How I spent my May 19th

Today was my appointment to have my medical exam for my immigration application.  I was a bit nervous about it because I’ve heard wildly varying tales of what the exam consists of, but I knew it was something I had to go through.  When I made my appointment the woman on the phone told me I had to pay $80 “cash”, but I just interpreted that in my head as “you have to pay at the time of service”, so wasn’t I surprised when I really had to bring cash?!  They wouldn’t even see me until Flippy ran down the street to an ATM machine to get their “cash”.  No cheques, credit cards, or debit cards—just paper money.

I was in the waiting room with a woman immigrating from Poland, and a man who seemed to be Czech or Slovakian (I’m guessing this based on his name).  The woman went in first and was out again in five minutes, so I happily thought the exam would be a piece of cake.  Ah, ignorance is bliss.  When I was called back, I went into an exam room where a nurse asked me if I’d ever had cancer or any blood disorders, and also asked if I’d been diagnosed with or treated for HIV or syphillis.  Uh, I answered “no”.  I was asked if I’d had chicken pox, to which I answered “yes”.  She also asked if I’d ever had a positive TB skin test, to which I also answered in the negative.  She then took me to another room, and I thought I was going to see the doctor, but I was being sent to a lab where I had to have blood drawn (two tubes, two needle sticks required because she couldn’t find a vein), and I also had to have a TB skin test.  Covered in tape and bandages, I was then sure I was going to see the doctor, but instead I have to go back on Monday!  On Monday they’ll read my skin test results and the doctor will ask me “some questions”.  I’m sure we’ll have a blast.

Complicating matters, I was told I needed to provide my childhood/school immunization records, which I couldn’t find anywhere.  I was able to show that I had a scar from a polio vaccine, and I thought that would anedotally demonstrate that I’d had childhood vaccinations, but it didn’t.  I was told that I had to go down to public health, TODAY, to have MMR and Tetanus/Diptheria vaccines.  For some reason, these had to be done on the same day as the TB skin test, which they’d already done without telling me about the vaccinations.  So, Flippy and I got back into the car and drove another few miles to Public Health, the building with no parking.  We had to park fairly far away (“far” being relative to the outside temperature), and when we got inside it was insanely crowded.  The line stretched all the way down a hallway, and the “Immunizations” section was poorly labeled, so I wasted time trying to figure out what I was supposed to do.  I just sat in what I thought was “the line” for a while, but then Flippy realized I was supposed to go get a clipboard and paperwork from a basket, and stand in another line.  There were no detailed signs telling you what order to do things in, or even what to fill out—I saw one woman get to the front of the line to be told she’d filled out the paperwork for travel vaccinations, not immigration vaccinations, so she had to go back and fill out a different colour of form.  Some forms were in English and some were in Spanish.  All signs were in either English/Spanish or Spanish-only, which was sort of disorienting, especially when I was trying to find a sign with instructions on it.  There seemed to be double the text on the wall, yet half the necessary information.

We finally got to the front of the line where a cheerful, courteous man (not) took my paperwork.  He then sent me to the cashier’s window, where my two vaccinations cost $96!  It seemed outrageous to me, and again I wondered how poor immigrants come up with the money for these things.  I saw parents standing in line with three kids—if they each needed just two vaccinations, it would cost them about $500.  Anyway, I then had to take my receipt to Mr. Congeniality, and then I went and sat in a waiting area to be called by a nurse.  Surprisingly, I was called quite quickly and before a lot of other people, so the nurses must specialize in certain types of vaccines.  I was in and out of the office in about 90 seconds.

One day, four hours, $176, and five skin punctures later, I’m finally home.  I go back to the doctor on Monday, and I might have to go back to Public Health for an MMR booster in June, blech.  I think the immigration process is designed to test your endurance and your wallet.

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 05/19 at 10:07 PM

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  1. No kidding, all this for the privilege of living in the US? Yikes! I’m assuming you’re applying for permanent status, or something. I’m the only American in my immediate family - was born here. I have a brother in Chicago, he’s a chronic grad student and is here in a student visa.
    Maybe the NSA is filming the whole application process and that’s part of the test. Haha. I’d hate to be a non-English speaker and go through all that, my bro said what he had to fill out and go through just to be a student here was a bit daunting.
    I wonder if they’d let me in? I have an immediate & dramatic response to the TB skin prick. Spent part of my childhood living in the middle east & mediterranean, prolly picked it up and have a good immunity now.

    Posted by Carina  on  05/21  at  04:07 PM

  2. Yes, I’m applying for my Green card—I’ve only been waiting for 15 years :)  I’ve been here before on a temporary H1-B work permit which is only good for five years. I wanted to try the student visa route, but couldn’t afford the non-resident tuition rates at any schools near where I’ve lived.  Mostly, I’ve spent my 15 years keeping a low profile.

    The positive TB skin test wouldn’t exclude you, I don’t think.  They ask if you’ve tested positive before, and if you have, you are sent for a chest x-ray ($40).  If you actually had TB, I think you just have to be under treatment for it, I don’t think they’ll disqualify you.

    It’s a truly daunting process, and as you say, I don’t know how non-English speakers do it.  I think a lawyer is essential (but expensive!).  Spanish-speakers are at least offered forms in Spanish, but otherwise all forms are in English.  There’s nothing wrong with the forms being in English, as it’s the official language of the US, but I doubt even 10% of Americans could fill out the forms correctly.  It’s a mess of red tape and “legal-ese”. 

    I get such a kick of of this page:

    http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/index.htm

    Scroll down to see all the forms the INS offers, and try to figure out how someone without a lawyer figures out which ones to fill out!

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  05/21  at  04:25 PM

  3. Holy crap!! Just scrolling through those INS forms. One of my favourites:
    “NACARA - Suspension of Deportation or Application for Special Rule Cancellation of Removal fillable forms.”

    Huh?
    I was (weirdly enough) in the Navy Reserves at one point in my life. They wanted me to take some sort of Federal-govt prescribed medication for, well, TB I guess. Long time ago & I don’t recall details. I told them nope, if they wanted me, they could forget the meds. So we reached a compromise and I had to go in for chest xrays every year, which was fine.
    Well, good for you! I guess this means you are staying. :~)

    Posted by Carina  on  05/21  at  04:35 PM

  4. I *hope* I’m staying, but I haven’t even had my first interview yet.  I paid my lawyer $1000 extra to attend my interview with me, as I’ve heard horror stories about applicants being harassed by the interviewers.  I’m especially concerned about the “gay stuff”, as I don’t know what I’m allowed to say about it, if I can say I have a partner, etc.  I don’t want to put my foot in my mouth.  The immigration medical exam is checking a person for TB as well as every STD you can think of, and the rest of the exam is checking your “mental health”.  I know being gay isn’t considered a disease anymore, but I want to be careful with what I say.  I could certainly appeal a decision if my application was rejected, but that would cost more $$$$.  It’s already cost about $10000.

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  05/21  at  04:57 PM

  5. Oh, I didn’t even think of that being an issue….surely not?! Well, the military has their silly “don’t ask don’t tell” policy - I’d think if it’s considered permissible with qualifications to serve in the military, it shouldn’t be any big deal, but I dunno. I guess your lawyer would know?
    I guess you don’t have to say anything about it, the dominant hegemony is straight and you could just say you’re living with a friend, they can hardly ask you to elaborate on this. Well, I’d hope not anyhow. And mental health? They check that too? I wonder what parameters they use.

    Posted by Carina  on  05/21  at  05:06 PM

  6. I’m not sure how they check mental health status, but to be safe, I’ll be leaving my invisible, talking, pink grizzy bear at home.

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  05/21  at  05:15 PM

  7. Oodles of sympathy. As Charles had his green card, getting his dual citizenship was not as horrible as we thought it would be in this era of national security. I shudder what it would have been had he been trying to get his residency. Very good luck.

    Posted by Diana  on  05/22  at  06:19 AM

  8. Carina, where is your family from, or are you a “military brat”?  I was an “Air Force brat” of sorts, but always just in Canada.

    I had my “physical” today.  I was totally terrified because I’d read some horror stories online, but… the doctor came into the room, didn’t make eye contact with me, asked me if I took any medications, looked in my mouth and ears, listened to my heart, and I was finished.  He didn’t even check to see if possessed reflexes!  What if the country is over-run with immigrants who lack reflexes?!?! 

    I guess I shouldn’t complain, but somehow it all seemed anti-climactic…

    Regardless, it’s finished.  I have to get some photographs taken and then I’ll hopefully be scheduled for my interview very soon!

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  05/22  at  11:02 PM

  9. Leigh-Ann, hippy brat. Really. Born in the US, grew up all over the world - communes and regular places both.
    I hope the interview is just as anti-climactic, just remember to leave the invisible pink teddy bear at home…I am guessing it won’t be awful,  a friend did that some years ago & was dead worried. He said it was more like a chat than a tough interview. I’m thinking if you’ve been here a while, are established, work, have $$ and all that stuff you will be just fine.
    ‘Course then you’ll have to rip all the maple leaf decals off your luggage, haha.

    Posted by Carina  on  05/24  at  05:49 PM
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