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Medical exam for I-485
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Svitlana
8/14/2013 10:02:46 PM
Total Posts: 27
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Hi guys, just went to have our medical exams done. We did them once before 6 years ago for GC process trough my husbands employer.It is a long story about how employer's tax fraud can prevent you from filing I-485 in the end. Well, anyway all tests were negative(good) than, no x-ray was needed. This time doctor sent us to have x-rays done without even performing skin test for TB first. I asked why.She said no one from Ukraine ever had negative(good) results for skin test and than you have to do x-ray anyway so why bother at all.I showed her our I-693 forms from six years ago that clearly stated both of us had negative(good) results.We did not travel abroad since. She said:"You can be mad at me but I am still going to do what I think is right.INS will likely consider negative skin test insufficient.We are going ahead with x-rays." That is fine with me but is this situation seems a little weird or not at all? I should mention the young nurse that took our blood. She looked trough some book for 10 minutes with stressed and confused expression on her face and than had to call the lab to make sure what test to perform and what size of tube to use.That is where seeds of my paranoia come from. So here is my question.What is requirement for Tuberculosis test? Is x-ray mandatory now? Will it be OK if we only have X-rays and no skin test? The way I understand it there needs to be a reason to have x-ray done instead of skin test.Is being from Ukraine a legitimate reason? Does it make any difference what kind of test you get as long as result is OK?
Amazon
8/16/2013 6:43:18 AM
Total Posts: 591
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This sounds like racial profiling. Civil surgeon cannot and should not assume that people from certain countries will automatically test positive (or negative) for certain test. Civil surgeons job is to check whether all of these tests are negative. If they are negative they should not be mandating more tests to prove again that is still negative. Either the doctor does not have enough knowledge or they want to charge more money by asking for more tests. The I693 form does have one check box "X ray required due to initial screening test results". Did the doctor specify on what grounds (which checkbox in the I693 form) are they asking to perform X ray? For TB test, please see page 6: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-693instr.pdf Civil Surgeon guidelines: http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/civil/technical-instructions-civil-surgeons.html If possible, you should switch to a different doctor with more experience and knowledge.
Svitlana
8/16/2013 12:39:03 PM
Total Posts: 27
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Thank you, Amazon I keep going over instructions on USCIS and CDC web sites for hours and clearly my doctor does not follow them exactly. However she is a Civil Surgeon and M.D. with 20 years of experience. She is also an immigrant from Russia herself,as well as all her family and a few people in her practice. She claims she has done it many times before and is just going an extra step to make sure I do not get RFE,as it happened to her patients before. I am not clear 100% on how she will mark the box about skin test,I did not see filled out form yet. When I talked to her on the phone and brought up this answer on USCIS site: Q. Will USCIS accept Form I-693 if the civil surgeon performed a chest x-ray without the TST? No, the civil surgeon must administer the TST, unless one of the exceptions listed in the Technical Instructions applies. If the civil surgeon performs a chest x-ray without giving the applicant the TST, the reason for omitting the TST must be noted on Form I-693. She said I have negative TST results in my I-693 from six years ago from different doctor.if I want it she will do it again, it will just be extra time and money. I do not really get why it is up to me.I guess she is just trying to be extra helpful. She will probably just mark TST as no reaction as negative based on previous I-693. Than x-ray is not required but she will include it anyway just to prevent RFE in future. I don't know, maybe I am just overreacting a bit.Isn't the point to prove I am healthy? Well,I have more than enough evidence for that. Do you think USCIS will have a problem with unnecessary x-ray? Instructions say it is simply not required but never mention if it is against the rules to submit it. Doctor thinks they might request it anyway for someone from Ukraine. Yes, it is a shade of racial profiling technically, but when did ever stop US government. I wish I knew more Ukrainians who have experience with this.Everyone I know is clueless, they just trusted their doctor. Maybe I should too?
Amazon
8/16/2013 10:24:54 PM
Total Posts: 591
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It if was required, USCIS would clearly state in I693 filing instructions that "applicant from following countries: Ukraine, Russia, etc are required to do X ray in addition (or in lieu of) TB test. Even your old civil surgeon did not have any reason to do X ray when the test is negative. We may not know the real motive behind the doctor telling you to do more tests. You might know some doctors get around 10-20% commission for patients they recommend for X rays. This is similar to some lawyers telling applicant in F2A category that even though PD is current, they should not file I-485 application until their I-130 is approved. Are they playing safe, or they want more money or they are clueless. It could be either one of these three (or maybe all three). I would recommend calling few other civil surgeon in your area and just ask them "Do people from Ukraine who tested negative on TB test still need to go for X ray"? Based on answers from all these other civil surgeons you would get a clear and definite answer. Please let us know what they all say.
Svitlana
8/16/2013 10:36:52 PM
Total Posts: 27
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I will do that.I was thinking about getting second opinion anyway. Thank you.
Svitlana
8/17/2013 3:08:23 PM
Total Posts: 27
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She clearly will not be able to fill out I-693 correctly without lying. I am getting everything done all over again with another civil surgeon.How is she even on USCIS civil surgeons list? We did not get a bill yet. Do I have to pay for doctors visit that did not accomplish anything? Should I report her to my insurance company.Why did she even take insurance info for immigration exam? I am worried she is running some sort of scam practice and now her office has my husband's and my dates of birth, SSN,address,driver license numbers. Is credit monitoring enough or should I get some sort of identity theft protection? What should I do on Monday when I supposed to go fill out I-693? Is there any point to confront her? What did I get myself into? HELP! P.S. Have an appointment for new exam with another doctor on Tuesday.
Amazon
8/17/2013 10:48:39 PM
Total Posts: 591
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[quote=Svitlana;2654]She clearly will not be able to fill out I-693 correctly without lying.[/quote] It should be really simple. Do some tests. If it is negative, fill the I693 form; else do more tests or report as positive. [quote]I am getting everything done all over again with another civil surgeon.How is she even on USCIS civil surgeons list? We did not get a bill yet. Do I have to pay for doctors visit that did not accomplish anything? Should I report her to my insurance company.Why did she even take insurance info for immigration exam? I am worried she is running some sort of scam practice and now her office has my husband's and my dates of birth, SSN,address,driver license numbers.[/quote] Any idea why you think she is running a scam practice? Did you get a chance to call other civil surgeons? Did something else happened? If you suspect fraud, you should definitely report her to various agencies (including insurance company). Few tests on I693 form are covered by insurance company. That may be the reason she asked for it. [quote]Is credit monitoring enough or should I get some sort of identity theft protection? [/quote] Either option would be helpful, if you suspect fraud. Credit monitoring will scan credit reporting companies for any new accounts created. [quote] What should I do on Monday when I supposed to go fill out I-693? Is there any point to confront her? What did I get myself into? HELP! [/quote] If she has your address and knows where you live I would not recommend confronting her. This may not be the first time someone would be confronting her, if she is indeed running a scam. She would be ready, if she is doing this for a long time. Definitely report to USCIS and other agencies (link below), if you suspect any fraud or scam. [quote]P.S. Have an appointment for new exam with another doctor on Tuesday.[/quote] Great. I am guessing you called another civil surgeon and they said more test are not needed for people who are from Ukraine. If the old doctors (few years back and from Russia) had performed certain tests and you have the results (either on I693 form or older form), you can give this to new doctor. They generally would not perform the same test again. Here is the blog post on Immigration Scam. It includes link to various websites for reporting scam. http://blog.mygcvisa.com/2013/07/uscis-immigration-scam.html
Svitlana
8/17/2013 11:27:27 PM
Total Posts: 27
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It will be interesting how will paperwork look like.If she does not fill out the form according to instructions she is incompetent.If she puts made up results and dates in it she is unethical. The reason I started to think she is running a scam is when I told this story to another CS he said right off the bet this is not how this done at all and confirmed that I am not just overacting. He told me to get all the paperwork and test results I will be able to get from her and bring it to him.If it looks legit he will be able to use at blood test and x-ray if it will becomes necessary. I will post updates.
Amazon
8/18/2013 2:04:41 AM
Total Posts: 591
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This new doctor sounds very experienced and knowledgeable. X ray would be needed only if it is positive. Trivia: Many people from South East Asia (India, Pakistan, etc) are given BCG vaccine. Hence their TB test results are typically positive. In this case they would have to go for X ray to prove it is fine. If test is negative, they do not require to perform more tests.
Svitlana
8/19/2013 8:04:00 PM
Total Posts: 27
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So here is what happened today. 1.She filled out applicant's portion herself.It clearly states above:"To be completed by the person requesting a medical examination,NOT civil surgeon." 2.Places of birth were missing.Phone numbers had wrong area code.She said it was exact phone numbers we gave her and than fixed it with white out. 3.In a box "Form of applicant ID presented (e.g., passport, driver's license)" she put "permanent resident card".It took a few minutes to talk her into changing it to "drivers license" Fixed with white out, again. 4.in a box "ID Number" she put our SSN.At that point I did not even argue I knew it will go in a trash eventually anyway. 5.Both dates of TST applied and TST read she just made up,as well as size of reaction.She put it at 4 mm. She included x-ray result but I do not remember what box she checked as to a reason why. I stopped reading by than,signed the form and let her seal it.I was angry and just wanted to get out of there without making a scene. I asked for x-ray and blood work.She gave us copies of reports but not actual x-ray.We did not get our I-693 copies so that is why I can not look up reason for x-ray.I will let other civil surgeon open it tomorrow and than post it. Trivia question: Does USCIS appoint MD's and OD's to be Civil Surgeons without even trying to make sure they care enough to at least read and understand instructions? Now question for real, about A-number:My husband's Alien Registration Number can be found on his old EAD but he is not sure if it is still OK to use if EAD has expired.Is it? I never had EAD.My VISA was last stamped 7 years ago and they did not put A# on VISA's than. Should I use I-94 number instead or nothing at all?
layla
8/20/2013 2:32:21 AM
Total Posts: 21
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Svitland, Had a bad experience too today during my medical exam for I-485 too. Dr was also an immigrant with an accent, I cant tell what country he was from maybe European or Middle Eastern(but that doesn't matter anyway). When he was about to have my blood test, i noticed the syringe was already opened on the table in front of me. I wasn't used to this, usually when i get a blood test, the nurse breaks open a pack of syringe or i see them break the lid infront of me. This kinda freaked me out. I asked politely if thats a new syringe, and the DR went off on me. Where do i think i am, do i think am in my country where they re-use syringes on people, he said what kind of practice do i think he is running, kept going on. Immediately, i was thrown off and apologized, cause i didnt want him to get upset or write something negative in my medical exam. He got really upset and kept going off, and i kept apologizing. He was unable to get the blood test done cause he was too flustered. He had to transfer me to a lab to get it done. I should come back on Wednesday for the results. And by the way, When it was time for the TB test, the syringe was also open. I have never seen that before. Right now am not sure if i should schedule another medical exam or go to another doctor? Is there anyway i can ask for the copy of the results, or if everything was ok when i pick up the results. Since i made him upset, dont want to leave any chances of a bad medical exam.
Svitlana
8/20/2013 3:59:58 AM
Total Posts: 27
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Layla, I understand how you feel exactly. My doctor started getting upset with me when I pointed out paperwork mistakes.So I stopped correcting her just to be able to get test results without any problems. I told her I am a control freak with OCD and I need to have a copy of everything just to be able to sleep at night.))) Not too far from the truth))) I wish she gave me copy of I-693 too,but she did not. CDC instructions for Civil Surgeons specify that they have to give you a copy of your completed and signed I-693. Another similarity-nurse asked my husband help her to pry off a needle from someone else's used syringe. Yikes!
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