Injection Questions...

[Erik 0]

Hey all,

I posted about this in the South America section, and the lovely, kind folks there have been helping me. But, I figured I would post this here as well to see if I could get more opinions, experiences. etc. etc.

My fiance is unsure if she will be able to retreive her injection records from when she was younger. Everything was done on paper back then, and she was told most of those records are now completely gone because they've moved over to computers. They are working on it, but are not sure if they will be able to provide her with any proof that she has received certain injections on the list of required injections.

Now, the USCIS Website says not to try and fufill those injection requirements (if she can't get her records) before going to the Physician. Problem with that, is she is a plane ride away from any of the Physicians they consider approved.

The lovely people over at the South American board, have given me a very good idea of what she will need to have injection wise for her interview (and even translated it into Portuguese for me... how wonderful are these folks ).

I initially fell asleep on this injection issue because of a paragraph I had read on the USCIS Website. The paragraph is on the Medical Exam page, and is under the "Who has to have a medical exam?" section on that page.

Here is the paragraph

K and V nonimmigrant (temporary) visa applicants. Individuals applying for a K nonimmigrant visa as the fiancee or the spouse of a U.S. citizen or for a V nonimmigrant visa as the spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident (LPR) (including those applying for V status in the United States) must undergo a medical exam, but are not required to comply with the vaccination requirements at that time. They will be required to comply with the vaccination requirements when they eventually apply for adjustment of status.

So, what has thrown me for a loop all this time, is thinking that even if she could not get her previous injection records, she would have no problems at the Medical Exam, or the Interview, because of that statement in the paragraph from the USCIS Website.

Needless to say, I'm completely confused as to weather or not we are going to run into problems, even though from what I gather from that paragraph, it should not be a problem if she does not have all the required injections for her Medical/Interview.

Any insight, suggestions, first hand experience... ummm... voodoo witch dances... any information would be GREATLY appreciated.

Whew, my hands are tired

Edited July 5, 2006 by Erik

[john_and_marlene 162]

Not all of the required shots were even available at Marlene's medical in Manila. They just marked the ones that she was given. We took her to the vaccination clinic here before taking the record of vaccinations from the medical and the record of the vaccinations she got here to a civil surgeon to have the vaccination supplement completed for AOS. She did not have to have all required shots to get the visa and come here.

[kitkat1 5]

It may be different at each consulate but I know I have read that in Mexico, even if you bring your childhood records, they will STILL require you to get updated vaccinations. I think there they are in it for the money.

Even if they do pay attention to her childhood records assuming you have them, the part on the website about the vaccination requirement means that it is NOT neccessary for her to have the vaccines at the medical exam. But it WILL be necessary for the AOS in the US. So if you don't have enough time to get those records before the medical exam, you can put that part off until the AOS in the US. Then, if you have the records, maybe you will be lucky enough for them to pay attention to which vaccines she did not need. (I'm thinking in the US maybe the doctor would actually pay attention to those records even if they don't at the consulate)

If she wants to have the vaccinations at the medical in South America, and does NOT have her records, they will simply give her what she is supposed to have - whether she has had them before or not.

Not sure if I've helped or confused you even more . . .

[arwensun1965 0]

Yes she will have to have a medical, as for the injections depends on how much money you want to spend, they will inquire as to what she has had, proof that she has had them etc etc. In England I did have the MMR, Tetnus and HB shots. You do not have to have these shots done in your home country, you can have them done when you Adjust Status here in the USA.

Janice

[seldi 1]

Hey all,

I posted about this in the South America section, and the lovely, kind folks there have been helping me. But, I figured I would post this here as well to see if I could get more opinions, experiences. etc. etc.

My fiance is unsure if she will be able to retreive her injection records from when she was younger. Everything was done on paper back then, and she was told most of those records are now completely gone because they've moved over to computers. They are working on it, but are not sure if they will be able to provide her with any proof that she has received certain injections on the list of required injections.

Now, the USCIS Website says not to try and fufill those injection requirements (if she can't get her records) before going to the Physician. Problem with that, is she is a plane ride away from any of the Physicians they consider approved.

The lovely people over at the South American board, have given me a very good idea of what she will need to have injection wise for her interview (and even translated it into Portuguese for me... how wonderful are these folks ).

I initially fell asleep on this injection issue because of a paragraph I had read on the USCIS Website. The paragraph is on the Medical Exam page, and is under the "Who has to have a medical exam?" section on that page.

Here is the paragraph

K and V nonimmigrant (temporary) visa applicants. Individuals applying for a K nonimmigrant visa as the fiancee or the spouse of a U.S. citizen or for a V nonimmigrant visa as the spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident (LPR) (including those applying for V status in the United States) must undergo a medical exam, but are not required to comply with the vaccination requirements at that time. They will be required to comply with the vaccination requirements when they eventually apply for adjustment of status.

So, what has thrown me for a loop all this time, is thinking that even if she could not get her previous injection records, she would have no problems at the Medical Exam, or the Interview, because of that statement in the paragraph from the USCIS Website.

Needless to say, I'm completely confused as to weather or not we are going to run into problems, even though from what I gather from that paragraph, it should not be a problem if she does not have all the required injections for her Medical/Interview.

Any insight, suggestions, first hand experience... ummm... voodoo witch dances... any information would be GREATLY appreciated.

Whew, my hands are tired

I was in a similar situation, but in a different scenario. I needed my immunization records for school, but couldn't get a hold of them. I just went and had a blood test and it shows which immunizations you have (and don't have). I hope that helps.

Edited July 5, 2006 by grismar

[john_and_marlene 162]

The bottom line is that she her K1 visa will not be denied or delayed due to any lack of vaccination.

[Erik 0]

Hey all thanks for your quick responses, your helping relieve some of my panic

The only concern I had with having her go get her injections again, is sometimes it is not good for the person to get a duplicate of a certain injection (of course I have no idea which). So, her not having her records, I wasn't sure how they would tell what she has had, and what she has not had.

I'm hoping as grismar said they will be able to tell through a blood test.

I understood the paragraph, but I heard and seen people saying it was a "must" that all those injections were present before she came to the US. My biggest concern was her getting a refusal because of that. Her getting injections here is no problem, and a huge relief.

Thanks all, I'll tell her to ask the Doctor to give her a blood test to see if they can tell what she has already had, and thanks to my Brasilians friends I have the injections translated into Portuguese

Everyone here rocks

[john_and_marlene 162]

I understood the paragraph, but I heard and seen people saying it was a "must" that all those injections were present before she came to the US.

They were wrong. Sorry you were misinformed.

[Erik 0]

Thanks everyone, you all are great. Seems my questions have been answered, but I received some information from the Consulate in Rio that I thought might be useful to others as well.

Here's a little more information I got to pass on to you all. I also had emailed the Consulate in Rio, initially this is what they told me. (They're answers are in bold font)

Initial Email:

1. She is having a difficult time getting records of her previous injections. Does she absolutely need to have these records when she goes for her Medical Exam before her interview?

YES

2. What if she is not able to obtain those records, what must we do?

SHE MUST TALK TO THE DOCTOR ABOUT THIS.

3. Will they give her all the injections she needs for the Visa at her medical exam? I know some of these injections can not all be given all at one time, so how would that work? Would they give her just the basic injections needed for the visa at her medical exam, and then she could get the rest of her injections when she arrives here in the United States?

ONLY THE DOCTOR CAN ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS

4. I believe I read on the USCIS website, that she would be allowed to get the bulk of her injections here in the United States, as long as she passed the medical exam. Is this true or does she need every injection "before" she is able to get her visa even if she passes the medical exam?

ONLY THE DOCTOR CAN ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS

So after I received that, I emailed them this email.

Follow up Email:

Thank you very much for your reply.

However, on the USCIS Website there is a conflicting statement.

Under the Medical Exam section of the USCIS Website, and under the "Who has to have a medical exam?" section, there is a paragraph that reads as follows:

"K and V nonimmigrant (temporary) visa applicants. Individuals applying for a K nonimmigrant visa as the fiancee or the spouse of a U.S. citizen or for a V nonimmigrant visa as the spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident (LPR) (including those applying for V status in the United States) must undergo a medical exam, but are not required to comply with the vaccination requirements at that time. They will be required to comply with the vaccination requirements when they eventually apply for adjustment of status."

So I am still very confused as to what she really needs. Also, she is not anywhere near any of the approved Physicians in the list of Physicians you provide, so she will only be able to go a few days before her Interview when I fly her up to Rio.

This portition of the process appears to be very unclear.

Here is the response I got today...

Dear Sir or Madam:

You are right. For a fiancée visa the vaccination is not mandatory. She will have to sign a statement under oath that she will take the necessary shots as soon as she gets in the U.S.

Regards,

IV Unit

Hope this helps someone else also

[Ladylethal 12]

What I don't get Erik, is this. Why going through the trouble of getting them in US when she can get them for free here?

[Erik 0]

What I don't get Erik, is this. Why going through the trouble of getting them in US when she can get them for free here?

Well before I wasn't sure how they would be able to tell what shots she had, and didn't have with out records. But, as mentioned by a poster above, they should be able to tell via a blood test.

So, we will have her get what she's missing there, but before I asked I wasn't sure how they would go about finding out, and just in case if for some reason she did not get all the injections, if that would be a problem at the medical, or interview.

I had been told in the past that it was mandatory that she have them (even the Consulate said in they're first email that she must have her injection records), so I was just concerned if for some reason she didn't, it would screw things up.

So, just wanted to make things clear (well for me anyway lol)

[kitkat1 5]

What I don't get Erik, is this. Why going through the trouble of getting them in US when she can get them for free here?

Just curious, how can she get them for free? Is that something specific to the consulate in Brazil? I know in Mexico they charge A LOT at the medical for vaccinations and generally they don't accept previous vaccinations records as proof (this part makes zero sense to me but several people have posted this information on I2US).

[john_and_marlene 162]

What I don't get Erik, is this. Why going through the trouble of getting them in US when she can get them for free here?

Just curious, how can she get them for free? Is that something specific to the consulate in Brazil? I know in Mexico they charge A LOT at the medical for vaccinations and generally they don't accept previous vaccinations records as proof (this part makes zero sense to me but several people have posted this information on I2US).

Medical exams are not a function of the consulate. The price of the exam and whether you are charged additional for vaccinations varies. The consulates do make arrangements with particular facilities and dictate which facilities are to be used.

For instance, in the Philippines, the consulate requires that you get your medical exam at St Luke's medical center. There is no additional charge for vaccinations there and the medical exam was only $95. I've seen others quoting what their exams cost and the cost vary widely.

Once in the U.S., the prices charged by different civil surgeons vary widely too. It may pay to shop around if you require a vaccination supplement. BTW, if you do require additional vaccinations, you don't have to get the actual vaccination from the civil surgeon. You can get them anywhere and bring the record of the vaccinations to the civil surgeon to transfer to the vaccination supplement form. You may find that the county health department offers the vaccinations at a much lower rate than the civil surgeon.

[Ladylethal 12]

Kitkat, in Brasil we have these medical posts that offer free vaccination for the population. It goes by age so she can get the vaccines given to adults for free. The ones they provide for sure (I got myself vaccinated this year) are the tetanus, difteria and pertussis shot, the hepatitis B shot, and some hospitals give the rubeola for free as well. Either way doctors here cost less than in US and so do the shots, and I mean regular docs not the consular medical exam, which is a rip off.