I-693 - Medical Exam and Vaccinations when applying for Green Card (I-485)

[suninphx]

Yeah , someone posted similar thing sometime ago I think about Varicella + some other vaccine and I believe it was at Walgreens too.
Your friend can run lab test for MMR if he think he had that vaccine before but didn't have any records. Beware lab might cost him money if not covered by his insurance.

Adding to your funny note...same thing goes for FP.

I told him why not take MMR from civil surgon and then claim that to insurance.

[gkjppp]

Ok this is my experience. My civil surgeon is also a PCP, and accepted my Cigna PPO insurance also. 150 per person for medical exam, and all vaccines etc he will bill to insurance, he said.

First day, he gave me TB skin test first, then TDap. He sent me to lab to get blood drawn to test for immunity to MMR, Varicella, etc, all the vaccines which you need basically. The lab accepts my insurnance too. He in fact even added in blood tests for diabetes, cholesterol, anemia etc, as he said that he will help me as annual physical exam also, since I dont have a primary care doctor for myself anyways.

Two days later I went there, and for both me and wife, he gave copy of the lab test results, and indicated we already have all vaccines needed as well as we have no other problems. He just gave flu shots since it is flu season. Our TB test was negative, for both of us, you could hardly even see where TB test was made, forget any rash or swelling etc, totally negative.

He filled out the forms and gave in sealed envelope. Over.

Do we need to provide what shots we had back in india during our Medical? Definetely i dont have such records/ it's impossible to get one as well.

[ThatIsAll]

Do we need to provide what shots we had back in india during our Medical? Definetely i dont have such records/ it's impossible to get one as well.

I didn't have any records of vaccination either but I knew I had most of the vaccines needed. I told my Dr(Civil surgeon) the same and asked him if he can verify that from my blood report? He said, surely that can be done. He asked me to go to a lab and gave me a work order asking the lab to report whether I was vaccinated for MMR, Varicella etc that is needed for I-693. The report confirmed that I was vaccinated for it and hence I didn't have to be vaccinated again. The two shots I had to take was flu shot (according to him one has to take 1 per year) and Tetanus shot ( 1 per 10 yr). In last 10 years here, I had not taken tetanus shot so I took one.

So don't worry if you don't have any records of vaccination ask the civil surgeon to verify from your blood report. HTH

[gkjppp]

I didn't have any records of vaccination either but I knew I had most of the vaccines needed. I told my Dr(Civil surgeon) the same and asked him if he can verify that from my blood report? He said, surely that can be done. He asked me to go to a lab and gave me a work order asking the lab to report whether I was vaccinated for MMR, Varicella etc that is needed for I-693. The report confirmed that I was vaccinated for it and hence I didn't have to be vaccinated again. The two shots I had to take was flu shot (according to him one has to take 1 per year) and Tetanus shot ( 1 per 10 yr). In last 10 years here, I had not taken tetanus shot so I took one.

So don't worry if you don't have any records of vaccination ask the civil surgeon to verify from your blood report. HTH

Thanks for quick reply.

[imdeng]

This is my summary of medical test experience. Go with one of the Urgent Care providers (Concentra in WI). They do many such cases, have fixed rates and appointments are available at short notice. During appointment, if you don't want the Vericella vaccine - then just say that you had ChickenPox - they accept a verbal confirmation in that case. You can take the shots with them or at your PCP - your PCP may be able to bill to your insurance depending upon your plan.

My cost: $191 for Civil Surgeon appointment, they asked me to get MMR, TDAP, Vericella and Flu vaccines. I will be going to my PCP for those.

[zenmaster]

Here is my medical test experience :

Went to doc's office with vaccination records (I had MMR/DT/HepB records). I had chicken pox when i was a kid, and said the same to doc. He accepted that. Had to take Seasonal Flu Shot. and TB PPD test. Test came negative on day3 and was given signed and sealed envelope. Total Cost $275 all inclusive for me. Doc did not accept insurance for Immigration Medical Exams !

For wife, she had a positive TB test. So we went for Xray today. Will get the xray report on monday. and then i think we just go there to pick up the forms after signing it.

[balac_2009]

Gurus...Have a question. I moved to CA an year back but because of uncertainty I dint take CA license yet but while filling form 693 form doctor used my out of state license as id and updated the form. Is this anything that needs to be worried?
Thanks.

[Pundit Arjun]

Nothing to worry. They just need a proof of identity. Even a foreign passport would be fine. The out of state license is not an issue

Gurus...Have a question. I moved to CA an year back but because of uncertainty I dint take CA license yet but while filling form 693 form doctor used my out of state license as id and updated the form. Is this anything that needs to be worried?
Thanks.

[balac_2009]

Nothing to worry. They just need a proof of identity. Even a foreign passport would be fine. The out of state license is not an issue

Thanks Arjun..

[satishdan]

Hi,
Thanks for all the information posts. My PD is current & went for I693. Recently 1 week back, during normal routine check-up; i took a varicella shot for safeside. Today, immigartion doctor listed "VH history" for Varicella and listed shot date as Jan12, 2012 on I693 form(When i took the shot). So is this OK, to list "VH History" & shot date. Because, i am assuming i need to list 2 shot dates if at all or is it OK to list VH history & only 1 shot date (i havent taken the 2nd one).

or Shall i need to ask the immigration doctor to remove the shot date & only keep the "VH history".

Any help would be great.

[gc0907]

Not sure what that VH is. I didn't even notice before. Did you tell the doctor you had chickenpox before? If you said yes, may be that's the reason for VH.
In any case I wouldn't worry about that as long as doctor has marked "Vaccine history complete for each vaccine, all requirements met"

Hi,
Thanks for all the information posts. My PD is current & went for I693. Recently 1 week back, during normal routine check-up; i took a varicella shot for safeside. Today, immigartion doctor listed "VH history" for Varicella and listed shot date as Jan12, 2012 on I693 form(When i took the shot). So is this OK, to list "VH History" & shot date. Because, i am assuming i need to list 2 shot dates if at all or is it OK to list VH history & only 1 shot date (i havent taken the 2nd one).

or Shall i need to ask the immigration doctor to remove the shot date & only keep the "VH history".

Any help would be great.

[satishdan]

Hi,
Thanks for the reply. I mean VH=Varicella History. As long as doctor lists "VH", it doesnt matter with shots correct.

[gc0907]

I will check what my CS entered but I wouldn't worry since you already had the shot record.
I didn't even take shot but I had lab test that I am immune.

Hi,
Thanks for the reply. I mean VH=Varicella History. As long as doctor lists "VH", it doesnt matter with shots correct.

[Pedro Gonzales]

For teh PHX area, I recommend Dr. Uma Sopori in Tempe as a civil surgeon who understands this process and makes it quick and easy.

[gc0907]

Here's someone who got Vaccination related RFE - source trackitt:

I received RFE regarding vaccinations saying that I need to receive 2 doses of Varicella where as the doctor gave me only one dose and RFE is referring to change in immunization requirements per 02/04/2011 advisory from CDC.

http://www.trackitt.com/uk-discussio...important-info

[cricfan]

Hi,

Does anyone know a good civil surgeon in Omaha,NE area who charges reasonably. (It will be good if he or she covers vaccinations too)

[Pundit Arjun]

Hi Cricfan,

You can go to any USCIS approved civil surgeon. In my case (for my own satisfaction), I went to the civil surgeon who handles lot of I-693 traffic - Concentra Medical Center (http://maps.concentra.com/corporate/).They have locations in Omaha, NE too. You have to call them up, get the name of the civil surgeon for immigration medicals and then crosscheck the name with the USCIS site.
They charge $191.50 per adult and $151.50 per child.
But if you take vaccines with them, they rip you off. Hence Go to a approved civil surgeon, get the list of vaccines and call your PCP and tell them you want them ASAP.

Hi,

Does anyone know a good civil surgeon in Omaha,NE area who charges reasonably. (It will be good if he or she covers vaccinations too)

[cricfan]

Thanks Pundit !!

[imdeng]

Just want to put in a good word here for Concentra. I got my I-693 done from them and it was an all around great experience. My How-To guide:

1. Concentra has fixed prices and they are up front about it. They will not bill your insurance but the rates are cheap enough for you to not worry too much. ($191 for Civil Surgeon appointment and TB Test and Blood Test, $65 for X-Ray if your TB test comes up positive - Don't get anything else done there. Tell them you have had Chicken Pox when you were a kid, they only require your oral confirmation)
2. Go to your regular doctor for getting required vaccinations, if needed. If you mentioned that you have already had Chicken Pox then you don't need Vericella. You will need MMR and TDAP - both of these should be covered by your insurance.
3. In case your doctor or your insurance has issues, call your local Country Health Clinic and take an appointment to get MMR and TDAP - they are free (or nominal charge) there. You just might need to wait a bit.

The good thing about Concentra is that they do a LOT of these cases so all the nurses and doctors are very familiar with the process. Best of luck everyone.

Update: The civil surgeon will ask you to get a Flu shot as well. However, it is optional and you don't have to take it if you don't want to - so if you don't want to then just tell them and they will not insist on it.

[gc0907]

U.S. HealthWorks where I got done charged $120/person.
But similar to imdeng....their vaccination cost is high as they don't accept insurance and basically they are into Urgent Care and other kind of stuff like blood tests, etc.
And I think they have Walk-in Welcome and also easy appointments.

[kuku82]

So if I have the necessary vaccinations (either through titer test results or actual vaccination records), then is it that the CS checks for TB and Syphilis? (in addition to routine physical checkup)

U.S. HealthWorks where I got done charged $120/person.
But similar to imdeng....their vaccination cost is high as they don't accept insurance and basically they are into Urgent Care and other kind of stuff like blood tests, etc.
And I think they have Walk-in Welcome and also easy appointments.

[gc0907]

Check the page 5 of the I693 form. CS will enter approriate details in that for the vaccinations records you have.
In any case CS will do a TB test.

So if I have the necessary vaccinations (either through titer test results or actual vaccination records), then is it that the CS checks for TB and Syphilis? (in addition to routine physical checkup)

[garihc27]

Gurus,

My wife's TB skin test came back positive and chest xray came back negative. Based on what I have read at USCIS website,the civil surgeon can sign the I-693 form based on negative chest xray. However the civil surgeon is asking us to go to a local health department and get an evaluation done and possibility take medication to treat latent TB (class B). Reading through the forums going to health department could trigger an RFE. Has anyone experienced this before? I am in Atlanta and thinking of switching the civil surgeon.

Thanks,

[qesehmk]

garihc27

I can share our experience -- see if that helps. My wife's test came positive too. Some of our doctor friends said it is not unsual for Indians to get false positive test. So we were asked to get chest xray done. That turned out clear. So the civil surgeon used that and gave that to us in a sealed document that we submitted. No issues after that.

Perhaps the doctors on this forum can help you better. But hopefully this will at least give you some pointers. Good luck.

Gurus,

My wife's TB skin test came back positive and chest xray came back negative. Based on what I have read at USCIS website,the civil surgeon can sign the I-693 form based on negative chest xray. However the civil surgeon is asking us to go to a local health department and get an evaluation done and possibility take medication to treat latent TB (class B). Reading through the forums going to health department could trigger an RFE. Has anyone experienced this before? I am in Atlanta and thinking of switching the civil surgeon.

Thanks,

[seattlet]

Changing doctor would be a better choice. Find an Indian doctor who is familiar with the TB false positives for sub continent folks might help

I recently did my medicals and dreaded the ton of vaccinations / tests which need to be taken. However I finally had to take only 1 vaccination (DPT)
and my TB test came negative (even though I do not have vaccination records).

My Doc took blood samples and tested them for available anti bodies to the various diseases in order to prove that I already have immunity to many of the mentioned diseases requiring vaccinations in I 693. I was able to prevent chicken pox, MMR and one more vaccine due to that (It is also cheaper to test than to take the vaccines) The rest of vaccines were not appropriate to my age group (30 - 35) . (My civil surgeon does a ton of cases a day for Microsoft, so I do not doubt his judgement) Infact when I was with him, one of the
attorneys called and asked why he did not give Hep B vaccine to his client. Looks like CDC only mandates many of those vaccines for specific age groups.