Medical clearance?

[lfcunha]

Hello,
I jus got married a couple of weeks ago and me and my wife are in the process of filling the GC petition for me, ajustment of status, work permit and advance parole forms. I'm in a bit of a rush because my H1b expires at the end of August, so I hope to get the work permit before then.

My question is the following: Do I need to submit the medical clearance at this time? I'm waiting for my vaccination card to be sent from abroad, before I go to the doctor later this week. I dont know how long the medical clearance will take, but can I start the GC process (forms I-130, I-485, I-765 and I-131) without it, or should I wait for medical clearance? In case I can start the process immediately, is the work permit dependent on the medical clearance?

Thank you in advance for you help,
Lfcunha

[cogar]

I have the same Q

well I have the same Qs as med exam take some time n I wud like to know the answer.....but here is a link from the same form...may be it will help u

http://www.immihelp.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26119

may be we can stay in contact with each other...

all the best

[Nini]

The medical clearance was very fast and easy for me.

First appointment, the doctor made a copy of my vaccination records, took blood for an HIV test, and did a TB skin test. If I had not had my vaccination records with me she would have given me two shots on top of this.

Then I had to come back four days later to get my TB reaction checked. As mine did not show TB infection she filled in the papers right away and sealed the envelope. Fast!

I went to a big Korean medical center near where I live, and that's all they do all day, so maybe things would be different somewhere else, but I was under the impression that as long as you are not HIV or TB positive, you are good. She did not even do a physical check-up at all. If I were you I would not worry about this too much.

[TrueBrit]

You may not need the Medical until the initial interview

I underook my medical before we sent in the submissions so I just sent in the sealed copy with our initial application.

I think you have two choices:

1) Get the medical now and pay for the extra shots you may already have had a few years ago (which will be confirmed on the vaccination card you're waiting to receive from abroad). When I had my medical, I'd actually had chicken pox or measles or mumps or whatever when I was a child, but the doc decided this wasn't good enough and vaccinated me against it anyway, despite my being technically imune from it because I'd already had it. I think each shot was about $75.

2) Submit your application without the medical. Make sure you're confident that you'll get your vaccination card in the near future so you can go do the medical in the next 30-45 days. I noticed on the Initial Interview notice that one of the items on the list of things to bring was the sealed medical exam form (if not already submitted with the I-485 application), so it appears you could submit the forms without the medical form and hand it over at the Adjustment of Status initial interview.

[lfcunha]

Medical clearance?

Thank you so much for your answers. So I went today to the doctor without the vaccination card. I'm supposed to go back to get the results on thursday. If the vaccination card arrives in the mail meanwhile, great, I'll bring it, otherwise, I'll have to get any shots the doc finds necessary (It seems they can tell from the blood tests which immunizations I've had). I already schedulled an appoitment for tomorrow with my primary care physician (cheaper) to get the tet**** shot, which I know I need for sure.

I'd like to post two other questions to the people that successfully went through the process:
1) How did you arranged all documents. For instance, do you staple all pages of each form (I-130, I-485, etc)?
Do you clip all the supporting documents separately for the petition, the AOS, the EOD and AP?

2) When I consulted with a lawyer, he asked for both our tax returns for the previous 3 years (not joit, we just got married last week). Howeverr, I've decided to do this on my own, and I don't see a request for my tax return anywhere (only my wife's). I've been in the US for almost 6 years on a H1b visa - do I need to send my own tax returns? I'd prefer not to send them if I don't have to, because I'd have to explain why in 2004 I got paid from a source other than my authorized employer (actually that employer paid me from a different source)

Cogar, sure, that's a good idea. I'll let you know what I find out as I go along the process.

[salvador]

To Ifcunha

Thank you so much for your answers. So I went today to the doctor without the vaccination card. I'm supposed to go back to get the results on thursday. If the vaccination card arrives in the mail meanwhile, great, I'll bring it, otherwise, I'll have to get any shots the doc finds necessary (It seems they can tell from the blood tests which immunizations I've had). I already schedulled an appoitment for tomorrow with my primary care physician (cheaper) to get the tet**** shot, which I know I need for sure.

I'd like to post two other questions to the people that successfully went through the process:
1) How did you arranged all documents. For instance, do you staple all pages of each form (I-130, I-485, etc)?
Do you clip all the supporting documents separately for the petition, the AOS, the EOD and AP?

2) When I consulted with a lawyer, he asked for both our tax returns for the previous 3 years (not joit, we just got married last week). Howeverr, I've decided to do this on my own, and I don't see a request for my tax return anywhere (only my wife's). I've been in the US for almost 6 years on a H1b visa - do I need to send my own tax returns? I'd prefer not to send them if I don't have to, because I'd have to explain why in 2004 I got paid from a source other than my authorized employer (actually that employer paid me from a different source)

Cogar, sure, that's a good idea. I'll let you know what I find out as I go along the process.

Hi there,
1) I didn't staple the pages. I think it's better for them to arrange it their way when it gets there. I put every document and supporting evidence following each form in which they were requested. I also made photocopies of everything which was very helpful.
2) You are right, one your spouse needs to send her three last year income tax return. Your joint tax return will be asked for the initial interview. Anyway since you just got married you don't need to worry about that now. Just make sure you file it together next year.
All the best!

[lfcunha]

update

So, updating this thread which might be of use to someone else in the future, it turns out I could have walked out of the doctors office today with the documents, even though I didn't have the vaccination card. The lab blood results showed what immunizations I needed. It turns out I need a shot for measles, which I could have got on the spot for $85, but I chose to go get it for free from my primary care physician and go back on Monday with proof.


Another question about this process: Some documents are required in more than one place. For instance, copy of I-94, or passport for identification purposes. In the case of concurrent filing (I-130, I-485, I-131, I-765), do these need to be repeated as requested in several forms (probably having in mind separate filing) or only one for the whole package is enough?

Thank you again for all your offer. This forum is great.