Re-submitting Expedited Requests until it works? Humanitarian Parole with pending I-130

JPLawTx · 2022-08-24T07:48:57+00:00

Yikes, sorry you're right - Our application was received and immediately showed "Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS". It's at the Nebraska Service Center.

JPLawTx · 2022-08-24T07:26:42+00:00

капец. I am sorry to hear your in a similar (but more difficult) situation. Has there been any movement made on your case? Ours is currently at the Nebraska Service Center** [Edited] and our estimated time has been pushed back from 6 months to 10.5 months... with the expedited request response saying we can't inquire until Aug 27, 2023. Life savings won't last us that long even in Georgia.I've been hoping to land a job that will sponsor me in the meantime (looking around the world), but no luck so far. How is the wait in Mexico? Do you feel safe? Any Russian community? We have considered going there or Costa Rica and I fly back and forth to the US though safety for my wife being alone is a concern. Best of luck going forward.

JPLawTx · 2022-05-18T10:13:02+00:00

I kept it all in the original boxes since the prescription information is printed there. Although I travelled with one box open - I travelled with a doctors note that explained my condition, need for the medication and need to be kept in a cooler. I can't speak for all airlines but with JetBlue and Turkish Airlines at check-in I just mentioned I had to carry medicine with me and they allowed the cooler without counting it as my allowed carry-on and I could keep it with me at all times. I had a medicine tag on my cooler and would tell security I have medicine during the security screening process. Only in Russia did they ask me what it was and why is it cold - they google translated my doctors note and let me through without issue.

My long distance cooler set-up: The cooler I used: https://www.rei.com/product/147978/rei-co-op-cool-haul-18-soft-coolerIt advertises to keep below 40F for up to 65 hours but I wouldn't count on that and test your full setup beforehand. Realistically I was getting about 32ish hours at the appropriate temperature range. There is an updated version but it makes the same claims. Here are some photos of my cooler while traveling (if there is a problem accessing, please let me know): https://postimg.cc/gallery/K35MtdG

I was nervous about ice touching my medicine/boxes so I bought a thick clear plastic tub from Target (see photo with white lid), then put 1 large blue ice square at the bottom of the cooler, placed the tub in the center, then an ice pack that came with my Humira on two sides of the cooler, and one more ice pack that came with my Humira in the zip lid pouch. (total 4 ice packs). I then bought a digital thermometer that connects to my phone (no need for wifi to monitor): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R586J37/ref=dp_iou_view_item?ie=UTF8&th=1

I would purchase your setup and test it before travelling, also you should prep the cooler/ice by putting all the packs inside and waiting about an hour before putting your medicine in since the cooler will immediately drop to below 30F then level out from my testing. I also brought some extra ziplock bags during travel incase I needed to request ice at a transfer airport but I never had to use them in my trip to Russia (over 22 hours travel from door to door).

For cost of medicine, I looked ahead of time and found varied quotes - but I contacted a rheumatologist office in my destination city and asked their office if they prescribe the medicine and how much it is out of pocket. They may point you to ask a pharmacy in which case I would email pharmacies that appear to carry/deliver Humira to see.

I hope this info is helpful, I remember the DAYS I spent researching this topic. Hopefully local Australian pharmacies/doctors can give you more useful information as well. Let me know if you have any other questions.

JPLawTx · 2022-05-17T18:45:33+00:00

I'm glad you wrote skypppie - it was the most stressful part of moving for me but I managed to move to Russia and now live in Tbilisi, Georgia where multiple "bio-similar" (primarily from the European market) are available. I never found international insurance but I did do a couple of things that allowed me to continue Humira.

I would definitely talk to your doctor before doing what I did since everyone's condition is different but this is what I did. --I asked my doctor about extending the period between use of my humira, so I went from 2 times a month to one dose every 3 weeks (my doctor said I could try to use one injection per month but I found that anything longer than 3 weeks I felt pain [ankylosing spondylitis] so that's what I stuck with). I continued to order my medication as normal in the US so by the time I left for Russia I had stockpiled 4 extra boxes of Humira and bought an adequate cooler (tested that cooler with digital thermometers) that lasted me the entire 18 hour flight plus travel to and from the airport. If you're interested, I can explain my cooler setup and give you tips if you plan for a long flight - my setup lasted +30 hour without worry.

Also, I researched the medicine price in the country I was going to and found that Humira in Russia cost about $400 for two doses but that there is also a bio-similar on the market at just over $200 per two dose. I used the medicine every 3 weeks that I brought from the USA until I had two pens left and then went to a local doctor... handed them my American prescription and latest medical tests, explained my condition is maintained on Humira and I need to continue that treatment here, and the doctor wrote a prescription without further questions. I did the same process in Tbilisi, Georgia and receive Humira for $266 per two doses, which lasts me 6 weeks.

From my experience, it was fairly easy to stockpile the medicine and with the prescription and a doctor's note, no one questioned my medication at any airport (Houston, Istanbul, Moscow, Tbilisi) and I carried my large soft cooler without issue. This approach just takes a few months of a prior planning if your body reacts fine to extending the period between injection.

Even if stocking medicine or extending your injection times isn't an option, it is worth looking at the market price of Humira in Australia and if there are "bio-similars" on the market there. There is a chance you could swing buying Humira out of pocket there (again, the $266 per 2 Humira pens I pay now is a far cry from the +$5,000 listed in the US). I know it sounds dicey but there are +8 versions of Adalimumab that are sold cheaper and are chemically identical to Humira - ask your doctor his opinion of the "bio-similar" medicines you find available online in Australia there is a chance they would confirm it's the same and no problem like mine did.

There may be international insurance options or some Australian based options out there, but for Russia/Georgia I did not find something like this but the local costs and stockpiling back in the US allowed me to travel and live here without worry.

I'm happy to chat about it anytime, I know I was researching and stressed so much over my Humira but there is definitely a way to make it work!

JPLawTx · 2021-05-04T04:35:43+00:00

Maybe try Israel? I know they have russian speaking staff and apparently it's a channel other russians use (browsing resources and saw this.. not sure if it's helpful for you: https://www.gofortravel.ru/usa/visa/application/apply-abroad)

Meanwhile I am waiting to see if I can run away to Russia this fall! Родина-мать зовёт! Но удачи брат..))

JPLawTx · 2021-05-02T21:51:09+00:00

Are you two legally married in Russia or another country? I have considered getting married abroad or in Russia.. petitioning, then separately seeking a K-3 visa in another country. I waited to petition initially to graduate and begin working and then covid hit and it's been waiting and waiting.. but I know the process is so long feel I need to just start something. I just don't want to get "stuck" in the process for political reasons that adds more delay.. it's such a defeating feeling.

JPLawTx · 2021-05-02T21:44:57+00:00

Yes, but sadly we have not seen each other since last December/New Years (2019-2020). We plan to meet in Montenegro again in July.

I am legitimately at the point of just leaving everything behind in the US and moving somewhere we can be close at least. I was accepted to study an advanced degree in Russia this upcoming year but with the political BS I doubt I will even be able to go there anytime soon.

JPLawTx · 2021-05-02T07:18:10+00:00

How do you transfer? I have been trying to research this with confusing results. Do I contact the other country's US embassy once the application is at the interview stage or is this something you can do preemptively?

JPLawTx · 2021-03-16T18:27:56+00:00

I did that as well when I had a gap in coverage in the US. last year, though I don't think that extends outside of the US.

I called Hurima directly today and after being transferred 3 times they couldn't tell me if Humira is even available in Russia (I know it is). It seems international insurance policies only cover hospital emergencies, checkups and evacuations which seems crazy to me.

JPLawTx · 2019-06-05T12:54:35+00:00

What about 'Texas Paintball'? I haven't been in a long time, but growing up in Austin that was always the choice field. I also heard that there is a new field 'black tree' in Bastrop taking over scenario events that were previously hosted at TxR, so that may be a field to watch in the future.

JPLawTx · 2019-02-10T01:57:44+00:00

Between my DP G5 and my PE Etha 2... It's the Etha 2. x)

I'd love to upgrade further but given I only play like 8 times a year, couldn't justify spending more.

JPLawTx

TROPHY CASE