - 09/15/2020

Submitted Docs to NVC - 09/22/2020

DQ by NVC -  11/04/2020

Interview Notice - 03/12/2021

Received at consulate - 03/15/2021

Interview registered and confirmed for 04/28/2021

Good news . Does it mean that IR-5 Interviews have started after the ban is lifted ?

Or it is a special/expedited case ? 

On 3/16/2021 at 7:47 PM, cboy said:

Has anyone heard about IR-5? Have they started issuing the visa?

Not yet . May be next week .

8 hours ago, malico89 said:

Wanted to post an update and give hope to those of us anxiously waiting.

 

My mom (IR5) became DQ’d at NVC June of 2020, and today we got an email from the NVC about her appointment at the Paraguay consulate on April 7. This was such good news!

Is this email about appointment for interview for IR-5 immigrant visa ? 

1 hour ago, Since2012 said:

Waiting for the interview to be scheduled in Manila, Philippines.

What is your DQ date ?

21 hours ago, Shaily said:

Good Morning!!!

 

Is there any updates or anyone got interview call who had DOCUMENTARILY QUALIFIED email received for IR-5?

 

Any input would be appreciable. Thanks you! 🙂

No update so far . Let us hope to get some positive news next week . Good luck to all .

Hi All IR-5 Immigrant Visa Applicants 

      Now the ban on IR-5 is revoked .  So we have crossed a big hurdle in our way . Now the visa interviews will be scheduled in the sequence of  DQ date of each applicant. 

      It is suggested that all IR-5 applicants may share their information on following points - 

Priority Date - 

DQ date - 

Interview Date (if IL is received)  -

       Subsequently they may share progress of their respective case in this forum . They may also share their Interview Experiences .

Such information will help all concerned members . Good Luck .  

25 minutes ago, Gar9 said:

There is no confusion about revoking Ban (PP.10014) on IR-5 . No Ban now .

 

President's revocation of the #ImmigrationBan is for immigrant visas-  Family, diversity & employment visas.

 

The order leaves the ban in place for non-immigrant visas (H1-Bs, Js, and Ls). 

 

Good Luck to all .

On 1/4/2021 at 10:55 PM, gsb1953 said:

yes U are right; ban is upto 31st march

There is no confusion about revoking Ban (PP.10014) on IR-5 . No Ban now .

President's revocation of the #ImmigrationBan is for immigrant visas-  Family, diversity & employment visas.

The order leaves the ban in place for non-immigrant visas (H1-Bs, Js, and Ls). 

Good Luck to all .

4 hours ago, 9000miles said:

Hi Gar9! Thanks for your wishes for good luck.

 

I can’t answer all those questions in detail as I prefer to remain anonymous and we are very frequently at a immigration medical center that many people from this forum pass through. 

 

I’ve been with my wife since we got married (I return to USA every few months to take care of responsibilities there) and we are IR1 now. I’m a US citizen. Our only really concern is my American domicile which can be resolved by me moving back after my wife’s treatment but before her visa is issued. 

Wishing you early recovery and good luck . 

On 2/17/2021 at 3:59 PM, 9000miles said:

Treatment Update

 

My wife’s treatment crossed the halfway mark a few weeks ago. I said I’d post after 2 months but since the result of the 2nd sputum test result is pretty significant as far as whether or not the treatment is working, I’m posting this after 5 weeks of a negative (no) result on her second sputum submission (the reasons for this are better explained in CDC and WHO technical treatment instructions). The hardest part of TB treatment is the first two months - lots of medicines (6-7 big pills a day) and your body getting used to side effects (for the first few weeks, you’ll be very itchy). After the first two months were completed, we went for her second X-Ray. I asked the doctor to show me the old and new X-Rays thinking the difference between them would be pretty subtle. Much to my surprise, the X-Ray result before her treatment and after was night and day - the original one was very cloudy around the middle right side and the new one was much more clear. To visually see how much the disease impacted my wife’s lungs was a pretty powerful experience which made me again thankful we’re getting her treated now. Of course, TB does leave scarring in lungs and a totally clear X-Ray is not going to show so quickly after the lungs begin the process of healing.

 

The back pain I mentioned for my wife had become a very mild concern after 2 months and it’s pretty easy to look back and say that the biggest TB symptom she had was unresolvable lower back pain. She’s walking totally normal now. Since the pain’s been there a while, I anticipate it’ll take her some time to get her full strength there but I’m somewhat relieved knowing my wife can hike or ride a bike with me when this whole treatment is completed. If anybody has a stubborn back pain that nothing seems to treat, accompanied by occasional coughing, just pay for the TB test! There’s definitely a correlation that isn’t widely published enough.

 

We have less than 3 months left remaining in her treatment, on a milder 2-pill a day regimen. Since the first part is about killing the disease and the second part is about preventing it from coming back, I don’t anticipate any significant changes in that time. Our monthly visits with the doctor are now quick and easy. He’s a very nice guy and I’m happy he’s managing treatment.

 

Embassy Updates

 

About 6 weeks into my wife’s treatment, we got a text message from US Travel Docs saying her passport was ready for pickup. I highly expected that this letter was her visa denial letter, which we haven’t formally received. You technically need this letter to apply for a waiver (but again, you’re not gonna get approved for a waiver). A formal rejection letter was not something I was super excited to give my wife, but I was surprised to find a more personal letter just stating that my because my wife has a Class A medical condition, she’ll need to complete treatment in India, then we can reschedule her interview. The letter also strongly recommended we just take the treatment provided by medical center since treatment waivers are hardly granted (noticing a theme? USA doesn't want people applying for these). I had been going through a lot of stress getting a clear answer if our case was safe at the embassy during treatment from many parties, but this one letter from the embassy cleared my doubts and was good encouragement that starting our treatment immediately before was the correct form of action. Thank you Mumbai for providing us this.

 

If you are diagnosed with TB in medical exam, don’t fret, the embassy will get you this letter via mail or visa pickup center, but give them several weeks to dispatch it out to you.

 

Embassy Class B Processing Updates

 

I found a few people who’s interviews were impacted by culture tests and trying to get new interview dates afterwards. There’s nothing published online about what happens next (which is a shame because I've found quite a few people being flagged for the additional testing), nor do the customer support agents on the phone or email have answers. So here’s the pattern I see:

 

• The medical center will call you informing you that final results are complete. They might call you to the location for more vaccinations or X-Rays. They’re gonna do this on their time, and not yours. You need to be proactive and followup with them often to make sure there’s no further delays. Keep track of the day after your culture results are completed (at my medical center, they issue a final negative report exactly 8 weeks after the final submission) and try to visit and make sure they get your entire medical report finalized. Try to get an E-Medical receipt in case you schedule an interview before the embassy gets the update into your file.
• Because there was potential or real TB involved in your case, the medical center has extra US paperwork to fill for your case. They will not get it to the embassy overnight. From the others I’ve been in touch with, think closer to one week.
• When the embassy receives your new medical report, US travel docs sends an email informing you to use the “Class B” reschedule category on US Travel Docs website. Again, this email could take 1-2 weeks after the medical center sends your final report. Don’t delay scheduling an interview.
• Appointments are sporadically available (remember I’m writing this during covid and reduced embassy staffing). You probably need to be on top of the scheduler 2 times a day to get an appointment. Remember you have 3 months of medical clearance from date of final culture result (so you’ve already 1-2 weeks the medical center spent preparing and sending report). You also might get a 221g for something else, so you really need to make an effort to get the first appointment you can after embassy receives your result
• After this point, your case is somewhat more “normal”
• You’re gonna need to do more sputum submissions when you arrive to USA. The doctors in USA are under no obligation to trust you’re free of TB because the foreign clinic said so. Your clearance for the medical report was for travel purposes. Local health department will follow up about this. Make sure your phone number and address are updated in DS-260. Not following up on this on arrival could have legal consequences (taking this from my study of the waiver rules, but not certain). In the very unlikely chance you get a positive culture result in the USA based test, you can be treated at your local clinic there and don’t need to return to your home country.

 

I hope this helps! And if I’m wrong about any of this, please correct me so that I can edit this post. I’m trying to provide resources that I didn’t get when we first got my wife’s diagnosis. Again, this is all for India. If you’re in the Philippines, there’s a different system and your experience will be totally different.

 

I’ll try to provide one more update the end of our treatment to explain how the treatment is wrapped up and we become a more “regular” Class B medical case. Additionally, I’ll try to post an update after we complete our move to USA since there’s a lot of internal paperwork associated with cases that underwent TB Treatment.

Which city in India you come from ?  In which city you are taking treatment from the Medical Center ?  Have you re-located yourself with wife only for the treatment ?  Are you a US Citizen or LPR ?  Such a long stay in India only for treatment may affect your job / Visa conditions ? 

Our sympathies go with you . Wishing Good Luck .

13 hours ago, AP-1 said:

1.   No

2. They dont send any such letter for biometric or medical. 
3 you have to call them or choose different location fro biometric 

Hi AP-1 , 

Thanks for replying . 

Are you on Telegram ? My usrname is SG2020 . Can I DM you whenever there is any doubt ? Thanks

On 1/26/2021 at 9:41 PM, AP-1 said:

if you dont have past records. they will give you vaccines during your medical

Hi  AP-1 ,  

You have been very helpful to me in the past , on this forum . Thanks 

I understand , you have already got the visa , so congratulations . 

I have following questions - 

1.0  In the interview , do they , at any stage want to see Petitioner's Original docs e.g.  US Passport , Citizenship certificate , birth certificate , Tax Docs , Pay Stubs  etc. ?  Or only photo copies will serve the purpose . 

2.0  In this forum , I have seen some cases , where they have recieved Interview Letter , but still waiting for Letter for Biometrics & Medical . In case Letter for Biometrics & Medical is recieved very late , will the interview date be re-scheduled ? 

3.0 In some cases , I have noted that they have received mails for the Interview , Biometrics & Medical . But Biometrics appointment slot is not available for more than a month . I think , the Biometrics has to be registered before the Interview . What to do in such case ? 

                               Thanks in advance