Hi all,

My friendly attempts to connect with others going through this process have brought notice that a new thread is needed. So, go on, share your journey with us! Vent, complain, and connect!

Currently for me, my (disabled) husband's medical at Knightsbridge is this coming Wednesday (June 3). I'm trying really hard not to freak out about it. I've had a reasonably difficult time finding any other experiences/reviews from others who have had a visa medical with on-going medical conditions. I have spent a considerable amount of time and money collecting letters and documents from his various specialist doctors and information from past surgeries/procedures. Reviews I've come across regarding prior medical conditions have been mostly for prior drug use or depression, and have not been incredibly helpful other than saying "bring letters about your condition." I feel reasonably well about the information we have, but I've e-mailed the office in the event they suggest anything else. At least we have started the process early enough that we have time if his results are delayed.

As a side note, I'm curious how many of you have actually gotten any e-mails from the Embassy per document submission or approval? I submitted the e-notification form with my husband's I-130, but never received any e-mail updates.

Anyway, much luck to everyone on their journeys!

Hi

So far for us things are going according to expectations, nothing much to complain about but then we're at the very early stages. We submitted the I-130 which has now been approved, well within the time expected.

We didn't get an email notification which we requested but tbh we didn't expect one given that most people here on BE didn't get one either from the posts that I've read.

So, so far so good but that may change

Good luck with your situation, hoping it all works out for you.

As you know, I have just finished the entire process. I honestly don't think that you have too much to worry about with your husband. I may be wrong here, but my impression with the medical was that they were very much looking for particular things that would potentially make someone inadmissible ... drugs, communicable diseases and mental health conditions with associated risk of harm to self or others.

The only time I can foresee your husband's condition MAY come into consideration would be the issue of public charge but that wouldn't be something for concern at the medical. It would be at interview, if at all, that they may ask about how his condition affects his ability to support himself. As long as you can meet the financial requirement at interview, I don't know that it will be a problem.

That's why a financial sponsor is always required.


There is no requirement whatsoever that the alien spouse be able to support himself or anyone else. That's why there's a financial sponsor.


Yes, I agree.

Ian

...And our joint (financial) sponsor does meet the requirements they've outlined. If they, for whatever reason, decide that due to his health the sponsor needs "additional financial resources to cover unexpected medical bills" then it's like you can only speculate what they might want to see in that case. I only mention it because I've read in other forums where others have suggested that they might bring that up. With that said, it seems entirely unlikely that such an arbitrary thing would occur.

JPROPS, was it a male doctor you saw by chance? It seems that they only have one doctor who does these visa medicals at that office.

The sponsor or joint sponsor doesn't have to show they will cover "unexpected medical bills", unless the Immigrant is using means tested benefits.

Rene

Thank you for that Rene!

Question!

I'm looking ahead in the process to getting my spouse health insurance in the US. Does anyone know when you get the Alien ID/SSN after entering? Is there a number associated with your visa they can use? It's just something I want to do as soon as possible and I'm trying to figure out when that actually is...

Thanks!
Sarah

The non-USC will be assigned an Alien Number (often referred to as "A#") when USCIS first opens a file on them, so in your husband's case most likely when the I-130 is processed. I can't remember personally the first communication from USCIS that referred to it, but it will definitely appear on the Immigrant Visa.

For a Social Security Number, this can be requested to be issued on immigration to the US by checking a box on the immigrant visa application form (the paper DS-160 form in my day, now the DS-260 electronic form I believe) but whether the Customs and Border Protection officer who processes your husband on arrival to the US actually notices and does so is very much the luck of the draw.

The usual advice is to wait a minimum of ten working days after arriving to ensure that the applicant is registered as a Lawful Permanent Resident on the immigration system that the Social Security Administration use to verify status and then go to a local SSA office to see if the number has been issued.

Hubby can't get a SS# until he is actually in the US. Ticking the checkbox on the application is often hit and miss - so it may simply be easier to wait 10 business days after he enters the US and then go to the SSA office and complete form SS-5. He can often get the number within a day of applying, although it'll probably take a week or so to get the card in the mail.

Ian

Thanks guys! The insurance agent just mentioned needing his greencard which wasn't entirely helpful. Assuming our interview goes well we will endeavour to go to the SS office 2 weeks after we arrive. We did check yes on the ds260 online form for issuance of a ssn, but I'm guessing even if you just go yourself after ticking that the worst that would happen is you'd get two cards?

You really don't want that to happen... because he'll likely get two different numbers and then have to sort that out.

Note: if you go to the SSA office too soon and his info isn't yet in the SAVE system, they'll have to manually verify his immigration status and that could take 8-10 weeks.

Ian

LOL right. So you're better off waiting anyway! We were planning on bringing enough supplies with us for a month or two anyway, but gosh. That's sounding like another mess of the system...

Bear in mind that the actual plastic green card won't turn up for some weeks, possibly months, BUT the immigrant visa, once it's "endorsed" with the entry stamp the CBP officer will put next to it, IS a temporary green card valid for a year from date of entry. Hopefully it won't be an issue for the indurance but be prepared!

At least ten working days, which isn't necessarily the same as two weeks!

When you go to the SSA, they should be able to confirm he's on the SAVE system, and whether he's been assigned a number. They used to be able to issue a letter with the number if it's assigned but there's been reports that they won't do that any more. If he's on SAVE but no SSN, he should be safe to file an SS-5 without risking a duplicate being assigned and the card with the number should turn up a week or two later.

Apparently, the "visa printing machine" or "something" is down at the London US Embassy...

Immigrant Visas | Embassy of the United States

I'm wondering if they aren't scheduling interviews until they're able to print visas again? We've not received an interview date yet, and it's rather disheartening when I look on here and see that (recently) some people got their interview dates days after their medical results were passed on to the Embassy. Just more hurry up and wait!

Who else is waiting with me? I know amariedavies is still waiting on their visa to be couriered back to them. Here's hoping they get it sorted soon!