The field office (FO) will do the following:

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  Examine the application and evidence for completeness.

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  Contact the claimant or his or her alternate contact for any additional necessary information.

The FO will not:

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  Try to determine if a foreign medical report is valid or if a foreign medical source is professionally competent.

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  Directly contact any physicians or medical institutions located in foreign countries.

The FO must examine the foreign application and the evidence from a foreign applicant for completeness.

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  If the disability or non-disability evidence is not complete and the source of additional development is outside of the U.S., Canada, or Mexico, do not ask the source for the additional evidence.

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  Forward the materials to OCO/OIO with a notation concerning any additional development that might be necessary in the case. For information on sending cases to OCO/OIO refer to DI 11010.275.