Do I need an updated I693 form if my interview is over a yr since it was las issued?

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

I personally think they should just do the blood test on immigrants since most of us had BCG. It's a waste of money to go back and pay for x-ray just to prove we don't have TB. Medical exam is already expensive. Luckily for me, my test didn't show positive even though I had BCG as a baby.

Well, the Civil Surgeon is supposed to recognize that the immigrant has had the BCG vaccine. Then, you move on to the blood test. I see the rationale behind that, but it's the CDC who lays out all the algorithms and affordability is a factor. See screenshot below. That's from the CDC.

That's why people should read the I-693 instructions, too. Then they would know to tell the doctor - hey, I got the BCG, shouldn't you go straight for the blood test?

[josger]

Well, the Civil Surgeon is supposed to recognize that the immigrant has had the BCG vaccine. Then, you move on to the blood test. I see the rationale behind that, but it's the CDC who lays out all the algorithms and affordability is a factor. See screenshot below. That's from the CDC.

That's why people should read the I-693 instructions, too. Then they would know to tell the doctor - hey, I got the BCG, shouldn't you go straight for the blood test?

I ended up getting a new medical. I talked to my lawyer and she was adamant about me getting a new one. I even send here a link to the USCIS site. Im down $150 which is not a lot. At this point, I want to get the interview done and ask the IO about the 693 policy just to prove her wrong. Kinda petty but maybe the next time she wont force other people to get a new one in the future. I guess Im taking one for the team.

During the medical, I only had a skin TD test performed.

[kaylip]

Well, the Civil Surgeon is supposed to recognize that the immigrant has had the BCG vaccine. Then, you move on to the blood test. I see the rationale behind that, but it's the CDC who lays out all the algorithms and affordability is a factor. See screenshot below. That's from the CDC.

That's why people should read the I-693 instructions, too. Then they would know to tell the doctor - hey, I got the BCG, shouldn't you go straight for the blood test?

I had informed the nurse of my BCG vaccine as I was advised by my relative whom is also a nurse. Unfortunately, the older/ senior nurse didn't listen and continued to instruct the younger one to do the skin test on me. After that I was pumped with a large syringe in my upper left arm(which left a bump and hurt for a week) and the nurse accidentally bored herself. The senior nurse told me because of this they have to do HIV/AIDS test on me because it's hospital protocol. Smh.
I wonder if they will ever call me to give me the results. 😒

[Tezza]

I had the blood test for TB. The physician I went to don't even bother to do a TST because of the risk of false positives, as many people outside of the US had BCG. I had one when I was in school, so I specifically told the nurse about it. She said they just automatically do the blood test and not the TST. It's also worth it because you don't have to come back after 48-72 hours to have it checked, because the blood test is enough.

Since they're taking blood to test for STDs anyway, they might as well take a little more to send for TB testing. I had my results sealed and in hand 4 days after the appointment,

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

I had informed the nurse of my BCG vaccine as I was advised by my relative whom is also a nurse. Unfortunately, the older/ senior nurse didn't listen and continued to instruct the younger one to do the skin test on me. After that I was pumped with a large syringe in my upper left arm(which left a bump and hurt for a week) and the nurse accidentally bored herself. The senior nurse told me because of this they have to do HIV/AIDS test on me because it's hospital protocol. Smh.
I wonder if they will ever call me to give me the results. 😒

Yeah, I don't let newbies practice on me. I can smell them from miles away.
The BCG vaccine has, of course, evolved/mutated over time into many different strains. It may or may not cause a false positive skin test. It's not wrong to go straight to the blood test if the patient has no issues affording it.

[hfma92]

Thanks for the info. I hope they dont. I have the cash to spend but would hate it to go to waste.

I just had my interview this morning at 7:15am, IO could not make a decision because my medical exam expired on June 7th. So if I were you, get a new medical exam while you still have time before your interview and to avoid delays. Especially now that the field offices are back logged. So idk how long will it take for them to issue my green card Just try to find the cheapest doctor possible. I?m so pissed cos I even called USCIS about this and now the IO said otherwise

[josger]

I just had my interview this morning at 7:15am, IO could not make a decision because my medical exam expired on June 7th. So if I were you, get a new medical exam while you still have time before your interview and to avoid delays. Especially now that the field offices are back logged. So idk how long will it take for them to issue my green card Just try to find the cheapest doctor possible. I?m so pissed cos I even called USCIS about this and now the IO said otherwise

Thank for letting me know. I read your post history and it looks like your PD is 6/9/2017, correct?

I ended up getting a new one just in case, found a doctor that charged $150 which is pretty affordable.

[hfma92]

Thank for letting me know. I read your post history and it looks like your PD is 6/9/2017, correct?

I ended up getting a new one just in case, found a doctor that charged $150 which is pretty affordable.

What’s your PD? My I693 was received on 6/7/17 so it expired on 6/7/18. Day 1 starts on the date USCIS received your packet then count 1 year from there.

[josger]

What?s your PD? My I693 was received on 6/7/17 so it expired on 6/7/18. Day 1 starts on the date USCIS received your packet then count 1 year from there.

My PD is on 8/16. I am having my inteview on 7/18. My lawyer was adamant about me getting it so I just got one. I will talk to the IO during my inteview for a definitive answer. I think my lawyer just made me waste my money. I want to prove her wrong at this point...

[kathcali]

SFV Timeline

I just had my interview this morning at 7:15am, IO could not make a decision because my medical exam expired on June 7th. So if I were you, get a new medical exam while you still have time before your interview and to avoid delays. Especially now that the field offices are back logged. So idk how long will it take for them to issue my green card Just try to find the cheapest doctor possible. I?m so pissed cos I even called USCIS about this and now the IO said otherwise

Hi! I think you said your field office is SFV and PD June 2017? Was it marriage based AOS? If so, that would put the processing time at about 12.5-13.5 months? I filed AOS Sep 17 through marriage and will be at SFV so am trying to find out their actual timeline (as the USCIS official times are ridiculous). Thanks so much! Sorry about the new exam. If you need an affordable and good USCIS doctor, Dr Asher Ram in Van Nuys did mine and was under $200 without vaccines

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

My PD is on 8/16. I am having my inteview on 7/18. My lawyer was adamant about me getting it so I just got one. I will talk to the IO during my inteview for a definitive answer. I think my lawyer just made me waste my money. I want to prove her wrong at this point...

Unfortunately, your I-693 is expired. If timed carefully, it can be valid for up to 2 years. You have 1 year to submit it from the date it was completed. Then it remains valid for another year from the date that USCIS receives it - for adjudication purposes. If you send it right away, which you did, then you used up that initial one year window right away. For those with slow field offices, it's best to just wait until the interview is scheduled.

I would not wait for the interview to ask the ISO. They do have some wiggle room if it's expired by a few days, but still you do not want to put the ISO in an awkward position. They're there to enforce the rules. I would just get a new one, and tell everyone you know to wait until the interview is scheduled.