Who Needs to Fill out the I-864A Form?

Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member

Form I-864A is a contract between the sponsor and a household member. When you have one or more co-sponsor(s) other than your alien spouse (beneficiary), each of the co-sponsors has to fill out their own I-864A form.

However, if you are using your alien spouse (beneficiary)’s current income as part of your household income, the alien spouse DOES NOT need to fill out the I-864A form. The only situation that he/she needs to fill out the I-864A form is when he/she has derivative relatives who are applying for a green card with him/her.

I-864A and I-864 are an important part of the whole I-845 application. In the next post, we will talk more about the sponsor's financial requirements for form I-864 Affidavit of Support. Stay tuned!

Click here to see a step-by-step guide for filing I-485 application>>

Disclaimer: This article is for sharing personal experience only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice.

What Tax Return Documents Are Required for Form I-864 Affidavit of Support

What Tax Forms Are Required for I-864?

The petitioner (U.S. citizen) is only required to provide the most recent year tax return document. However, you can provide the most recent three-year tax return documents if you think those will help prove your support.

You can provide IRS tax return forms along with your W2s, Form 1099, tax schedules (for self-employed sponsors) OR IRS tax transcripts. You can get your IRS transcripts from IRS’s website here. I think an IRS tax transcript is simpler with fewer pages, but it’s really up to you!

Good luck with your I-485 application!

Click here to see a step-by-step guide for filing your I-485 application>>

Disclaimer: This article is for sharing personal experience only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice.

How Long Does It Take to Receive My I-693 Report?

Click here to see a step-by-step guide for filing your I-485 application>>

Finally, you have finished the medical exam. Now you are wondering how long do you have to wait to receive your report from the doctor.

*Update: August 12th, 2021: USCIS temporarily extends I-693 validity period from 2 years to 4 years! Click here to learn more.

How Long Does It Take to Receive My I-693 Report?

Every clinic has a different schedule of course. It took me one week to get the report from my doctor because he only works two days a week. Normally, I would say 2-3 days if you have all the vaccinations done before already.

Once you get the I-693 report from your doctor, he/she will instruct you to sign and date the form and seal the report. Be careful - DO NOT open the envelope! USCIS won’t accept any opened I-693 envelope. Just submit the sealed report as it is to USCIS.

Can I Get a Copy of My I-693 Form?

On the I-693 form instruction, it states that the immigration doctor is supposed to give you a copy of the complete form for your record so be sure to ask for a copy! Unfortunately, my doctor refused to follow the instruction, so I can only trust that they took care of everything without any issues:(

There you have it! I hope you all have a great experience at your immigration exam. If you'd like to know more about the whole I-485 application process, click here to keep reading!

Disclaimer: This article is for sharing personal experience only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice.

Green Card Medical Exam for Pregnant Women

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Can I still pass the Green Card Immigration Medical Exam if I am pregnant? It depends! If you are seeing your OBGYN regularly, they probably have already tested Syphilis and Gonorrhea for you. Ask for the test results from your OBGYN and bring it with you to the immigration exam, you may be able to save a few dollars by avoiding the redundant tests!

*Update: August 12th, 2021: USCIS temporarily extends I-693 validity period from 2 years to 4 years! Click here to learn more.

About Syphilis Test

Be careful though, according to CDC’s website, starting from 2013, Syphilis tests performed before the panel physician or civil surgeon exams the applicant are not acceptable. So theoretically, your Syphilis test results from your OBGYN before the immigration exam will not be accepted. To be safe, you can have it tested right at the immigration doctor.

I just got tested for Syphilis at my OBGYN about a month before the immigration exam so my doctor used that record. Hopefully, this won’t cause any RFE. I will keep you all updated what happens after!

About MMR Vaccine

The only vaccination that can be dangerous to pregnant women is the MMR vaccinations. So if you don’t have that done before you were pregnant, I would wait to see the doctor, because he/she will only be able to provide a half-finished I-693 report and you will have to go back again when you can have the shots.

About Tuberculosis Test (TB)

For the Tuberculosis test, from September 2018, USCIS no longer accept the skin bubble test (TST), so you must do an IGRA blood test. This test needs to be done every year. This is totally safe for pregnant women.

Remember, the form I-693 is not required to submit with your I-485 application together at once. You can always submit it later or wait to bring it with you to the immigration interview.

See what vaccines and blood tests are required for the Green Card application here.

Did this post help you with your immigration medical exam during pregnancy? How's your experience? Share with all of us and help more people in the same situation!

Disclaimer: This article is for sharing personal experience only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice.

What Vaccines Are Required for the I-485 Green Card Application?

The immigration medical exam might be one of the most time-consuming and complicated parts of your I-485 application. There are some long, long lists on USCIS’s website and CDC’s website regarding the vaccinations and tests you need for the I-693 report. However, many of them are subject to your age group. If you are between 18 and 64 years old, generally, you only need 4 vaccines and 3 blood tests.

Also note that now the valid period of I-693 report has been updated to 2 years.

*Update: August 12th, 2021: USCIS temporarily extends I-693 validity period from 2 years to 4 years! Click here to learn more.

What Vaccines and Tests Are Required for the I-693 Medical Exam? 

• ***Oct 1st, 2021, COVID-19 Vaccine is required!
• Td/ T-Dap: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (expire every 10 years) 
• MMR Varicella - If you had chickenpox before, you don’t need it 
• Influenza (Flu Shot) - You only need this during flu season, from October 1st to March 31st 
• Syphilis Test* - Please read important update below 
• Gonorrhea Test 
• Tuberculosis Test** - This needs to be tested every 1 year. Please read the important update below 

Download my ebook to learn more details including a chart of vaccine requirements based on an applicant's Age. 

Varicella can be avoided if you or your family remember you had chickenpox before. Just tell your doctor you had it before then you should be able to skip that.

* According to CDC’s website, starting from 2013, “syphilis tests must be performed at the time of the screening medical examination and at the laboratory designated as the testing laboratory for the panel physician or civil surgeon. Syphilis tests performed at other laboratories or before the panel physician or civil surgeon examines the applicant are not acceptable.”

**According to CDC’s website, starting from September 2018, “Tuberculin skin testing (TST) cannot be used as a substitute for IGRA testing.”

For more information, visit CDC’s website here.

What if you are pregnant? In the next post, I will share my experience with you regarding getting your immigration exam done during pregnancy!

Click here to see a step-by-step guide for filing your I-485 application>>

Disclaimer: This article is for sharing personal experience only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice.

Where Do I Find a Green Card Immigration Doctor?

When applying for the adjustment of status (I-485), form I-693 report of medical examination and vaccination record is required. This is one of the most troublesome parts of the application process for many immigrants.

How to Find an Immigration Doctor?

*Update: August 12th, 2021: USCIS temporarily extends I-693 validity period from 2 years to 4 years! Click here to learn more.

You will need a qualified immigration doctor to help you fill out most of your I-693 report of medical exam and vaccination record. Go to the USCIS website to search for a listed doctor that’s convenient for you.

Green Card Medical Exam Cost

Each doctor charges differently, so I suggest you call at least 3 to compare the prices. Note that a lot of immigration doctors only take cash or check. The cost can range between $120 and $300 depending on the area you are in.

If you already have done some of the required vaccinations or blood test, be sure to bring them with you to the doctor’s appointment. You may be able to save some redundant vaccination shots!

6 Questions to Ask Your Potential Green Card Immigration Doctor

Do your homework before you visit the doctor can save you time and money! Here’s a list of questions you will want to confirm before you go to the immigration doctor:

1. How much do you charge for the basic exam?
2. Do you accept a credit card payment? 
3. Do you accept an FSA/HSA/HRA card?
4. How much do you charge for the shots and the blood tests if I need them?
5. Do you accept the vaccination records and blood test results from somewhere else?
6. How long does it take to get the I-693report?

Did you find your ideal immigration doctor already? How was your experience? How did you make the decision? In the next blog post, we will discuss what vaccinations and blood tests are required for the I-693 report. 

Click here to see a step-by-step guide for filing your I-485 application>>


Disclaimer: This article is for sharing personal experience only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice.