Dilemma or Conundrum of I693 Medical with 485 or after 485 filing

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Originally Posted by sling10

My form will reach only after October 1st. But, is it when the form reaches or when the medical exam was done and the form signed by the civil surgeon ?

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Not sure where the confusion is if you read the USCIS/CDC release. If the physical exam is conducted on/after Oct 1 then vaccination proof is required. Not before Oct 1. In any case a competent civil surgeon will be aware of what's required and what's not. They are not going to sign and seal an incomplete form.

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Originally Posted by sling10

My form will reach only after October 1st. But, is it when the form reaches or when the medical exam was done and the form signed by the civil surgeon ?

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Its not clear but based on information here, it seems the requirement is based on examination date and not submission or adjudication dates:

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Starting October 1, I-485 applicants will be required to provide documentation to their USCIS physicians that they have received all required doses of a COVID vaccine -- either Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson.

If the Form I-693 can be completed by the USCIS physician before October 1, the COVID vaccination requirement does not apply

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Originally Posted by gammaray

Not sure where the confusion is if you read the USCIS/CDC release. If the physical exam is conducted on/after Oct 1 then vaccination proof is required. Not before Oct 1. In any case a competent civil surgeon will be aware of what's required and what's not. They are not going to sign and seal an incomplete form.

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Confusion is that will the current version of 693 that has been signed / sealed before Oct 1st, be considered valid for the 485 filed post Oct 1st when a new version of the form 693 comes out ?

OR

Do I have to wait for the new version of the form 693 to come out ?

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Originally Posted by sling10

Confusion is that will the current version of 693 that has been signed / sealed before Oct 1st, be considered valid for the 485 filed post Oct 1st when a new version of the form 693 comes out ?

OR

Do I have to wait for the new version of the form 693 to come out ?

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Again, whatever version of the form that exists at the time of the physical examination signature, is valid. Did you have this question also for the flu shot that's required Oct 1 onwards? How is this any different?

If you are that uncertain, then why the rush, just wait for Oct 1 and get the physical exam and signature done then. Meanwhile you can get all the blood/urology work and any vaccinations done this month.

https://www.qesehmk.org/forums/showt...ll=1#post82456

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"In the five business days (max) it takes the contractor to fulfill the interfile correspondence, if an AO send an I-693 RFE, the outcome is undefined."

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@idliman: Can you or someone please elaborate what is meant by outcome undefined? In this case, will you not respond to the rfe with a new/duploicate copy of i693 which will then get linked as part of the rfe process? Why should this become an undeterministic problem?

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Originally Posted by gammaray

Again, whatever version of the form that exists at the time of the physical examination signature, is valid. Did you have this question also for the flu shot that's required Oct 1 onwards? How is this any different?

If you are that uncertain, then why the rush, just wait for Oct 1 and get the physical exam and signature done then. Meanwhile you can get all the blood/urology work and any vaccinations done this month.

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There is an entry for the flu shot on the current form. The Covid-19 entry is not available on the current form and not sure if that will be available on the new form. In terms of vaccinations, blood / urology work, I have already done that and had scheduled a medical exam for the 3rd week of September and was hoping to file in October as my date is current in the date of filing chart and hopefully USCIS will honor the date of filing chart come October. I want to try and file the 485 as early as possible in October. Hence, the questions.

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Originally Posted by sling10

There is an entry for the flu shot on the current form. The Covid-19 entry is not available on the current form and not sure if that will be available on the new form. In terms of vaccinations, blood / urology work, I have already done that and had scheduled a medical exam for the 3rd week of September and was hoping to file in October as my date is current in the date of filing chart and hopefully USCIS will honor the date of filing chart come October. I want to try and file the 485 as early as possible in October. Hence, the questions.

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Yes there is an entry in the form, but what I meant was if you were completing the exam in September then the flu shot would not be checked, but your application would reach USCIS in October. So similar situation.

The medical exam is a 30 minute process (if that), and if all your bloodwork and vaccinations are completed then the doctor will likely return the form signed/sealed on the same day. So you are not going to save any time really if you did it in September vs scheduling it on Oct 1/2. Of course you would need the additional flu shot.

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Originally Posted by gammaray

Yes there is an entry in the form, but what I meant was if you were completing the exam in September then the flu shot would not be checked, but your application would reach USCIS in October. So similar situation.

The medical exam is a 30 minute process (if that), and if all your bloodwork and vaccinations are completed then the doctor will likely return the form signed/sealed on the same day. So you are not going to save any time really if you did it in September vs scheduling it on Oct 1/2. Of course you would need the additional flu shot.

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Thanks gammaray for the inputs ! The flu shot is already available in my area and will be taking it before the exam in September. So, from a flu shot perspective we would be covered. Not the same case with the Covid vaccine shot. Even though we are fully vaccinated, not sure when the updated form will be available to notate that. Hence, the question still remains :

Will the current version of 693 that has been signed / sealed before Oct 1st 2021, be considered valid with regards to the Covid-19 requirement for the new 485 applications filed post Oct 1st 2021 ?

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Originally Posted by bones20

https://www.qesehmk.org/forums/showt...ll=1#post82456
@idliman: Can you or someone please elaborate what is meant by outcome undefined? In this case, will you not respond to the rfe with a new/duplicate copy of i693 which will then get linked as part of the rfe process? Why should this become an undeterministic problem?

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If you fall in a window where they are processing your interfile request and an RFE is being generated, then you may have to resend the I-693 one more time as a reply to RFE. You can also call in to see if they can accept your interfile request. To save time, I would tell the doctor that USCIS lost your I-693, Pay $50 (most charge this) and resend I-693. Lets say the AO picks up your file one day after interfile email is sent to him by the service center, then he/she is going to approve your case immediately.

Too many things. Just spend the money, send the interfile and forget it. It has more than 95% success. If they lose it or something happens then spend money for the duplicate. Peace.

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Originally Posted by idliman

If you fall in a window where they are processing your interfile request and an RFE is being generated, then you may have to resend the I-693 one more time as a reply to RFE. You can also call in to see if they can accept your interfile request. To save time, I would tell the doctor that USCIS lost your I-693, Pay $50 (most charge this) and resend I-693. Lets say the AO picks up your file one day after interfile email is sent to him by the service center, then he/she is going to approve your case immediately.

Too many things. Just spend the money, send the interfile and forget it. It has more than 95% success. If they lose it or something happens then spend money for the duplicate. Peace.

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Thanks @idliman !

Update:
So based on the suggestions here, I went ahead and interfiled i693 (reached USCIS on 09/03). Today 09/09 I received an SMS from USCIS:
"Message from USCIS: Green Card applicants should return Requests for Evidence as soon as possible by overnight, priority or courier delivery. uscis.gov/i-485

If you have already responded to USCIS, then please disregard this message."

Questions:
1. Any guesses what is happening here? Will the interfile happen (or has happened) before an rfe is generated?
2. If I do get an rfe, I am presuming I should respond to it with a duplicate/new i693?

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Originally Posted by bones20

Update:
So based on the suggestions here, I went ahead and interfiled i693 (reached USCIS on 09/03). Today 09/09 I received an SMS from USCIS:
"Message from USCIS: Green Card applicants should return Requests for Evidence as soon as possible by overnight, priority or courier delivery. uscis.gov/i-485

If you have already responded to USCIS, then please disregard this message."

Questions:
1. Any guesses what is happening here? Will the interfile happen (or has happened) before an rfe is generated?
2. If I do get an rfe, I am presuming I should respond to it with a duplicate/new i693?

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Just stay put. If you look at the recent signed affidavit to a Judge, USCIS mentioned that they have contacted applicants via email/SMS and asked them to send medical and complete their file (without RFE). That was one of their justifcations to the judge claiming that they are doing eveything to prevent wastage of visas. So maybe USCIS is trying to claim credit for your I-693? Or they are accepting it because they sent a communication to you. Or this can be a pure random thing.

My understanding is that once you interfile, your documents will be scanned and send via email to the case officer. He/She should look at it and then attach it to the immigration case. Too early to say anything. Just wait a few more days. You should be good.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bones20

Update:
So based on the suggestions here, I went ahead and interfiled i693 (reached USCIS on 09/03). Today 09/09 I received an SMS from USCIS:
"Message from USCIS: Green Card applicants should return Requests for Evidence as soon as possible by overnight, priority or courier delivery. uscis.gov/i-485

If you have already responded to USCIS, then please disregard this message."

Questions:
1. Any guesses what is happening here? Will the interfile happen (or has happened) before an rfe is generated?
2. If I do get an rfe, I am presuming I should respond to it with a duplicate/new i693?

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I also received the text message. I have not received RFE yet and online case status has not yet changed. I hope I receive RFE soon so that I can submit the medicals before end of Sept to have a chance to get GC in this FY.

By receiving this text, can we reasonably assume that RFE is on the way?

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Originally Posted by Waiting4GC

I also received the text message. I have not received RFE yet and online case status has not yet changed. I hope I receive RFE soon so that I can submit the medicals before end of Sept to have a chance to get GC in this FY.

By receiving this text, can we reasonably assume that RFE is on the way?

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No idea. This same text messages has many triggers. I am hoping that it is an rfe for you and i693 interfile activity for me.

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Originally Posted by idliman

Just stay put. If you look at the recent signed affidavit to a Judge, USCIS mentioned that they have contacted applicants via email/SMS and asked them to send medical and complete their file (without RFE). That was one of their justifcations to the judge claiming that they are doing eveything to prevent wastage of visas. So maybe USCIS is trying to claim credit for your I-693? Or they are accepting it because they sent a communication to you. Or this can be a pure random thing.

My understanding is that once you interfile, your documents will be scanned and send via email to the case officer. He/She should look at it and then attach it to the immigration case. Too early to say anything. Just wait a few more days. You should be good.

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Hi @idliman,
So looks like my interfile coincided with AO issuing an RFE. In my case, the rfe is also asking for documentary evidence of deposition of court citations. I had answered yes to part 8, question 25 for traffic tickets and described details in addendum. Two of my tickets are really old (2010 & 2007) and I cant even look up those citations on court websites.
1. Can you please suggest what is acceptable evidence of deposition?
2. Do I need to visit the courts (what do I ask for?).
3. What do I do with the old tickets (one of them is now 7 hours drive from my place).
4. For the medical rfe, should I send the old sealed copy or get new ones done with covid records? Seems the old one will not be acceptable in October.

thanks!

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Originally Posted by bones20

Hi @idliman,
So looks like my interfile coincided with AO issuing an RFE. In my case, the rfe is also asking for documentary evidence of deposition of court citations (traffic tickets). Two of my tickets are really old (2010 & 2007) and I cant even look up those citations on court websites.
1. Can you please suggest what is acceptable evidence of deposition?
2. Do I need to visit the courts (what do I ask for?).
3. What do I do with the old tickets (one of them is now 7 hours drive from my place).
4. For the medical rfe, should I send the old sealed copy or get new ones done with covid records? Seems the old one will not be acceptable in October.

thanks!

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Did you receive the physical RFE? Even though I received the text on Thursday, I have not received anything in mail nor my case status has changed online. Just wondering if it was just a generic message wrongly sent to me.

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Originally Posted by Waiting4GC

Did you receive the physical RFE? Even though I received the text on Thursday, I have not received anything in mail nor my case status has changed online. Just wondering if it was just a generic message wrongly sent to me.

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Yes - physical rfe.

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Originally Posted by bones20

Hi @idliman,
So looks like my interfile coincided with AO issuing an RFE. In my case, the rfe is also asking for documentary evidence of deposition of court citations. I had answered yes to part 8, question 25 for traffic tickets and described details in addendum. Two of my tickets are really old (2010 & 2007) and I cant even look up those citations on court websites.
1. Can you please suggest what is acceptable evidence of deposition?
2. Do I need to visit the courts (what do I ask for?).
3. What do I do with the old tickets (one of them is now 7 hours drive from my place).
4. For the medical rfe, should I send the old sealed copy or get new ones done with covid records? Seems the old one will not be acceptable in October.

thanks!

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I have no advice to offer on traffic violations. However I did a google search on "trackitt and traffic ticket" and found a lot of threads with info that you are looking for. Should not be a problem for traffic violations. They have accepted verbal replies.

For medical, Is the RFE from local office? In that case, you can call them after one or 2 weeks and then ask if they had received the interfiled medical sent on such and such date. In 2 or 3 weeks, the medical should reach the AO. Even sometimes, you will get good replies from EMMA whether the medicals have been interfiled successfully or not.

If not, you have to claim a lost USCIS I-693 and then pay the Dr office to reissue the same report. Because an RFE has been issued and you are doing an interview, I would advise you to confirm the I-693 status with local office.

Good Luck.

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Originally Posted by idliman

I have no advice to offer on traffic violations. However I did a google search on "trackitt and traffic ticket" and found a lot of threads with info that you are looking for. Should not be a problem for traffic violations. They have accepted verbal replies.

For medical, Is the RFE from local office? In that case, you can call them after one or 2 weeks and then ask if they had received the interfiled medical sent on such and such date. In 2 or 3 weeks, the medical should reach the AO. Even sometimes, you will get good replies from EMMA whether the medicals have been interfiled successfully or not.

If not, you have to claim a lost USCIS I-693 and then pay the Dr office to reissue the same report. Because an RFE has been issued and you are doing an interview, I would advise you to confirm the I-693 status with local office.

Good Luck.

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Thanks Idliman! I am not going for any interview (no request yet).

What do you mean by claim lost i693? I already have a sealed copy of i693 from the doctor. The only problem is that it will be invalid starting October due to covid vaccine requirements.

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Originally Posted by bones20

Thanks Idliman! I am not going for any interview (no request yet).

What do you mean by claim lost i693? I already have a sealed copy of i693 from the doctor. The only problem is that it will be invalid starting October due to covid vaccine requirements.

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You can tell the Dr office that USCIS processing lost the I-693 package and they had sent an RFE. So you don't know what to do in this situation. Can they help you as you had already paid once in full. Most likely they will agree. That's why while interfiling, I advised people to discuss this hypothetical situation with Dr office. Two of the fellow members informed me that Dr office will charge around $50 for such a scenario (to reissue I-693).

Your situation is a little complicated as they have to fill a new form due to COVID requirement. You have to show the proof of COVID vaccination. I think they can reuse the existing tests. However they will ask for some money. Hopefully it is not greater than $50 per applicant.

Nothing in America is free, especially healthcare. Good Luck.

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Originally Posted by idliman

You can tell the Dr office that USCIS processing lost the I-693 package and they had sent an RFE. So you don't know what to do in this situation. Can they help you as you had already paid once in full. Most likely they will agree. That's why while interfiling, I advised people to discuss this hypothetical situation with Dr office. Two of the fellow members informed me that Dr office will charge around $50 for such a scenario (to reissue I-693).

Your situation is a little complicated as they have to fill a new form due to COVID requirement. You have to show the proof of COVID vaccination. I think they can reuse the existing tests. However they will ask for some money. Hopefully it is not greater than $50 per applicant.

Nothing in America is free, especially healthcare. Good Luck.

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Do you think if I respond to the rfe with my spare ,old, duplicate i693, they will accept it if it reached there before end of September?

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Originally Posted by bones20

Thanks Idliman! I am not going for any interview (no request yet).

What do you mean by claim lost i693? I already have a sealed copy of i693 from the doctor. The only problem is that it will be invalid starting October due to covid vaccine requirements.

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If the medicals are done before Oct 1st but submitted after Oct 1st, why will they be considered invalid ? Isn't the new Covid requirement, only for medicals done after Oct 1st ? For eg : I am doing my medicals in Sept with the current form (which does not ask for any Covid details) and submitting 485 post Oct 1st, will the medicals be considered invalid in that case ? I have not got a definitive answer for this question of mine.

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Originally Posted by sling10

If the medicals are done before Oct 1st but submitted after Oct 1st, why will they be considered invalid ? Isn't the new Covid requirement, only for medicals done after Oct 1st ? For eg : I am doing my medicals in Sept with the current form (which does not ask for any Covid details) and submitting 485 post Oct 1st, will the medicals be considered invalid in that case ? I have not got a definitive answer for this question of mine.

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Its not clear. But, they are the boss.

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Originally Posted by sling10

If the medicals are done before Oct 1st but submitted after Oct 1st, why will they be considered invalid ? Isn't the new Covid requirement, only for medicals done after Oct 1st ? For eg : I am doing my medicals in Sept with the current form (which does not ask for any Covid details) and submitting 485 post Oct 1st, will the medicals be considered invalid in that case ? I have not got a definitive answer for this question of mine.

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I have tried to say it multiple times but to no avail. Medicals signed and sealed prior to Oct 1 should not be invalidated if submitted after Oct 1. When it's submitted doesn't matter as long as it's within 60 days of I-485 submission. If a new i693 form does come out it will not suddenly appear without any prior notice. The website will clearly say when the form will come out and when the older form will no longer be valid. It's not even clear a new form will come out, it could be as simple as the doctor noting on the existing form after Oct 1 that covid vaccination is completed (as someone noted here earlier). If folks are so unsure and can't wait for medicals to be done after Oct 1, then the safest option is to ask the doctor to include the vaccination note on the existing form even if its prior to Oct 1.

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Originally Posted by gammaray

I have tried to say it multiple times but to no avail. Medicals signed and sealed prior to Oct 1 should not be invalidated if submitted after Oct 1. When it's submitted doesn't matter as long as it's within 60 days of I-485 submission. If a new i693 form does come out it will not suddenly appear without any prior notice. The website will clearly say when the form will come out and when the older form will no longer be valid. It's not even clear a new form will come out, it could be as simple as the doctor noting on the existing form after Oct 1 that covid vaccination is completed (as someone noted here earlier). If folks are so unsure and can't wait for medicals to be done after Oct 1, then the safest option is to ask the doctor to include the vaccination note on the existing form even if its prior to Oct 1.

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Yes gammaray, I know that you have answered this question of mine earlier. I will be asking the surgeon to include the Covid-19 details in the existing form. Thanks !