Henry and Mei

The Houston Chinese Yellow pages, I am sure are not readily available to you, But what I am able to gather especially from reading the governmental Q&As is that they realize you can answer these questions usually in several ways and/or see different answers for the same question.... So basically, all the answers are correct.

Phillip, Give these a look........ My Webpage My Webpage My Webpage My Webpage My Webpage My Webpage First time trying to use tinypics.......hope you can view... Henry

Damn skippy. Maybe a bit of my butt will grow back too Mebbe now some of the hair will grow back on yore ugly dawg, too. Glad to hear the good news, bubba. tsap seui Congratulations!!!! Glad to see that cuzin Tsap has elevated you to "bubba" status!! This is a very prestigious award! Better then any Navy award I have ever gotten thats 4 sure hehe... Oh yeah...I saw that same sex comment Lee ~Mop Slap~ I know thats TRUE. I spent a couple of years as a Flyboy in Pensacola and the Navy never did take good care of the Marines.... But that is why they have the Seville Quarter and that Irish pub place McQuire's

Okay......that was deserved, since I am beating a dead horse, but mine to beat. If I had known of Randy's CS, I would have saved a lot of cash, time and especially aggravation...... You will be here soon enough Henry, I apologize for not picking up on that sooner, but I just don't think of Victoria as being in the Houston area, and didn't make the connection. And I screwed up as well. My wife loves going to Houston after spending so much time in the country, so for the most part I did not mind the driving. It was just the multiple trips and expense. Plus my gut was with my friends in Spring using a Chinese doctor with good success. After calling the CS in Goliad (Super small town), I did not want to waste my time any more with small communities including Port Lavaca. In hindsight, I should have just started with the Asian doctor listing and go from there. I saw Dr. Wang in Chinatown and I should have made the call. A hindsight thing....but Mei loves the Hong Kong market and it takes me back to being in China...great place and I get things there from China that even my parents really like. So the trip did not bother me as much (except double)....Just the Civil Surgeon -- I don't like being screwed with especially here. I am sure most would agree with that.... So if can keep one less dime in those jerks pockets, I am going to try.

Randy, you did great. There is also another phone book that is produced by another company. Not sure of exactly who, but this is the second year now that I have gone to the Hong Kong market on Bellaire and picked up copies. You will find both English and Chinese written for the test and photos of several signs that drivers need to identify. It always has some law firm on the front cover. Think also 4 or more pages that are filled with questions and answers. Questions in English with Chinese answers and maybe more......just going off the top of my head. This year is one very large man. Don't have the book with me at the moment, but might help you since you can nicely add pics

And Dan, you can delete this post and my last, since I hope CFLers will contribute to this topic. And posts purely with CS info will help those searching for good CSs. We are too spread out and simply not enough of us to adversely affect the incomes of the bad Civil Surgeons, but I can see no reason for us to ever again help them. After talking to several CFL members that have been short changed and cheated by CSs, there is no reason I can see that we as a group cannot prevent this. This site is to help CFLers and saving others time, money and aggravation is one of the best things we can do. So I hope others will contribute. For some reason, Bill cannot open CFL in Beijing, but will share when he returns to help those in Callie. Thanks again, I hope others will share to curb the abuse.

Phillip, We live here in South Texas. In Houston, you can find several Hong Kong markets. Inside you can often find a local phone book (FREE) for the Chinese and Asian community. In the back of the book, they cover all kinds of subjects including driving in Texas (to help pass the test) and help to pass the test for naturalization. A couple of days ago, I picked up 6 for friends.

Basically, looks like they are now discouraging it. Probably not liking to do the double mailing. They may or may not honor the old form. And they may or may not send you acknowledgement for being your spouse's representative. So if you are not using an attorney, it looks like one less form to send...although we have killed enough trees preparing these packages GO GREEN...LOL

Okay......that was deserved, since I am beating a dead horse, but mine to beat. If I had known of Randy's CS, I would have saved a lot of cash, time and especially aggravation...... You will be here soon enough

That is why this thread was started to tell others who are the cheats and who are the good eggs. It may help others to find the good ones. Wish I knew of Randy's CS. Bill and Li Hong are back in China, but tells me her AOS went smoothly w/o interview except for the CS. Paid the first one $100 and walked out also. (Called him a few names that I cannot repeat from the email). So he found another one. He is from Callie, so I sent him an email to share his experience with CFL, since this topic is now pinned...

How did it go with you and Lucy at the Interview? Mei says Hi....... Hopefully, very good news. Henry

Tried to keep it simple and leaving out mostly how I truly feel. But I would be lying, if I said it does not bother me that our government requires us to use these surgeons, while some of the surgeons do not follow or either refuse the governments instructions as printed on the USCIS site. There only defense would be that that they believed the medical had expired or would expire, but that never even came up...nor is it part of the instruction for them to make that call. A suggestion would be fine, but an outright refusal is simply unacceptable. And what are they liable for??? We need a simple verification of vaccinations. How difficult is that really??? No secret is that it simply comes down to them generating extra cash and not about responsibility to the patient/applicant. They have no idea and never even asked when she had her Chinese physical nor ever brought up the possibility of her medical expiring. They just had their own rules and even showing them or mentioning the instructions to them made no difference. In most if not all medical situations, you can refuse/decline care, but in this case, when you truly don't even need any care, they assert themselves by not completing the form and you are stuck looking for a CS that actually follows the instructions for K visa holders... Okay, I have vented....again

For the Houston and surrounding areas: (RECOMMENDED CS) Dr. Kai-Ming Tong, M.D.F.R.C.C. 16116 Stuebner Airline, Suite #9 Spring, TX 77379 (Off Stuebner at Cypresswood) Tel: 281-376-8611 Fax: 281-251-8631 His wife usually answers the phone and works the front desk. They both are Chinese. Completely understand the process and do not mix words. What you ask for and they say is what you get. Quick and efficient. $80 for Verification of Vaccinations and $150 for full medical. Now for my NON-RECOMMENDATIONSs: Goliad Family Practice Dr. Heard 139 W. Franklin St. Goliad, TX Tel: 361-645-8235 Will not perform Verification of Vaccinations without Full Medical. $190. Charge office visit and full set of shots even if in Yellow book, if taken in China. They do not honor shots from overseas. Their suggestion is first going to low cost health dept. for shots, since they charge full price. Too troubled by all of this to ask.... Stafford Occupational Health Center and Urgent Care Dr. Witkowski (Czech and I am Czech, so I thought....anyways...) 3832 Greenbriar Dr. Stafford, TX 77477 Tel: 281-980-1901 Will not honor the Chinese medical exam (his $60) or X-rays(his $80). Is very FREE with insults. Does not follow the I-693 instructions. Will charge you and require unnecessary shots (Flu - out of season $25) and (Td skin test - $25 although done in China) saying it is good for the applicant. Very unpleasant experience. Dr. Tan and Lam 5819 Hwy 6 South, Suite 360 Missouri City, TX 77459 The surgeons maybe Okay. Never got that far. After having my bad experience with above CS, I called this CS. The receptionist would not answer any of my questions over the phone and even hung up. So I did not give them a 2nd chance.....

We went to the one on Bellaire Blvd, just inside the beltway in Houston - $15 and no hassle. Just a suggestion, but maybe CFL should pin a topic for CSs. We are spread all over the US, but I think the medical is/can be a large hurdle during the AOS process.... If I had known more like Randy's experience, I would have began there instead of wasting a lot of time and money trying to figure a lot of this out on my own........ All CSs are obviously not created equal. And if I have to do a full medical, I am going back to Dr. Tong.....worth my time and money now from my experience.... So I think a listing of actually good CSs with location/cost/personal applicant experience might be a very good thing... Especially since my experience is that many CSs do not care about our patronage or following the instructions for completing the I-693... Very little if no fear of repurcussions.... Good suggestion. Thanks, Dan........Just back from doing some occupational testing and nice to see the Pin. I truly believe this will help others along the way, so I am looking forward to adding the short version to the Pin. Like always ....Good luck to us ALL!!!

We went to the one on Bellaire Blvd, just inside the beltway in Houston - $15 and no hassle. Just a suggestion, but maybe CFL should pin a topic for CSs. We are spread all over the US, but I think the medical is/can be a large hurdle during the AOS process.... If I had known more like Randy's experience, I would have began there instead of wasting a lot of time and money trying to figure a lot of this out on my own........ All CSs are obviously not created equal. And if I have to do a full medical, I am going back to Dr. Tong.....worth my time and money now from my experience.... So I think a listing of actually good CSs with location/cost/personal applicant experience might be a very good thing... Especially since my experience is that many CSs do not care about our patronage or following the instructions for completing the I-693... Very little if no fear of repurcussions....

Good luck tomorrow, Andrew.... I am currently dealing with my AOS issues, but we will be thinking of you. The Land of GUZ was good to us, SO it should be here as well... Assets........I will show you assets...... God Speed...

I am 2 hours south of Austin...my last 4 girlfriends are from there, so I have spent enough time there.... Truly starting over...... And to add about shots..... Dr. Tong admitted that flu season ended last month and so the good doctor gave her an unnecessary $25 shot that she did not need... I told him that she did not need a flu shot. He told me that many others had told him the same, but again he was the doctor.... I am fortunate that I don't have a hair trigger temper....

My thoughts exactly........ I had never seen such an operation. He knew how far I had to come and still had the nerve to keep sticking it to me... On Friday, I knew things were bad by watching his assistant, who always stood behind, but not how bad. He couldn't even remember that his assistant was there last Friday, when we were in. Kept insisting to her that she was not there and did not give the Td and flu shots... Kept telling me that my X-rays from China were no good and would not be available during the AOS process and so he would not sign the medical without taking X-rays....again, doing me a service he said... I enjoy working with professionals......Okay, I need a beer.... But I hope my experience may help others that live here in South Texas...

Bottom line was that I should have followed my gut and use my friends Dr. Tong in Spring/Cypress, TX. My friends just could not see why I should have to drive even further for a CS. They simply don't realize how fortunate they were with the local CS. His wife runs the desk and phone and my experience is actually what she said and quoted. They are both from China and helped soothe things over also with my wife. She was not understanding the whole process or why the other doctor was choosing to cheat me.... So in less than 30 minutes, we had the sealed envelope with the previously discussed $80. So after 14 hours of driving and $130 later, I have the review of her shots as needed for her AOS. I may still not have approval by the time her medical expires, but at least we have a chance with her AOS soon ready for mailing... Thanks again everyone...... As I was leaving I met a woman from Canada that had also experienced a lot of difficulty with several CS before she learned of Dr. Tong....but that is another story....

Like in so many ways, thanks for this site, help and support.... To give you the rest of the story..... We went back this morning to have the Td test read and get our cheap medical signed off. Unfortunately, not so quick and painless. Actually, nothing was done at all. Before he even looked at the shot, he decided to inform me that he now wanted X-rays, which would cost me an additional $80. And again, he tells me that I do not have to pay until my next visit..... My next visit, IN ALL HONESTY AND I HOPE THERE ARE NO CHILDREN READING BUT ...WTF (And I apologize to the ladies...) I said thank you....BUT NO THANK YOU...... THEN HE TELLS MY WIFE THAT I AM BEING GREEDY...WHAT A GUY.. And he insists that he is trying to help me. I let him know that he can help me by giving me the bill, so I can leave......$50 blown.... And at the same time, his assistant kept shaking her head. As I am paying the bill, she told me that this happens all the time. But most are more enraged than I am. She knows the rules also and that the good doctor is breaking them....so stay away from Stafford....TX

Many know who I am and where I am from, so I did not want to overly incriminate those here, although I know full well that I could try and report them.... But probably like spitting into the wind.......and not really my cup of tea to cry every time I see injustice.... Simply here just reporting the facts and looking for a better way.... But doesn't stop the amazement, since we trust these people with our health and they should have a higher education than most/many... Sort of like guys that get warnings from police officers and complain to their head for discipline procedures against the officers for being too leniant....... So it looks like you have to find the CS like you/I/many do and make the best out of a poor situation... Bottom line is I hope to get this step done soon, but Wow...another eye opener

Yes, Dan, you gave me good advice on this like my friends, but it did not help. I already had everything highlighted to keep things -- simple and organized to be understood....still it did not help.....I felt like I was in China again trying to explain things. In China, I dealt with the reality that things are different there, but here......it seems like they know you have few options and that you need to follow their rules and not that of the government.... I knew going in to not be argumentative or combative about the rules, but they simply push you around, since you are at their mercy....and still having to pay for it all... Wonder what it would be like if I really needed medical help? And why can't GUZ help us out here........they have seen the medical and X rays....why can't they give us the option to have her shots reviewed as well? For the most part this seems like a very painful process for K visa holders that could be simply avoided... Let us have the shots reviewed like CR and IR-1s... Is there anyone besides my Congressman I could write to help future K visa holders???

Over the last 2 days I have called 5 approved Civil surgeons and I have received 5 different answers and responses... Surgeon number 1 is about 30 minutes from me, but told me that he has never heard of a K-1 visa and refused to simply review her yellow book. When I told him her shots were given in China, he told me, since they were given overseas, he would not honor them and also have to give her the shots all over again. $200 for medical plus an office visit and the regimen cost for the shots.......needless to say I was not pleased and moved on..... Surgeon number 2 is 3 hours away. Tells me he has been doing this for over 30 years, so make an appt. We can talk. I show him her yellow book. Tells me invalid since written in Chinese. I had to show him the English....Once he understands I let him know that I simply need to have her shots reviewed. He discourages this even after I show him the instructions and begins negotiating a price with me for the medical. We settle on $60 -- actual medical -- he does not even check for anything. So back to the shots....He tells me that she needs to have a TB skin test although this has already been done in China, so on Monday I have to go back. Tells me that she needs a flu shot and also test for Syphliss and that out of the kindness of his heart, he will not charge me for that test. I tell him none of these shots are required, but he claims to be the doctor....so after her shots, he starts to send Mei and his assistant back to for the Syph test and thankful realizes she does not need HIV. As we watch them both go he says to me that he thinks she could not leave China without this test and after looking at me and her, believes she is disease free. So he calls them back and tells me he will simply sign off that he gave her the test....As we are ready to leave, I ask them if we are finished and he said Yes. I said shouldn't she sign and date the form......they both embarrassed say -- yes. Tells me I can pay after coming back on Monday to have the TB looked at.....And during this whole process he keeps telling my wife that if I am bad to take the GC and go. Although he thinks I am a good guy, but just wants to warn her about what he has heard especially on the news. Also asks me several times, if I am offended by all of this.... My friends tell me not to go back, but I need this...what is the chance of CS getting things so messed up that you get and RFE and have to start all over??? Surgeon number 3 (my friends) is over 4 hours away - 1 way. Will do the review for $80, but highly encourages the full blown deal for $150. Right now, I wished I drove the extra hour...... Surgeon number 4 assistant could not understand me and actually hanged up on me..........I was beyond miffed....but I let it go....and little need to talk about surgeon 5... Any thoughts, advice as my head is still swimming with all of this??? I am only a lowly Electrical Engineer with 5 years of schooling, but it still demanded the ability to read and desire to read. Every assistant/surgeon I talked to has never read the Instructions that are posted on the USCIS site for the I-693. How is this possible? How do they pick these guys to be CS? Simply baffled and overly confused........

Congratulations....... Currently, I know the feeling all too well

Thanks.......I have not kept up, but I was hoping that a valid I-94 would help, BUT still need the EAD...... When I started this process, it seemed better and faster to do the K-1 and now I am really wishing we had married in China at first like see wanted. At the time, it just seemed so much longer doing it that way... With dealing with our wonderful economy things have gotten so much tougher I am sure for many of us....... Okay, I need to do A LOT of catching up.... THANKS, DAN.... Henry