nickandkayte

I'm not following why you didn't want to send the medical?? If you get an RFE, you have to mail in the medical...mail now, mail later seems the same. The medicals they are losing are the ones given before the visa. Those are turned in (brown envelope) at POE and go to a central location. When you file for AOS, they are supposed to retrieve your POE files to meet up with your AOS files. That doesn't happen all the time. Makes you wonder if they got misfiled or somebody was lazy and didn't send for them.

My gut feeling is NO it's not okay. The I-693 instructions are written exactly how they want them done. They are rejecting so many vaccination things lately with the wording "please submit a properly completed I-693." There used to be a one page supplement I-693A, but they changed the forms and want it the way they state in the instructions. It's just my opinion.

I wouldn't send in what you described you have. Go back and get it done correctly. If it's correct and all immunizations are completed, then they will be okay with it when you get the RFE.

Did you tell the Knightsbridge doctor you had chickenpox? He should have written VH on your DS3025 form (for Varicella history) and that excludes you from taking the shot. They normally take your word for it. Nick told them "my Mum said I had chickenpox in Dec 19xx." OR don't you have any pock marks to show the Civil Surgeon as proof of having the disease? I think with one shot they will accept your form, but who knows for sure what they are wanting these days with all the medical RFEs. Nik and Heather's RFE was a total mistake and they admitted it after she got her Congressman's office involved.

Yeah I told London and they made a huge mistake on that one....I even got proof of my shingles and chicken pox.

We didn't send in the medical because our civil surgeon went on holiday the day we were scheduled, and since I didn't have Varicella and he didn't believe me, he sent me to the health department which he told me was a "walk in". Walk in my butt...We had to wait 10 days to get the next appointment to get vaccinations, and then finally the dr came back from vacation and by that time the US military USCIS told us to send it in without one as it was getting annoying.

Guess on Monday morning first thing I am going to have to call the USCIS and ask what I am going to have to do.... I think I may just put his name and address to send the medical info too if its completed incorrectly as its not my fault. I asked him twice and showed him the piece of paper and he didn't believe me...

So i posted this in the January filers thread but no one seems to know what to do or say...

"My WHOLE case got sent back yesterday, I nearly burst in to tears, I was missing one signature....

So we decided to overnight it back and just got our medical vaccinations done yesterday, we deliberately are waiting for a RFE for the medical as we don't want them to loose the documents...It seems to be their recent trend and the agent we called yesterday agreed with me (I took down her name and number encase they get funny with me again...)

My question is, the civil surgeon I saw seems to do a whole lot of these medicals and just vaccinations (I was told about 12 a week by the receptionist) . Since I haven't completed my varicella or Tetanus course hes marked it as not completed yet and JUST sent in the vaccination info to the USCIS in the envelope. He stamped his credentials on there, as well as the address of the practice. But he only sent in THAT page 4, he didn't include my page one or the last page as he said it was irrelevant due to me not needing another medical, and swore it didn't need to be included. Just the vaccination record....Is this alright? Also this was done yesterday...If they RFE'd me in like a week and I sent it in do you think they would be okay with it? We completely forgot to include it in the package yesterday...

On another subject I have to get a varicella shot on the 11th of Feb so I hope they RFE me before this time. I really dont want to pay another $60 to say "I had my second $100 vaccine that I didn't need..."....I have had chicken pox twice and Shingles at aged 13, but HEY! Uk medical records must be wrong right?! DOH!"

I'm happy to announce I just got my Appointment Letter from USCIS dated Jan.14,2010 which is scheduled on February 1, 2010.

I am also sad at the same time knowing my hubby and I might be getting divorce. We never talk for 2 days now Im totally devastated knowing someone betrayed my trust not just once.

Wow what happened?

Sorry to hear that! So they didn't cash your check, either?

Nope, they sent the cheque back, photos, passport scans, the WHOLE package arrived yesterday, everything that I sent in.... One signature....

So we re sent the whole package back and hopefully they decide to cash the cheque!

My WHOLE case got sent back yesterday, I nearly burst in to tears, I was missing one signature....

So we decided to overnight it back and just got our medical vaccinations done yesterday, we deliberately are waiting for a RFE for the medical as we don't want them to loose the documents...It seems to be their recent trend and the agent we called yesterday agreed with me (I took down her name and number encase they get funny with me again...)

My question is, the civil surgeon I saw seems to do a whole lot of these medicals and just vaccinations (I was told about 12 a week by the receptionist) . Since I haven't completed my varicella or Tetanus course hes marked it as not completed yet and JUST sent in the vaccination info to the USCIS in the envelope. He stamped his credentials on there, as well as the address of the practice. But he only sent in THAT page 4, he didn't include my page one or the last page as he said it was irrelevant due to me not needing another medical, and swore it didn't need to be included. Just the vaccination record....Is this alright? Also this was done yesterday...If they RFE'd me in like a week and I sent it in do you think they would be okay with it? We completely forgot to include it in the package yesterday...

On another subject I have to get a varicella shot on the 11th of Feb so I hope they RFE me before this time. I really dont want to pay another $60 to say "I had my second $100 vaccine that I didn't need..."....I have had chicken pox twice and Shingles at aged 13, but HEY! Uk medical records must be wrong right?! DOH!

I called today about my AOS on the military helpline and got told theres a slight delay right now. And to give it 10 days before calling to find out where my stuff is... Upsetting to say the least!

They seem to be so behind on opening packages, I sent mine in on the 8th, nothing heard yet I think it arrived on the 14th.... But then again lost fed ex receipt :'(. May try to call them today!

I guess I belong in here too....I filed on the 8th of January via fed Ex, lost the reciept so I guess I am just gonna have to wait until they tell me or cash the cheque...Bahh!

During a clean up of our room at my in laws, we seem to have thrown away the fed ex receipt with the tracking number . We sent in all documents (Minus the medical which we are hoping for a RFE to send in...) and the cheque on the 8th of Jan with Fed ex ground (3-5 days). We have heard nothing from them... Is this normal? I am not sure what to do now and I feel like a idiot for throwing the receipt away....

We were trying to call the Military help line earlier for advice, but no one was there due to the holiday...Should I just keep waiting or chase this up? And if I call them what reference can I give them to find my case...My Alien number? I don't know.

Sorry if this dose not make much sense, kinda in a blind panic right now!

I think the USCIS need to send out guidelines to all the physicians.

They made me have Varicella (Have had chicken pox AND shingles! But hey! Who cares...Lets just stab Katie in the Arm and make her pay more!), and also another Tetanus... My last Tetanus was in 2005 (And they are good for 10 yrs...) and the Dr made me go to get another one at the local health clinic. Needless to say I am pissed off beyond belief and $130 later, one very swollen arm and a angry mother in law, I seem to have got nothing good from it.

I cant believe I had to have both shots... The Civil Surgeon didnt even read my vaccination record properly, just sent me on my way to that awful clinic. Where they pretty much told me they didnt want to give them to me, and I had to force them to... I still have to go back to the CS to get my vaccinations sent off. Sent in my AOS without the medical due to them loosing it so often recently.

I often wonder whether having the USCIS helpline on speed dial for these situations is required. Especially when they try to shove it down your throats that you "need" a full medical again.

So I have printed out the I-693 instructions, I only have a copy of my Xrays and my vaccination records from the medical. Is that going to be enough for them to fill out everything without conning me in to another medical.

I've been using this Civil Surgeon page on the USCIS website. https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=of...office_type=CIV

You might want to try printing out the instructions for the i-693 for the nurse. There's a spot in there about K-1 visa holders. The second paragraph in that section is what I printing out for my CS. Hopefully, mine and yours will figure it out from that.

Thanks We just managed to find someone who will just do the Varicella and sign the darn form. 2 hours of calling and the USCIS were pretty helpfully The doctors secretary's on the other hand, were not so good :-P. The one clinic I found was about 2 hours away so a bit of a road trip

Just got off the phone from USCIS, VERY interesting.

She said she couldent find any people in Port st lucie....Who do the medicals. I actually called the USCIS helpline (Automated one) and it told me there were 12 within my vincitiy. My fiancee just got off the phone and the lady said there were NONE in here database near us, just ones in West palm.... Which is slightly shady... Little bit confused but it makes more sense.

Correct me (anyone) if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that you can get your shots done anywhere, and then take the proof to the CS to have them transfer it to the i-693. I read that in a thread yesterday abt the i-693 (can't remember which one, though!)

Yeah thats what I have been saying to them all morning, the last call I told them a USCIS rep gave me their number and they can do vaccinations without a medical. And they told me "No we cant" so I was like "Fine then I will inform the USCIS that you don't offer this service".

We are just on the military helpline while I am nearly in Tears over stress from this. My Fiancee is trying to calm me down as I have been spoken down to all morning by stupid secretaries. One of them even put down the phone on me!

LOL! We should make a topic of "Who not to call for vaccinations". That would make my life and others so much easier. And hey! about 20% of florida I have already called would be on that list , saves people a lot of time....

Sorry guys I just needed to rant, I usually am pretty calm but I feel like I am about to explode.

This form is a joke.... I have had my medical done in London and I just need the Varicella and Gardisil shots, spent the past hour calling everyone in a 50 mile radius and no one will do JUST the vaccinations, I am so mad as I don't have any money for a full medical, and they just keep trying to con me out of it.

I really want to complain to the USCIS but I think they probably already know about the problem and will not do anything about it. I am in Port St Lucie and if anyone knows of a medical office near this that will JUST do vaccinations and fill out the sheet then that would be awesome, I am waiting on the one doctor in PSL to get back to me as she only works certain days.

If I could get my vaccinations done in the West Palm Beach Veterans hospital that would be awesome (Husband is ex Navy) but I somehow don't think that could happen.

Now officially in the USA, would be interested in meeting anyone near the West Palm Beach area

I highly reccomend Delia's Christmas book. Fantastic food and snacks for the winter, and I am trying my first one tomorrow night...Just goto find some Creme Fraiche and Filo pastry somewhere!

I meant my FIL pushing me to take any job (coffee shop) just so I don't have to sit around the house all day. We had a talk the other day and I told him that I was trying to get a decent job with benefits that I can make a career out of, and he basically told me that any job is better than none. Are your in-laws dropping hints that they want you of their house? Maybe they're trying to help in their own way.

The money situation is difficult, maybe you can do something cheap like going to a nearby plaza and just walking around, looking in the shops, getting some fresh air. Do you have any pets? Sometimes it's nice to play with them together. Or renting a DVD and having a night in together.

About the confidence, I'll tell you what helps me. Being dropped off at a train station, going into the city (in this case Boston) and spending a few hours there by myself. It reminds me of my old life in the UK when I would happily walk everywhere, talk to people, go shopping, etc. I always felt a LOT happier when I was picked up afterwards, my confidence was restored, and so was my motivation to get out there and make a life for myself. We can't do that anymore as my husband works full-time and there's not a lot to do in the city for 8 hours. But it's still a quick way to feel better.

I am trying to go to the gym a lot more for my confidence and also hanging out with Nick's friends which is good I may take a walk around the mall at some point in the coming weeks, I used to love shopping on my own!

We went to the VA office yesterday to see about any support we can get and they very kindly gave us some Wallmart vouchers to help us out with food which has been awesome . I know Nicks parents would help us if we were really struggling, but we did need a little more support with food so this will definitly help out.

I think they are just trying to be nice with showing us all these houses, there are some good deals in Florida but now is not the right time to move out I feel....Does your FIL still want you to take the job after you spoke to him?

I've posted this guide in a previous thread quite awhile ago regarding volunteering:

The following describes the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS) interpretation of the concept of “work” versus “volunteering.”

• A foreign national cannot perform work as a volunteer in a position that would normally be a paid position or if the foreign national believes that some form of compensation will follow. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) views such volunteering as “work” and requires proper employment authorization issued by that agency. This specifically includes volunteering by a foreign national for a trial period leading up to compensated employment.

• [A]n applicant for a change of status may not offer his or her services to a prospective employer, even on a volunteer basis. The employment is unauthorized as long as the alien derives any benefit from it. (Lawrence J. Weinig, INS Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Adjudications, 66 NO. 19 Interpreter Releases 539)

• In addition, the volunteer rule may give rise to a number of potential abuses. For example, may an employer lawfully suggest to an alien that he or she should do a period of 'volunteer' work while the employer is deciding whether or not to file a nonimmigrant visa petition or a labor certification application? Recently, the INS indicated that an applicant for change in nonimmigrant status could not offer his or her services to a prospective employer on a 'volunteer' basis. The INS has stated that: 'If any type of benefit could accrue to the alien, though it may not be wages or fringe benefits, the services will be considered unauthorized employment.' (89-05 Immigr. Briefings 1)

• Volunteer services for a prospective employer constitute unauthorized employment if the alien will ultimately derive some benefit from the work. The ultimate question in most volunteer cases will be: What did the alien expect in return? If he or she expected compensation, reward, or future benefit, then the volunteer work probably violates status. (95-05 Immigr. Briefings 1)

I just spotted this in another thread, which does clarify under what circumstances volunteer work is allowable without EAD. I was not previously aware of this. Quite interesting.

So, it does look like Kayte can't volunteer at the gym. However, if you want to do some other type of volunteering to keep yourself sane, that would be OK. So, you might want to look into other volunteer opportunites.

Thanks for that, clears things up a bit

Kayte - how are you finding this Florida weather (there was snow back home this week:(), some days i don't even want to go out as its so humid and this is winter time i hate to see what its like in the summer, which is when my next trip over will be and hopefully by then the K1 will be approved. However i do try and push myself, I am lucky we have some nice walks even being in the city. I am starting to see the stuff i am going to miss though like public transport and the ability to walk most places.

One plan when i do get home and start working is to save as much as i can on top of the our visa fees this way i can get back into the arts side of things as i'll have to get new supplies or ship mine over...I have already made 1 quilt a couple of years ago so could try my hand at another..if all else fails scrap booking!!

If you do feel like doing some volunteering which fits into the above category and can't get somewhere local take a look at this website and select virtual opportunities on the search page.

There are some great non-profits looking for help from people from home and it's the sort of thing which can look great on a CV when the time comes. I was surprised how many non-profit jobs there were over here when I arrived and they all want experience in the area of working for non-profits. If I had known I would have done this myself when I had a three-month trip over during the visa process.

http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/

If you have any interest in media or journalism this company is legit and interesting....they will also give you a proper reference at the end of your time with them.

http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp571927.jsp

Yep that's what I saw yesterday I cant really volunteer to do classes to help children or older people either, it sucks SO much! Hehe and the weather here was really rainy yesterday, to the point where you couldent see anything infront of you . But today it may be a bit better, the weather is in the 70-80's and so nice Not really humid right now.

And thanks for the links lsma I will start looking in to volunteer work today, as well as getting my CPR from the red cross.

We are in the exact same situation.

I've been in the US for 6 months and I have to admit, I never thought it would be so stressful. My confidence has gone down since being here as I'm in the house all day without interaction. I know it sounds really, really strange, especially to those of you that are out and about. I never thought this would happen to me. I get nervous talking to people (which I never did before) as the only conversation I get is over the phone to my UK friends and family... (and of course my husband and his parents). We live in the countryside about a mile away from the centre... I don't think his family realise how isolating it is sometimes. They tell me to just take a walk into the town centre and look around the shops, but the only shops they have there: A Dunkin Donuts, a bank, an antique shop and a hairdressers. When my husband gets home from work, he listens to me whine about how bored I've been and tries to take me out, but because we're saving to move out (I also live with my in-laws), there's nowhere to go.

I've just got my green card and have been job-hunting for the past few weeks, but there doesn't seem to be any luck with my field because I don't have enough experience and also don't have a driving license. Even if I get one, we can't afford another car and my husband needs his for work every day. My FIL is pushing me to take any job that I can just to get me out of the house, but I've had many "entry-level" jobs in the past that I really didn't enjoy (waitress, barmaid, sales, cleaner) and want to do something for my future. I've just got a degree and want to use it. Plus what with the travel situation, that would mean my husband getting home from work and then dropping me off at my job at night, so I'd still be on my own all day and not get time with him either.

Things will get better. I know this. We're struggling to move out, but when we do, I'll have a feeling of growth as a couple, and will be able to settle both physically and mentally. It's the being in limbo that is annoying, but it will pass.

I'm pretty sure you ARE allowed to volunteer though. The rule is that you're not allowed to accept paid work. So I would go for that, if you're able to get to the place.

I know what you mean about the car situation, I was talking about that to my Fiancee last night. We don't know what we will do either... I told him I could cycle to work but its about 13 miles each way :-( I know what you mean about confidence going down, I feel isolated here and we cant go out because it just causes my fiancee to stress out about money and gas prices.

Yeah I know the feeling about being pushed out the house, Nick and I are going through that too. This morning there was 2 house's for sale written down on a piece of paper for us to look at...We have no money so how are we going to be able to move out?!

Alex I sent you a PM .

We should all write down what we do each day... It would be nice to see what others are doing!

So far its 8:51am, I have made myself a egg white omlette, just about to do some pilates. Took my dog out for a walk, and am just about to re arrange my cosmetics in the bathroom before showering and doing my make up .

This afternoon we are going to the VA office to find out about some kinda support for us, and then on to a Body Pump class and do a run at the gym so I can keep fit while here.

I also brought ShaunT beach body insanity to do over 90 days I also have p90x! However currently I am watching Stargate on Hulu and painting my nails.

Just read something saying voluntary work or training is not allowed...

My Fiancee and I had a very different image in our mind when I arrived, we thought it wouldn't be this stressful, all this paperwork, money worries. We are living with his parents and waiting to move out, but we cant until we paid the AOS, and until I get a good paying job. I am Thinking it would of been simpler to move him to the UK!

Plus sitting about all day and night is driving me stir crazy and we cant go out since we are very broke... Just waiting for this all to be over and for the fun stuff to happen...Grrrr. Anyone else frustrated or in a similar situation?

I got myself in to some fitness training so when I get my EAD I can teach classes. Would this be counted as working or just training? I am not being paid and its classes as just training so the second the EAD comes through I am getting my qualifications and working. I passed my interview for the job yesterday and they are going to hold the position but I wasn't sure how the gov would see this?

Found the answer, so now I am sitting at home for 3 months with nothing to do again....Great . No training, no anything. This is going to be so bad for me

I got myself in to some fitness training so when I get my EAD I can teach classes. Would this be counted as working or just training? I am not being paid and its classes as just training so the second the EAD comes through I am getting my qualifications and working. I passed my interview for the job yesterday and they are going to hold the position but I wasn't sure how the gov would see this?

I need something to do, I was going to do my fitness instructing training and was hoping to have my EAD by late January...Not gonna happen. Sat bored all day around his parents house because we cant move out until I get a full time job. I am so depressed sitting about all day, just me and the dog . And no money.