Medical Exams

rkm · Jun 28, 2007

Good for you! It's nice to know you're way ahead of everyone else who are still on CP here in the PI. AOS really works as you have shown us. Maybe we should all be getting tourist visas too, so we can be just as lucky as you. Good luck!

RNGrad2006 · Jun 28, 2007

Good for you! It's nice to know you're way ahead of everyone else who are still on CP here in the PI. AOS really works as you have shown us. Maybe we should all be getting tourist visas too, so we can be just as lucky as you. Good luck!

I didn't know you could do AOS from a tourist visa. I am actually on a non-immigrant visa here in the US... and yes I am lucky. But I think it also really depends on who your attorney is. It seems many of dropped the ball for their clients but mine has done a great job of keeping me informed and getting things done in time in order to apply. They were proceeding with documentation during retrogression in order be ready when an opportunity presented as it is now. But this medical exam was more difficult than I anticipated. Getting everything ready to apply was an amazing amount of work and I don't think those that have never been through this process have any clue. Gives me a lot more appreciation for immigrants.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 29, 2007

The tourist visa is actually not the way to go for getting a job in the US. It is being watched very closely right now, especially for the number that have come and have overstayed visas waiting for things to open up. If the visa is overstayed, then no petitioning can get done, the visa needs to be current.

The AOS has always been more for those in the US under another visa or that went to school here. Not for those to come here as a tourist with the idea of staying. That is actually against the law.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 29, 2007

I just found out today that USCIS will not accept any I-140 applications without the medical exam complete. This was just announced to my attorney from USCIS today. This is new. I imagine because they are expecting a flood of applications they want them to be complete.
Thankfully I just completed mine but it was hard to get it done. The closest physician I could do it through in time for July 2 was 2 hours away from my home and I ended up having to make the trip 3 times. The first time for the medical exam, 2nd time for TB check, and then noticed an error and had to make an additional trip today to get it corrected. I imagine I am not the only one who had difficulty getting the medical exam done in time.

Glad to hear that they are requiring that now. And glad to hear that you got it done in time.

If you would have had the required things done before, then you would have only had to make one trip in most cases. The TB skin test can be done beforehand by the county board of health where you are living, it does not need to be done at the same time as the exam. Same thing with the chest x-ray, etc.

With all of the increased demand on getting anything done for immigration this month, there are going to be many that will be delayed. Hope that this will help them getting things done before the exam appt.

Please keep us posted.:balloons:

RNGrad2006 · Jun 29, 2007

Glad to hear that they are requiring that now. And glad to hear that you got it done in time.
If you would have had the required things done before, then you would have only had to make one trip in most cases. The TB skin test can be done beforehand by the county board of health where you are living, it does not need to be done at the same time as the exam. Same thing with the chest x-ray, etc.
With all of the increased demand on getting anything done for immigration this month, there are going to be many that will be delayed. Hope that this will help them getting things done before the exam appt.
Please keep us posted.:balloons:

Suzanne,

Kind of too late for us now but the reason I posted here is to state my experience in hopes that others will avoid my mistakes. I actually did not have to do the TB skin test as I had one done at work within the last year but my family members had to do it. On the information we received they expressly stated not to go ahead and do anything until the exam since I suppose some do vaccinations that are actually not required so we followed that but in retrospect it would have been good to do the TB skin tests and then we would have done it all in one visit. However, there is still lab work that must be done and we had to pick up our paperwork due to the short turn around time we were dealing with. In the end I still feel very fortunate to have finished everything on time largely due to good practices from our attorney. I met someone at the physicians office today that has been waiting for years for his green card and it sounds like it is due to his attorney waiting to file and then retrogression hit and then nothing got done for years. He is on H-1B and has been in the US for almost 6 years already.

Thanks for you post about the visitors visa not being the correct process. That was my gut feeling as well as the visitors visa is not meant to have the intent to stay in the US. However, it seems some are not correctly informed or do not follow the correct process. My husband and I are very cautious and meticulous about following every little detail correctly and so far it has served us well. We are very excited about being able to file next week.

knight rider · Jun 29, 2007

I want to be sure if those medical exams r now required for i-140 or by mistake u mentioned it instead of i-485.If its for i-140 will it affect those who r waiting for the approval.?

RNGrad2006 · Jun 30, 2007

I want to be sure if those medical exams r now required for i-140 or by mistake u mentioned it instead of i-485.If its for i-140 will it affect those who r waiting for the approval.?

I understood it is only for new applications and won't effect those who have already applied. But that has all changed again since the announcement on June 29 that no applicatons are going to be accepted July 2 as promised. This is unprecedented but hopefully some clarity will be given either July 2 or July 3 on the plans.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 30, 2007

Difference in requirements for those that are in the US and will be going thru AOS procedures versus those that are going thru Consular Processing. The only petition that is the same is the I-140, and then everything to follow is different.

For those going thru Consular Processing, you do not do the medical until just before your interview.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 30, 2007

Suzanne,
Kind of too late for us now but the reason I posted here is to state my experience in hopes that others will avoid my mistakes. I actually did not have to do the TB skin test as I had one done at work within the last year but my family members had to do it. On the information we received they expressly stated not to go ahead and do anything until the exam since I suppose some do vaccinations that are actually not required so we followed that but in retrospect it would have been good to do the TB skin tests and then we would have done it all in one visit. However, there is still lab work that must be done and we had to pick up our paperwork due to the short turn around time we were dealing with. In the end I still feel very fortunate to have finished everything on time largely due to good practices from our attorney. I met someone at the physicians office today that has been waiting for years for his green card and it sounds like it is due to his attorney waiting to file and then retrogression hit and then nothing got done for years. He is on H-1B and has been in the US for almost 6 years already.
Thanks for you post about the visitors visa not being the correct process. That was my gut feeling as well as the visitors visa is not meant to have the intent to stay in the US. However, it seems some are not correctly informed or do not follow the correct process. My husband and I are very cautious and meticulous about following every little detail correctly and so far it has served us well. We are very excited about being able to file next week.

You are very lucky to have an attorney like the one that you have. When there is not the rush like this, I usually have told my friends to get the lab work done the week before it is really required. Many just go to their physicians to get it done, and then have the results with them. The acutual paperwork for immigration needs to be completed by a physician approved by them, but anyone can order the lab work that is required. As well as the CXR that is required. There is actually a list of the required labwork and the vaccinations that are required, or you can check with the office beforehand to get the information that they will need and bring it with you.

It is actually the same vaccinations that any nurse goes thru for starting employment in a hospital, only difference is that for immigraiton you also need to have a CXR, not just the Mantoux skin test.

Hathaway · Jun 30, 2007

Yeah, ur lucky man. That and considering you've already passed the 10 business day posting requirement and 30 day waiting period after that before any I140 can be started..(the part required for Schedule A labor certification)?

suzanne4, RN · Jun 30, 2007

This is what has been mentioned over and over again; thanks for bringing it up again. The fact that filing of the I-140 is not an instantaneous process, there are certain procedures that need to be followed and it takes about a month at the very minimum to meet the requirements for it.

The medical exam requirements can change at any time, but for those of you that are reading this thread, this specific only for those wishing to go thru the AOS procedure and are already in the US. The I-140 has not been under retrogression in the first place, only the subsequent petitions have been on hold.