Sara0207

The lack of consistency from different field offices when applying rules and regulations to K1's is what I believe is bad. I also feel that half the problem is that USCIS officers are not familiar with their own procedures for K1's.

K1 visas are not issued by the US Embassies UNLESS a valid medical has been performed by the authorised Embassy doctors, and that medical meets all requirements. Also, I cannot see how the medical can be 'lost', which is a serious breach of data protection laws - think how much private and confidential information is contained within that form.

Therefore I believe that the issue is not the medical being lost, it's more that the USCIS field offices are not familiar with their own rules when it comes to K1 visas applying for permanent residency.

Personally I'd get your local congressman involved. At the very least, you'll get some answers as to where your case is at as they have to answer to congressman enquiries. Don't even bother with the USCIS help line, they are utterly useless. I tried them for three months, they either "did not have access to that kind of information" or gave me incorrect information. When I called for about the 5th time and they couldn't confirm where my case actually was, that's when I got my congressman involved. At least through them my case was located and some information of its current status was acquired.

Good luck!

Thanks Chas, I think I will contact the local congressman. The reason why I was pending towards lost is because they have also asked me to submit form G325A which I definitely 100% sent with the AOS so I know that at least that form has definitely been lost or left behind during the service centre transfers. I just went to have my second medical today so I'll be sending the RFE back soon! But given your situation I am not holding onto the hope of a quick approval.

I have given up on their customer helpline because they just read from a script rather than genuinely try to answer your questions. Can't wait to not have to deal with them anymore!

No, nothing from Knightsbridge. They aren't going to give you a refund. They are going to tell you they did what they were told. The issue isn't exactly that the Knightsbridge doctor did anything negligent in your whole medical. Now, I know that's what the RFE says... but the wording on the form is standard issue, and seems to rely on the officer reviewing your AOS to actually know the different between the full I-693 and the I-693 supplement rules regarding the vaccination portion for K1s. People are even getting these RFEs for when, for whatever reason, the medical is lost out of your file.

Now, Knightsbridge admittedly did not do some of the older DS3025s correctly regarding the tick box (they still aren't checking the box on the new form, but are giving a second sheet which you can call/email and request). You, me, and Chas did not have the box ticked. Many others also had the box not ticked and got a pass fine, and some did not. In this case it may be because the officer is either clueless to the rules, or they are, for whatever reason unwilling to use their best judgment for fear of getting in trouble.

In Chas' case they stated something similar to your RFE I believe, but he discovered the real reason for the RFE was actually because of the box not being ticked - and even though K1s do not require a new medical, they wanted one anyway and the USCIS will never admit their wrongness. Once you have the RFE worded that way, you have to comply. In my case, I believe that the officer may have known about the K1 rules, but would not give us a pass on the tickbox.. so in that case, our RFE was unusually worded for the vaccination supplement only.

Could it be that the Knightsbridge doctor really didn't fill out the whole medical correctly? I guess.. but if that's the case you wouldn't have received a K1. A K1 doesn't need shots to get the visa remember, so the box not being ticked at that stage doesn't matter too much. The K1 needs the shots for the AOS... and that's where Knightsbridge screwed people.

Could it be that the USCIS has lost your entire medical or did they lose your DS3025 portion and refused to go looking around for it? Also possible. Our civil surgeon seemed to feel this, and she's seen these RFEs hundreds of times in her career.

Because you have an RFE with this wording, it would be prudent to investigate with an Infopass or work with your congressperson/senator to determine what they actually want. Knightsbridge will be a lost cause. Otherwise, it probably doesn't matter.. you're going to have to comply with the RFE. Sounds like you're going to get a waiver, so once you send it in, your GC should be on the way within weeks. We complied and responded with highlighted I-693 instructions and a strongly worded letter.

It's true what you said regarding the medical actually being filled out incorrectly and me not having been given the K1 to begin with. You are probably right there that it is either that they've lost my ds0325 or that the officer reviewing the case is clueless or that the non-ticked box is causing the issue. Mine only worries me because unlike Chas, it says my medical overseas was issued incorrectly and asks me to submit a NEW UPDATED i-693, that wording slightly differs from Chas' RFE.

Even if I was to get second page from Knightsbridge I don't think it would be much use because it seems they want the medical completely re-done.

I have made an info pass appointment at my local USCIS for Thursday next week so let's see what they are able to tell me!

I think it's very possible they have lost it because they have also asked me to submit form G325A (which I submitted with the i-485) so this has definitely been lost. They also asked for evidence of the bona fides of the marriage and this RFE came from California (I'm in Florida) so I think my interview will probably indeed be waived (some good news at least).

Very, very disappointed with USCIS at the moment.

Holy hell Chas...

Something to clarify first: are they asking for the medical redo entirely (the complete I-693), or are they asking as was the unusual wording in the RFE we received, for just the second part of the I-693 the vaccination supplement ONLY?

We are going to see the civil surgeon soon, and she felt (over the phone at least) that the wording implies they are either losing the medicals entirely after scuttling them to places they shouldn't be (maybe even to offices that aren't so familiar with K1 processes) or that because they aren't so in the know... that they aren't even acknowledging the DS3025s we send in as valid.

At first I had thought it was because Knightsbridge wasn't checking that box. But the RFE wording isn't giving us any clues, leading me to believe it's all down to an officer that is clueless. The kicker is now Knightsbridge is actually giving out new DS3025s, with a second page featuring wording stating the vaccinations are complete! People that didn't receive one the first time, can actually email and get the new redone one.

Which... yeah.. I know. Blows my ever lovin' mind. We could challenge this sure, but at this point we're both weary and want this over with. But I swear if we get a second RFE asking for then a full I-693 medical after we respond to this one.. heads are going to roll.

Someone needs a good kicking. And hard.

Our letter was dated the 18th, so it did not take that long to reach us.. (our rural postal service is frightening sometimes) but that does seem quite long to reach you.

Yes, holy hell indeed Yuna. My faith in the USCIS is at rock bottom. I am flabbergasted as to how such a big and important organisation can be so completely incompetent, inconsistent and incapable. They don't inspire confidence at all.

As to the wording in my RFE, this is what it said:

"Submit a complete Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, completed by a USCIS Civil Surgeon."

The rest of the wording is the usual blah blah about not submitting photo copies and only sending original forms, ensuring the Civil Surgeon and you sign the form etc.

By "complete Form I-693", I take that as wanting the medical done again AND the vaccination record. No other details were specified. Is that the same wording as per your RFE?

I wonder too if they've managed to lose either, or both, the medical and/ or the DS-3025. Or as you said, they can't read the DS-3025 properly. If filled in as per requirements, the form clearly shows that vaccination requirements have been met even without the blanket waiver box ticked. That whole issue of getting the blanket waiver box ticked could come back to haunt us, especially as many of us tried to get Knightsbridge to tick it and they still refused. Adds insult to injury that Knightsbridge are now giving out a new DS3025 with the second page stating the vaccinations are complete, only after so many people were inconvenienced. What a bloody mess!

In my case, as my congressman is already involved I'm going to get them to hopefully take it up with USCIS. Either I'll get clarity that they only want the vaccination form completed, in which case I'll just try and find a Civil Surgeon who will sign off just that form. Or they'll still insist they need the medical as well, in which case I hope heads will roll when they get told a valid medical had been done as part of the US Embassy K1 visa process and they can explain why they are so incompetent by not having it included on file.

Hope your case gets dealt with correctly too from now on. We've all been put out for far too long by the total inadequacies of USCIS. All we want is just to get on with our lives after marrying the one we love!

Hi Yuna and Chas,

I was pointed to this thread by a fellow March 2016 AOS filler because I too had my medical done in Knightsbridge and have yesterday after 4 months of submitting the i-485 received an RFE stating that 'The medical examination form that was issued abroad was not properly completed by your physician. Please submit a new updated and signed form i-693'. I think in my case it was a little more than the vaccination sheet not being ticked (which it wasn't) or USCIS losing my medical info, I am now on a mission to try and get a refund from Knightsbridge because obviously the extortionate amount paid was worthless as USCIS won't be able to use it and I now have to go and pay for a new medical. I was advised to go to my local USCIS to see if they can tell me exactly why the medical done over in London can't be used.

I just wanted to ask if either of you have had any luck getting in touch or getting anything out of Knightsbridge?

Thanks in advance!

No, you can do it yourself if you want to.

By the way, I found the thread, they start talking about the rfe at this page http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/574598-aos-nov-2015-filers/page-76 look for yuna and chasuno (thought it was ortolan because they have similar pictures with a blue blob thing lol)

Hope it helps!

Boa sorte!

Edit: old thread but it remains the same about translations http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/269833-who-can-translate-the-birth-certificate/

Yes, seems like the exact same issue, I'm going to carry on reading because I have just called around doctors and it's currently $200-250 just for a physical so I want to see what these people ended up doing. I mean I'll most likely just have to suck it up and pay because USCIS are requesting it and there's nothing the doctor in London can do (it's only one doctor that does immigration medicals there so it's the same one causing all these people trouble!) I think it's disgusting that they get away with it

But anyway, thank you so much for all your help I shall updated when anything changes!

Muito obridaga

You know you can do it yourself, right? You'll just need to write a statement that you're fluent in both languages, just like this:

Certification by Translator

I [typed name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and [enter appropriate language] languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled [enter title of document].

Signature

Typed Name

Address

Date

Are you serious? Lol, doesn't it have to be certified by an actual translator and then include that statement saying that yes the person who translated it promises that everything is correct etc. At least that's what I'vea always read. Even in ***removed*** it says the petitioner or beneficiary cannot translate documents.

http://www.***removed***/immigration/document-english-translation.html

That's what I think as well. Being that she sent the international version and not the original one.

I think it's the exact wording one of the Brits got on their rfe as well. It's probably the checked box, unfortunately. Will try and find the posts later so I can link them to you

Ahh so you think it's because it's not the standard model so by 'original' they want the normal standard one rather than the international version instead of an actual original rather than a photocopy. It's bizarre I thought I was making their life easier plus it was accepted by the embassy and social security lol. I was actually just starting to think that they wanted me to send the non-photocopy so they can see that the reverse with the translation is indeed part of that document....

Thanks, I'll start looking into translation rates I guess! I called USCIS to try clarify everything and the lady was super unhelpful, didn't really answer any of my questions and was more worried about reading from a script and telling me I should hire an immigration attorney than anything else lol.

Do you have any other copy that's not the international version you ordered? If yes, I'd send a copy of that and a copy of the translation.

As for the medical, I think it's on the December 2015 aos thread or maybe November that were a few Brits who had this problem, one is yuna and the other person is ortolan. I'm on my mobile and I can't do much searching, or else I'd find the topics for you.

From the info you're giving, I'd bet money on you not having an interview! Crossing fingers!

I do have the original of just one in Portuguese, you're right it might be safe to send that, however they're still requesting an original rather than a copy. The text says Please submit original certified birth certificate

I edited my post I don't know if you saw it with the exact wording regarding the medical. I will look up those threads now. It has to be that, I submitted what they requested so they can't tell me it wast done properly because the i-693 is missing when it was never required for something adjusting from a K1 status. I wonder if any Brits who had that box ticked received RFEs as well...if not then it seems like this is a common UK issue.

I don't know why they're asking for your original birth certificate, as it is not needed according to the instructions. Did you send a copy of the certificate AND a copy of the translation?

The medical examination is a little more tricky, I've been seeing a lot of people from London getting rfe because there's a "completed" box for the vaccines the doctors there don't tick (and are right not do do it) and the adjudicator wants it ticked. Did you send your a copy of your ds3025? Do you want to post the exact wording of your rfe so we can try and check around if there's anyone else in this same situation and what they did?

The good news for you, from what I can gather, they asking all of this and transferring you most likely means you're not going to have an interview and they want to have everything on file so they can just approve your case.

I think they want some sort of proof because they want to skip the interview and approve her.

Thanks for all your help!

Well, I ordered an 'International' birth certificate which was accepted at the embassy and has been accepted here for my ssn. It's in portuguese at the front and it has all the translations at the back in several different languages including english. I assumed that as it was accepted at the embassy for the K1 that it would be no problem here.

I was born in Portugal but lived in London prior to moving here and had my medical done there, I just checked my vaccination sheet and you're correct! The 'US vaccination requirements complete' box is not ticked! But that's so stupid! I have to pay for a second medical because they didn't tick the box even though all my US vaccines are indeed up-to-date! And yes, I sent them the DS0325 copy because that's all I had to send as the embassy had all the medical info. The i-485 instructions state that if you had a medical abroad you only need to submit the ds0325.

Exact wording:

The medical examination form that was issued abroad was not properly completed by your physician. Please submit a new updated and signed Form i-693, Medical examination. This medical examination must be conducted by a physician designated by USCIS. To find an approved doctor near you, see http://www.uscis.gov/findadoctor or call our National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.

At least I might get some good news as you say without the need for an interview! There's always hoping .

I'm just so confused I even went back to the instructions of the i-485. Here is a copy & paste:

This is the request for a 'copy' of the birth certificate, nowhere did it say original. Further up it says unless specified always send copies not originals:

2. Birth certificate

This is regarding what to submit from the medical examination (I submitted what was asked on the below):

And nowhere did it ask to provide proof of marriage bona fides. I thought that's what the interview was for? To give you time to do things like get joint bank accounts etc seen as you need to wait for a status AND have a ssn....

Also status is still at 'fingerprint received on 17th March' and this letter came from California, I was not notified that my application had been transferred.

Theonly advice that I can give you, is.. Answer the rfe quickly, if you do that, gonna be like 2-3 weeks.

I know how it feel s.

If you sent the documents, they might have been misplaced or lost during the moving from a place to other. Unfortunately what you can and should do now is get all the documents they want ready and send them as soon as possible. The sooner you send them, the sooner they'll get back to reviewing your case.

You can write a letter explaining your living arrangements and why your name is not listed. The affidavits can be from anyone that know you both as a couple. Go to the examples section here on vj and there will one there you can adapt and use. Get any kind of document that can link you both to the same address, if you have financial documents that show you're sharing financial responsibilities, send those too.

Don't panic or let the disappointment hinder you. You got this! Good luck.

Thank you both!

I can do the medical next week, however I can only send the remainder s quickly as my license takes to arrive because I can't open a bank acc without it. I only went to get my license on Tuesday this week so they told me it'll probably come in 2 weeks however it can take up to 60 days!! All because I applied with my work permit so they have to verify my legal status and issue it with the same expiry as my license so it might be a good 2-3 weeks until I am able to submit the paperwork

p-ana, I think I'll write a letter anyway as you mentioned, even if I send the joint bank acc info once I get it because it'll be a brand new account so there won't really be a lot of financial movement in it. I'm also planning on getting a car which my husband will probably have to co-sign because I don't have credit here in the US but that isn't going to be for at least another 2 months or so.

Hi everyone!

Sad news

I received an RFE on my i-845 today, 4 MONTHS after the NOA and 3 after biometrics, what the hell?

It says that I need to submit:

- Original certified birth cert (even though instructions says photocopies unless otherwise specified)

- G-325A (which I submitted, dated and signed)

- It says the medical examination I paid a fortune for overseas was not completed properly and I now need to go pay another extortionate amount of money for another.

- Evidence of bona fides of marriage.

I'm especially worried about the last one because I only JUST received my ssn so I am awaiting my license so that we can go open a join bank account but other than that there really is nothing else we can use. We don't rent and the mortgage my husband had before we met so it's just his name on it. What other evidence did you guys send? It says you can get people to sign affidavits confirming the bona fides? Has anyone done this? If so who did you use? Work colleagues, family, friends etc?

I am so frustrated right now, I cannot believe it has taken them 4 months to inform me of this PLUS, I really don't know why the medical examination wasn't done properly, why I wasn't told this at the embassy overseas, why they're telling me I didn't submit form G325-A.

Also, anyone who has had an RFE and sent it back if you know, is it going to take them another 4 months to look at the stuff once we mail it? Am I going back to the bottom of the list? Otherwise it'll look like by the end of the year I'll have to be applying to extend my work permit because my GC will be nowhere near my mailbox!

Thanks in advance!

I don't think you'll have any problems. But I only tried giving my number when I opened my bank account and because I'm not a legal resident yet, they didn't want it anyway.

I hope someone chimes in on this subject, it's important for all of us to be on top of things like this.

Hey, I have a question for you.

I just received my SSN today. I start work on the 18th so I want to open a bank account this week.

You said in the above post that like me you tried to open an account without a green card (legal resident) but you weren't able to, am I right? Is that because you didn't have the green card, or because your social doesn't match any records yet as it's new? Have you been able to open an account since?

Thank you!

I don't have an answer for the first questions :/

HOWEVER, having "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" does not prevent you from getting a credit rating. I obtained my SSN number while i was on F1 status, and have been monitoring my credit report for over two years. Since i had a student loan while I was on F1 status, it automatically went on my credit report and i went from there

Thank you . I just hope I can start off by opening a bank account this week and go from there.

Just an update, my SSN came in the mail today YAYY!!! Can start work on the 18th .

It says 'VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION'. Does this mean when I get my green card I will have to go back into the SSA office and apply to have my card changed?

Also, does anyone know if having this on your card prevents/affects you from getting credit rating at all?

Thank you so much. Yes, you're right. My field office is San Antonio, TX. and it's taking them 5 1/2 months to process AOS. It just worries me that it hasn't changed to "ready to schedule an interview" or something. Hopefully they just approve it without it. Is it too much to ask? lol

Hope we all get news soon, we have been waiting for 4 months now

I know!! You never know though, it might just show up in the mail which would be the best outcome . Fingers crossed for us both that we don't have to wait much longer now!

Hi, Sara. I will be following your question. My case status has not changed either since March 7th.

We have almost the same timeline.

Hello

Fingers crossed for you...I will update as soon as anything changes. At the moment AOS still says 'we received your fingerprint fee...' with the date of March 17th! I think if I'm not mistaken though that your AOS is in the hands on your local USCIS office rather than the NBC. My local USCIS office is in Kendall, Miami and according to the USCIS processing times it's currently taking them 4 months to process i-485's. This means I should hear something in around 2 weeks so we'll see if their processing times are accurate.

Have you checked your local office's current processing times?

Got social security on Saturday in the mail. Still Ready to be scheduled for an Interview since May 12. PD is March 9.

Congrats! This gives me hope I will get mine soon too!! I'm supposed to be starting work on Monday 11th but I don't think that is going to happen now.

Gotcha. Mine never changed the dates or message and I got my card with no problem. I'm sorry I can't be of much help

It's ok fingers crossed mine comes next week

It won't say approved, mine says "case returned to agency" with the date I applied for and Maryland and it never changed.

No, mine says it was returned to agency on the 27th June as well...the dates changed from the 17th (day applied) then 22nd, then 27th (and also said case returned to agency) and today it says 30th but still nothing on the system.

Maryland is the ss headquarters, mine says the same and I got my Ssn from Wisconsin.

Gotcha! So weird how apparently SAVE sent it back to them on the 27th and there's still no approval in the system...I'm thinking the SAVE tracker is flawed?

Just wondering if this has happened to anyone else here or if anyone knows...my SSN application on SAVE is showing that it's at the Maryland SSA (Signon), even though I'm in Miami, Florida. I wonder why it went there and why apparently SAVE has returned my application to the Maryland office (even though as I mentioned earlier, I went to my local SSA office this morning and was told there was nothing on the system. Has anyone had the same issue where your application appears to be at a different office?

We applied for the SSN on the 15th as well. Nothing yet. He also went to try to get his driver's license, and they wouldn't renew it. He got a SAVE Case Check number, which says "Case Returned to Agency" for the Department of Public Safety on the same day he applied. Anyone know what that means? And why it doesn't show an update on the SSN?

He called today and they told him that they don't see anything in the system so he would have to wait SIX MORE WEEKS. What?!?!?! Anyone know why this would happen??

On the same boat as you! Applied on the 17th, and on the 27th it said case returned to agency (mine says Maryland SSA even though I'm in Miami), went to the SSN office today to find out and he said nothing yet, documents still not been approved. The woman I saw when I first applied told me immigration were having some kind of issue where it could take 4-8 weeks to verify work permits (especially if they're relatively new).

I have a job starting on the 11th and trying to do the drugs test etc without a SSN has been an absolute nightmare. I'm just hoping this SSN delay won't cost me a job as 8 weeks is too long to wait!

Applied for my social security card on June 14th,i wasn't in the system yet, the card arrived in the mail this morning. So two weeks, not bad.

Lucky! Applied on the 17th, went there today to find out status and documents still being verified 2 weeks later . Have a job supposing to start on the 11th but looks like that's not gonna happen now!

USCIS status changed to " On June 30, 2016, we ordered your new card for Receipt Number MSCXXXXX, and will mail it to the address you gave us."

No interview was scheduled!! IM SO EXCITED

YAY! Congrats! Hoping to hear something in July, still no status change from March17th

Hey, for those people who are awaiting the SSN review of their status by DHS. you can check it by going to SAVE case status website. https://save.uscis.gov/casecheck/... Enter your Alien Reg. Number, Date of Birth and click check status. It should tell you if its been reviewed and returned.

Super helpful thank you so much! It says 3-5 currently.

I don't know about anyone else, but I found the employees at my SSA office to be completely useless. I was told that there is currently a problem with immigration and they're taking a really long time to verify documents (especially work permits) and that it can take 4-8 weeks. I nearly had a meltdown as I have a job lined up to start on the 5th July with my old company. I know they can push back the start date 1-2 weeks if I need it, but 1-2 months is too much so I'm hoping she just didn't know what she was talking about as after I told her about my start date of 5th July she said, oh you'll probably get it before then, you have a work permit you should get it faster than anyone else ...she was also on Instagram on her phone the entire time I was being served so...

Just an update:).

Received EAD in the mail today! Less than a week after approval!