The FY2014 RFE Thread

[vizcard]

So just for giggles.........

Trackitt approvals for EB2I
Spillover season 2013 (Aug, Sep) = 1301 (avg 650/month) - Spec has 1338 in his table - perhaps the filters are different
Spillover season 2014 (July MTD) = 200

This is clear indication that USCIS has the capacity to turn it on. Let's say USCIS goes with 650/month for Aug & Sep and we get another 50 for July. We'll have 1550 total Trackitt approvals. That translates to about 20150 real world approvals (using a 13x multiplier).

To me that tells me that even with the slow pace right now, USCIS likely won't waste visa numbers but it will keep people on pins and needles for the rest of the summer

Enjoy your week!

[bieber]

I have received RFE recently. priority date is Feb 2009. RFE is for Medicals, EVL and continuous employment authorization.

The text included in the RFE letter is as follows:
"Please submit a new Form I-693 completed by a designated civil surgeon to this office together with a copy of this notice. Including a copy of this notice with your form I-693 will facilitate matching the medical report with your file."

I have couple of questions regarding sending response.

1. Do we need to include the RFE letter inside the sealed envelope?
2. Is it better to send the response using USPS/FEdex?
3. If FedEx what address I should send the response to, FedEx does not deliver to PO Box.
4. Can I send both (me and spouse) RFE responses in the same envelope?

Thanks,

Even if you and doctor decided to put a rfe copy inside 693 envelop, i would suggest you keep a copy of RFE outside too, so that someone who opens the envelop first will be able to update the status to RFE response review.

If the RFE is asking EVL etc, you must keep a copy outside the 693 envelop

my RFE was only for medicals and I did NOT keep a copy inside the 693

[imdeng]

My process:

1. Get 693 envelopes (2 of them for 2 of us) frm CS (2 small env)
2. Put each in a bigger envelope each with the RFE letter and a cover letter each (2 medium env)
3. Put the two in one big USPS envelope with a note saying that two RFE responses for 2 A-numbers are attached (1 large env)
4. Send the large env by the fastest USPS service with tracking that you can afford

I have received RFE recently. priority date is Feb 2009. RFE is for Medicals, EVL and continuous employment authorization.

The text included in the RFE letter is as follows:
"Please submit a new Form I-693 completed by a designated civil surgeon to this office together with a copy of this notice. Including a copy of this notice with your form I-693 will facilitate matching the medical report with your file."

I have couple of questions regarding sending response.

1. Do we need to include the RFE letter inside the sealed envelope?
2. Is it better to send the response using USPS/FEdex?
3. If FedEx what address I should send the response to, FedEx does not deliver to PO Box.
4. Can I send both (me and spouse) RFE responses in the same envelope?

Thanks,

[reachkash]

1. I gave my civil surgeon a copy to include in the sealed packet. I'm not sure if that is common practice though

Thanks you for the response. Do we need to include all the 3 pages of RFE letter in the sealed envelop? or only the page where it says "WITH THIS PAGE ON TOP"

[imdeng]

Yup - we saw in last few years, when USCIS wants to (or has to) approve a bunch of cases in a short time, they can actually get it done pretty fast.

So just for giggles.........

Trackitt approvals for EB2I
Spillover season 2013 (Aug, Sep) = 1301 (avg 650/month) - Spec has 1338 in his table - perhaps the filters are different
Spillover season 2014 (July MTD) = 200

This is clear indication that USCIS has the capacity to turn it on. Let's say USCIS goes with 650/month for Aug & Sep and we get another 50 for July. We'll have 1550 total Trackitt approvals. That translates to about 20150 real world approvals (using a 13x multiplier).

To me that tells me that even with the slow pace right now, USCIS likely won't waste visa numbers but it will keep people on pins and needles for the rest of the summer

Enjoy your week!

[imdeng]

It is not necessary to keep a copy of the RFE inside the I-693 envelope prepared by the CS. However, if you are going to do it then why not put the whole thing. I would recommend keeping another copy outside the envelope as well.

Thanks you for the response. Do we need to include all the 3 pages of RFE letter in the sealed envelop? or only the page where it says "WITH THIS PAGE ON TOP"

[reachkash]

It is not necessary to keep a copy of the RFE inside the I-693 envelope prepared by the CS. However, if you are going to do it then why not put the whole thing. I would recommend keeping another copy outside the envelope as well.

Sorry for too many questions. I have already got the medicals done few weeks back. Now I need to go back and ask the CS open the envelop and include these additional pages inside. I am trying to get the best practice. Thank you for the patience.

[Aurora]

Till now there are 215 Trackitt approvals. Does that not mean approx 7000 visas? 215 X 2.5 (dependents) X 13 (real approvals) = 6988 approvals?


Thanks!

[Kanmani]

RFE.jpg

Guys, interpretations please.

[bieber]

Sorry for too many questions. I have already got the medicals done few weeks back. Now I need to go back and ask the CS open the envelop and include these additional pages inside. I am trying to get the best practice. Thank you for the patience.

I wouldn't do that if i were you

[Aurora]

RFE.jpg

Guys, interpretations please.

Kanmani,

It says submit a new I-693 because your existing one is no longer valid or about to exceed its validity period.

Thanks!

[vizcard]

RFE.jpg

Guys, interpretations please.

it either means your 693 has expired (medical RFE) or that the I693 form used is not the current version. My guess is its the latter.

[vizcard]

Sorry for too many questions. I have already got the medicals done few weeks back. Now I need to go back and ask the CS open the envelop and include these additional pages inside. I am trying to get the best practice. Thank you for the patience.

Here's the criteria - If you are sending the sealed 693 envelop as is ie putting postage stamps on the 693 envelop, then you need to put the sheet inside. If you are putting the 693 envelop inside another bigger envelop, then just put the bar-coded sheet in the bigger envelop along with the 693 envelop (and anything else you need to include - EVL, etc).

[imdeng]

Seems usual RFE language Kanmani. I thought you just got your medicals done and were going to respond to the RFE. Is this a new one?

Guys, interpretations please.

[imdeng]

Its been ~13 for last couple years. Spec has EB-2I trackitt approvals for July MTD at 141 - so thats ~1833 approvals. Clearly USCIS is not pushing it at the moment. I expect they will pick up the pace soon.

I don't think you multiply by the dependent factor. It is already included in 13. I would also venture that the total / trackitt ratio has decreased (I don't know if someone has the latest estimate).

I also think 215 is too high...last I remember reading, it was more in the neighborhood of 100-120. Has something changed in a week?

In this month, the total number of approvals is surely below 2000...majority of approvals will happen in August/September.

[imdeng]

I don't think it is necessary for you to get the sealed I-693s opened for putting a copy of the RFE inside. The copy of the RFE should go with the I-693 - but it does not need to be inside the sealed I-693 envelope. In fact, a CS might even reject the notion of keeping anything other than the I-693 in the sealed envelope.

Sorry for too many questions. I have already got the medicals done few weeks back. Now I need to go back and ask the CS open the envelop and include these additional pages inside. I am trying to get the best practice. Thank you for the patience.

[Kanmani]

Guys, I am sorry. I didn't explain why I copy-pasted those lines from the RFE. It is indeed with respect to reachkash's doubt, whether to include RFE copy inside or outside the sealed envelope.

He is still looking for answers on whether to go back to CS or not. I was looking for interpertations from those lines to find out RFE copy has to be 'inside' or 'outside'.

[Kanmani]

In fact, a CS might even reject the notion of keeping anything other than the I-693 in the sealed envelope.

imdeng,

Our first RFE in 2012 is for medicals, CS did attach a copy of the RFE to I-693. So that is not out of the norm.

[ramaka02]

imdeng,

Our first RFE in 2012 is for medicals, CS did attach a copy of the RFE to I-693. So that is not out of the norm.

The CS that we went to refused to attach anything to the I693 and hence our lawyers just attached the RFE sheet with the package sent to USCIS. It really shouldn't matter IMHO.

[geniusmag]

Hi Guys, Can someone please comment on my medical situation below.

I went to this doctor who did a TB skin test , 36 hours letter he read the test as positive, while I thought it was some redness but he read it as 15 mm induration and asked me to immediately go for chest X ray at one of the labs that he recommends. I was a bit surprised because 2 years ago I had a negative skin reaction ( at another CS )and and I have never traveled outside since then. Anyways I went to the radiology that he suggested for X ray, after multiple follow ups I get a report that says " No pulmonary disease " but the doc is not satisfied due to some other verbiage in the xray report and now wants me to go see a specialist of his choice. I resisted and asked him for a repeat x ray or a blood test. He agreed for a blood test at lab in his clinic. I was wary of the clinic in his lab and instead went to an independent lab, I obtained the results directly from lab in a day and it says NEGATIVE. Now I am calling this doctor time and again since last 2 days and he continues to say that he has not got the report and he has no account at Lab Corp to get the report !!. I have already wasted enough money, time and sleep over unnecessary tests. What would you guys recommend me to do now ?

Please suggest me what should I do now. Even if I get him to see my results and sign off the form , he may mark that I he administered both TB skin test as well as blood test which it appears is against the policy as The USCIS for I 693 form says " only one initial methodcan be used for initial screening ". In my case I had to do both - so how should the doc mark the form now .

or am I left with no other option but to spend money on another CS now ? Please suggest

[imdeng]

Welcome to the forum geniusmag - and it sucks that you are being given the run-around by the CS.

Based on what you have written, it does not seem like CS is handling your case appropriately. There is always a little bit of redness - afterall there was an air-pocket there just a few hours back. It needs to be not just be red but be different in feel (softness/roughness) etc for it to count - at least that's what the nurse told me.

I think you should just consider this a sunk cost and find a different CS. If you post your location then maybe folks here can suggest more reliable CS in your area. A decent CS costs $200-$300 usually and I think that is a small price to pay to get the process right.

Hi Guys, Can someone please comment on my medical situation below.

I went to this doctor who did a TB skin test , 36 hours letter he read the test as positive, while I thought it was some redness but he read it as 15 mm induration and asked me to immediately go for chest X ray at one of the labs that he recommends. I was a bit surprised because 2 years ago I had a negative skin reaction ( at another CS )and and I have never traveled outside since then. Anyways I went to the radiology that he suggested for X ray, after multiple follow ups I get a report that says " No pulmonary disease " but the doc is not satisfied due to some other verbiage in the xray report and now wants me to go see a specialist of his choice. I resisted and asked him for a repeat x ray or a blood test. He agreed for a blood test at lab in his clinic. I was wary of the clinic in his lab and instead went to an independent lab, I obtained the results directly from lab in a day and it says NEGATIVE. Now I am calling this doctor time and again since last 2 days and he continues to say that he has not got the report and he has no account at Lab Corp to get the report !!. I have already wasted enough money, time and sleep over unnecessary tests. What would you guys recommend me to do now ?

Please suggest me what should I do now. Even if I get him to see my results and sign off the form , he may mark that I he administered both TB skin test as well as blood test which it appears is against the policy as The USCIS for I 693 form says " only one initial methodcan be used for initial screening ". In my case I had to do both - so how should the doc mark the form now .

or am I left with no other option but to spend money on another CS now ? Please suggest

[imdeng]

I am sure its a YMMV thing - I recall there there were some reports for CS refusing to attach anything other than the I-693 and associated documentation in the sealed envelope.

imdeng,

Our first RFE in 2012 is for medicals, CS did attach a copy of the RFE to I-693. So that is not out of the norm.

[vizcard]

Hi Guys, Can someone please comment on my medical situation below.

I went to this doctor who did a TB skin test , 36 hours letter he read the test as positive, while I thought it was some redness but he read it as 15 mm induration and asked me to immediately go for chest X ray at one of the labs that he recommends. I was a bit surprised because 2 years ago I had a negative skin reaction ( at another CS )and and I have never traveled outside since then. Anyways I went to the radiology that he suggested for X ray, after multiple follow ups I get a report that says " No pulmonary disease " but the doc is not satisfied due to some other verbiage in the xray report and now wants me to go see a specialist of his choice. I resisted and asked him for a repeat x ray or a blood test. He agreed for a blood test at lab in his clinic. I was wary of the clinic in his lab and instead went to an independent lab, I obtained the results directly from lab in a day and it says NEGATIVE. Now I am calling this doctor time and again since last 2 days and he continues to say that he has not got the report and he has no account at Lab Corp to get the report !!. I have already wasted enough money, time and sleep over unnecessary tests. What would you guys recommend me to do now ?

Please suggest me what should I do now. Even if I get him to see my results and sign off the form , he may mark that I he administered both TB skin test as well as blood test which it appears is against the policy as The USCIS for I 693 form says " only one initial methodcan be used for initial screening ". In my case I had to do both - so how should the doc mark the form now .

or am I left with no other option but to spend money on another CS now ? Please suggest

I agree with imdeng. Its just one more of those things that drive us crazy but unfortunately nothing can be done except start from square one. I'd wear a full sleeved shirt and offer the other arm for the test though. You could get in to an awkward and unnecessary conversation with the new CS. ... or alternately you can make up a reason as to why your arm is red (i assume it still is).

[Kanmani]

I'd wear a full sleeved shirt and offer the other arm for the test though. You could get in to an awkward and unnecessary conversation with the new CS. ... or alternately you can make up a reason as to why your arm is red (i assume it still is).

Viz, LOL!

geniusmag,

My honest opinion is to go with another CS and get a new I693, since your description suggests another potential RFE in the run, which is the worst thing to dream for. Before choosing one, please read the reviews and don't hesitate to take up a long drive if a good CS can be located there. You may get the fee structure over phone for renewing I693.

From my past experience, even if the CS is good at service, the adjudicators would ruin the whole scene and vice versa. We received our 2012 RFE for useless reasons worth of law suit against the USCIS. Both our then CS and the new CS were pressing us to so.

Good Luck!

[venkat]

Viz, RMS.

I've taken the congressman route. I just now faxed a letter along with my 485 details to my local congressman's office. They told me that they will assign it to a case worker and begin working on my case. Lets see what happens.

We never know what will work unless we try.