Do I need to include his vaccination record?

[Cherieish 0]

Cherieish--Your DS-3025 is perfect. You do not have to see a civil surgeon. You get a blanket waiver from the adjudicator of your case--it means a waiver you don't have to apply for that the immigration officer can decide on.

To clear up a few other questions--

• That VJ quote you posted first is not correct information. I've studied this a long time (3 yrs) and whoever wrote that just doesn't have it quite right. Most DS-3025s will not be marked "complete". Read the instructions for panel physicians in the section of how to fill out the form. It says most will be marked "Incomplete" and "may be eligible for blanket waiver".
  
• Somebody said you MUST send a copy of the DS-3025. Also not true. The copy you send is more of a reminder for them to look in your medical file where the original DS-3025 is. Your medical results has 4 sheets of paper and the original DS-3025 is one of them. They have approved people who lost their copy of the DS-3025 because the one they need to see is in the file.
  
• Just because it say MAY be eligible for blanket waiver doesn't mean you've completed the shots needed. They will still look at your shots and dates.
  
• VH written on it excuses you from the varicella vaccine. It is not medically appropriate because having the disease gives you immunity. Thus a vaccine is inappropriate.
  
• If your exam was not in flu season then that's eligibility for a waiver. Even if it is flu season when you apply for AOS, they use the date of your DS-3025 to determine that you were up to date at your exam. You do not need a flu shot. If you went to a civil surgeon now during flu season, then you would have a new date of medical record and it would supercede the July date you have. In that case a flu shot would be needed for the new doctor to sign off on a new shot record in December.

You can get a waiver for four reasons, because receipt of the vaccine is:

1. “not medically appropriate.” The term “not medically appropriate” applies to vaccinations that are not age appropriate
   
2. where there is a medical contraindication (like in the case of pregnancy where MMR is contraindicated or some people have strong allergies to vaccines made from egg products)
   
3. where there is an insufficient time interval (you don't need to delay a visa or AOS waiting the required time for a second dose in a series. One dose is okay.)
   
4. when it is not the flu season
   

One last note: Despite having a perfect DS-3025, it they fail to match up your medical results with your AOS application, you will have to get the full exam done again. Sometimes they lose them. So just hope you aren't one of the unlucky few that happens to. The embassy and Knightsbridge do not keep a copy. I called them myself and asked. The only copy was in the envelope you turned ina POE. They can't approve you without medical results.

You just made my whole month!! THANK YOU!

[Dan & Jenni 457]

i have nothing at all to say on the subject but i want to be able to read through all the answers (including those in a link that was given) at a later date and commenting is the only way i know of making the thread easy to find lol

[Wishing on a Star 4]

Ok, so my fiance and I are not quite at the AOS level yet, but he has had his medical already. Here's our situation, any help would be greatly appreciated! His vaccination record from when he was a baby said he only had the Measles and Rubella vaccination (not mumps). He went in for a booster MMR from his GP 2 weeks before his medical. The doctor at the Knightsbridge clinic said he would need the 2nd MMR shot for it to be complete, and he couldn't get it quite yet as it hadn't been the 4 weeks in between that was required. She said that he could just got to his GP, get the 2nd shot and staple it to his filled out vaccination form she gave him back and that it should be ok. Now, will it really be ok? I haven't actually looked at his DS- 3025 to see if it was checked as "complete or incomplete." But will the USCIS accept this, since it really wasn't all completed by the medical doctor, but just stapled on and completed by his GP?

I'd just like it to be accurate for when he comes here! Should he get that sheet from his GP sent to Knightsbridge to be signed or anything? He'd have had it done there, I'm just concerned that since it wasn't all completed before his medical that now it won't count and he'd have to see a civil doc here. What should we do?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Ok, so my fiance and I are not quite at the AOS level yet, but he has had his medical already. Here's our situation, any help would be greatly appreciated! His vaccination record from when he was a baby said he only had the Measles and Rubella vaccination (not mumps). He went in for a booster MMR from his GP 2 weeks before his medical. The doctor at the Knightsbridge clinic said he would need the 2nd MMR shot for it to be complete, and he couldn't get it quite yet as it hadn't been the 4 weeks in between that was required. She said that he could just got to his GP, get the 2nd shot and staple it to his filled out vaccination form she gave him back and that it should be ok. Now, will it really be ok? I haven't actually looked at his DS- 3025 to see if it was checked as "complete or incomplete." But will the USCIS accept this, since it really wasn't all completed by the medical doctor, but just stapled on and completed by his GP?

I'd just like it to be accurate for when he comes here! Should he get that sheet from his GP sent to Knightsbridge to be signed or anything? He'd have had it done there, I'm just concerned that since it wasn't all completed before his medical that now it won't count and he'd have to see a civil doc here. What should we do?

First thing I want to say is there seems to be someone new at Knightsbridge this year who doles out advice without knowing US immigration laws and AOS procedure. No, a stapled on sheet doesn't meet the requirements. They also have started writing out notes on the DS-3025 about needing a booster. Insufficient time interval is a valid reason for a waiver. They don't need to write those notes. It's not in their technical instructions to comment on that.

Your DS-3025 can only be accepted if the shots were signed off by the US Embassy approved panel physician. The sheet that went to the embassy is what counts. A stapled on addendum by someone not certified as a panel physician isn't acceptable according to USCIS guidelines. It would be acceptable to a civil surgeon who would put the whole lot onto a new sheet (I-693) then he would sign off and seal it up for sending to USCIS. Your sheet alone with insufficient time interval is adequate. Many, many people have gotten greencards without finishing a series. (I'm assuming everything else was adequate on your form, ie chickenpox so the VH was marked)

You haven't had an interview yet, so Knightsbridge could fill out a new sheet and courier it to the embassy with a note about it should replace the one they sent. It would cost you something I'm sure. Or you could just forget the extra shot and get a waiver because "insufficient time interval" is one of the four reasons a waiver can be given. He was as complete as medically possible on the day of his interview. Done.

[Cherieish 0]

Wishing On A Star, that's sort of similar to what happened with my guy. He wanted to get the shots done at his personal doctor (I think because they were cheaper?) so he had them done there right after his Knightsbridge exam, but his personal doc sent the records over to Knightsbridge a few days later and the Knightsbridge doctor marked those shots as done. So I'm pretty sure any additional medical procedures still have to be signed off by the consulate doc.

[Wishing on a Star 4]

First thing I want to say is there seems to be someone new at Knightsbridge this year who doles out advice without knowing US immigration laws and AOS procedure. No, a stapled on sheet doesn't meet the requirements. They also have started writing out notes on the DS-3025 about needing a booster. Insufficient time interval is a valid reason for a waiver. They don't need to write those notes. It's not in their technical instructions to comment on that.

Your DS-3025 can only be accepted if the shots were signed off by the US Embassy approved panel physician. The sheet that went to the embassy is what counts. A stapled on addendum by someone not certified as a panel physician isn't acceptable according to USCIS guidelines. It would be acceptable to a civil surgeon who would put the whole lot onto a new sheet (I-693) then he would sign off and seal it up for sending to USCIS. Your sheet alone with insufficient time interval is adequate. Many, many people have gotten greencards without finishing a series. (I'm assuming everything else was adequate on your form, ie chickenpox so the VH was marked)

You haven't had an interview yet, so Knightsbridge could fill out a new sheet and courier it to the embassy with a note about it should replace the one they sent. It would cost you something I'm sure. Or you could just forget the extra shot and get a waiver because "insufficient time interval" is one of the four reasons a waiver can be given. He was as complete as medically possible on the day of his interview. Done.

Thanks for responding! I was wondering about that whole "staple it on there, it should be ok" thing. It didn't seem official to me. It seems ridiculous to me that he needs the 2nd MMR shot in the first place, as he had mumps as a child and had the Measles and Rubella and 1 of the 2 MMR booster done already. I will have to look at his form, but he had all of the other vaccinations needed (he had chickenpox as a kid and the rest of the shots). I'd think it should say that there was insufficient time interval, considering he only got the MMR 2 weeks in advance. The only one he didn't get was the flu vaccine, but I'm assuming that since we'll be applying for AOS after the flu season that he should be ok for that.

[Wishing on a Star 4]

Wishing On A Star, that's sort of similar to what happened with my guy. He wanted to get the shots done at his personal doctor (I think because they were cheaper?) so he had them done there right after his Knightsbridge exam, but his personal doc sent the records over to Knightsbridge a few days later and the Knightsbridge doctor marked those shots as done. So I'm pretty sure any additional medical procedures still have to be signed off by the consulate doc.

So, do you think that since it will be a few weeks still until he can get his second MMR done that the consulate doc would have time to send the new vaccination record to the London Embassy? I'm guessing we won't be assigned an interview date for awhile yet, would there still be time if he got that MMR end of December or so?

[Cherieish 0]

So, do you think that since it will be a few weeks still until he can get his second MMR done that the consulate doc would have time to send the new vaccination record to the London Embassy? I'm guessing we won't be assigned an interview date for awhile yet, would there still be time if he got that MMR end of December or so?

I'm not sure, but I think it's likely that they've already sent it over. My guy asked how long they take to send the results to the consulate and they said just a couple of days. So unless they were holding onto it because they knew he was going to get some more shots to add, they probably sent it already. :/ You could always call and ask though!

[Wishing on a Star 4]

I'm not sure, but I think it's likely that they've already sent it over. My guy asked how long they take to send the results to the consulate and they said just a couple of days. So unless they were holding onto it because they knew he was going to get some more shots to add, they probably sent it already. :/ You could always call and ask though!

That's true. It's just that the problem is, is that the results were going to be sent to the Embassy yesterday, and he can't get the 2nd MMR shot done for another week or 2. :/ Well, as Nich-Nick says, if he got checked off as insufficient time intervial (that's kind of what your man's seems to look like too) then I'd think we'd still be ok (as others have been approved with that). I will have to ask him tomorrow what his form says. He never did show it to me. lol. Oh, all those good old forms Thank you all so much for the info! I'm the type of person who researches everything to make sure I can make it all in the best order I can. I'm so glad I found this site! Thanks again!

[Cherieish 0]

That's true. It's just that the problem is, is that the results were going to be sent to the Embassy yesterday, and he can't get the 2nd MMR shot done for another week or 2. :/ Well, as Nich-Nick says, if he got checked off as insufficient time intervial (that's kind of what your man's seems to look like too) then I'd think we'd still be ok (as others have been approved with that). I will have to ask him tomorrow what his form says. He never did show it to me. lol. Oh, all those good old forms Thank you all so much for the info! I'm the type of person who researches everything to make sure I can make it all in the best order I can. I'm so glad I found this site! Thanks again!

I know, haha, everything that I put together for the I-129F was immaculate, but I never saw this paperwork until he arrived. I didn't get a chance to question what they put!

You can try calling anyway and see if you got lucky... if they haven't sent it yet they might hold it for you until you can get the 2nd shot. No harm in asking.

[Wishing on a Star 4]

I know, haha, everything that I put together for the I-129F was immaculate, but I never saw this paperwork until he arrived. I didn't get a chance to question what they put!

You can try calling anyway and see if you got lucky... if they haven't sent it yet they might hold it for you until you can get the 2nd shot. No harm in asking.

It's kind of exhausting, isn't it! haha! I'm surprised that I haven't lost any hair from the stress I know how much he hates getting shots, he's quite a baby about it! haha so if he doesn't reaaaally need the 2nd one that would be great. I really wish the "US approved docs" there wouldn't give false info then, if they said to just staple it on there. haha.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Wishing On A Star, that's sort of similar to what happened with my guy. He wanted to get the shots done at his personal doctor (I think because they were cheaper?) so he had them done there right after his Knightsbridge exam, but his personal doc sent the records over to Knightsbridge a few days later and the Knightsbridge doctor marked those shots as done. So I'm pretty sure any additional medical procedures still have to be signed off by the consulate doc.

Exactly what happened with my husband. His NHS doctor said he didn't need anything. (Note to all: It's American rules you have to follow so your NHS doctor is not the one to say what is okay based on British standards) So he needed Tdap/Td/DTP and told Knightsbridge to hold the forms until he got his shot. It was faxed over to Knightsbridge. They mailed him his photocopy of the DS-3025 after they filled it out.

Thanks for responding! I was wondering about that whole "staple it on there, it should be ok" thing. It didn't seem official to me. It seems ridiculous to me that he needs the 2nd MMR shot in the first place, as he had mumps as a child and had the Measles and Rubella and 1 of the 2 MMR booster done already. I will have to look at his form, but he had all of the other vaccinations needed (he had chickenpox as a kid and the rest of the shots). I'd think it should say that there was insufficient time interval, considering he only got the MMR 2 weeks in advance. The only one he didn't get was the flu vaccine, but I'm assuming that since we'll be applying for AOS after the flu season that he should be ok for that.

That is correct. If it was flu season at his medical, but not flu season when the adjudicator reviews your AOS, then they waive it. Another example they give in their manual is something like--if an 18 year old didn't get the Hep B shot at his medical but had turned 19 by AOS, then because a 19 year old isn't required to have that shot he no longer needs it.

So, do you think that since it will be a few weeks still until he can get his second MMR done that the consulate doc would have time to send the new vaccination record to the London Embassy? I'm guessing we won't be assigned an interview date for awhile yet, would there still be time if he got that MMR end of December or so?

Probably, but he doesn't need the booster because it was not medically appropriate at his medical. They would charge and no telling if the embassy would get it right. Might as well just pay a Civil Surgeon in the US if you really want that booster on his record. Start calling civil surgeons in your area and see what they would charge to do the vaccination portion only. If they say they have to do a whole medical or TB test, then hang up and call the next on the list. Problem is, after Jan 1 there is a "new" edition of the I-693 that's going to start a whole new panic du jour because of vague instructions and a poor layout. And doctors just don't keep up with their memos so will be doing the old version of the form. Then people will get RFEs for the old form, but their RFE will be so vaguely worded that people will think their shots were wrong. I have watched these panicks unfold on VJ in cycles since 2008 when they did away with the I-693A supplement. But way back then, we did not do an I-693 or a TB skin test which was the freak-out in the summer of 2008. Everytime it settles down, a new form or new TB test or new contactor company opening the mail throws it into a spin again.

If it was me, I would go with what you have and spend money on a Plan B only when somebody from USCIS said I had to. But it's your application so do what you think best. You will not get denied over this. Your life will not change even if you did get an RFE. They aren't going to snatch him away from you if they don't like your form or your shots.

I'm not sure, but I think it's likely that they've already sent it over.

They send it about 3 days after the medical when the blood test results get back from the lab.

[bigdog 376]

Good Luck

[Wishing on a Star 4]

Exactly what happened with my husband. His NHS doctor said he didn't need anything. (Note to all: It's American rules you have to follow so your NHS doctor is not the one to say what is okay based on British standards) So he needed Tdap/Td/DTP and told Knightsbridge to hold the forms until he got his shot. It was faxed over to Knightsbridge. They mailed him his photocopy of the DS-3025 after they filled it out.

That is correct. If it was flu season at his medical, but not flu season when the adjudicator reviews your AOS, then they waive it. Another example they give in their manual is something like--if an 18 year old didn't get the Hep B shot at his medical but had turned 19 by AOS, then because a 19 year old isn't required to have that shot he no longer needs it.

Probably, but he doesn't need the booster because it was not medically appropriate at his medical. They would charge and no telling if the embassy would get it right. Might as well just pay a Civil Surgeon in the US if you really want that booster on his record. Start calling civil surgeons in your area and see what they would charge to do the vaccination portion only. If they say they have to do a whole medical or TB test, then hang up and call the next on the list. Problem is, after Jan 1 there is a "new" edition of the I-693 that's going to start a whole new panic du jour because of vague instructions and a poor layout. And doctors just don't keep up with their memos so will be doing the old version of the form. Then people will get RFEs for the old form, but their RFE will be so vaguely worded that people will think their shots were wrong. I have watched these panicks unfold on VJ in cycles since 2008 when they did away with the I-693A supplement. But way back then, we did not do an I-693 or a TB skin test which was the freak-out in the summer of 2008. Everytime it settles down, a new form or new TB test or new contactor company opening the mail throws it into a spin again.

If it was me, I would go with what you have and spend money on a Plan B only when somebody from USCIS said I had to. But it's your application so do what you think best. You will not get denied over this. Your life will not change even if you did get an RFE. They aren't going to snatch him away from you if they don't like your form or your shots.

They send it about 3 days after the medical when the blood test results get back from the lab.

Thanks again for everything! I think I'll just follow your advise and if for whatever reason we get an RFE during the process then go to the civil surgeon. And that's still a ways away for us, so we've got time til we really have to "worry" about the process... Heck, he has to get here first

[Brit Abroad 166]

When I submitted my I-693A for AoS (requirements may have changed slightly between then and now) I had a couple of shots at the medical itself (required boosters to childhood vaccinations) and a couple of shots performed by the military docs on my husband's post. The latter ones required follow up shots to be complete, but the civil surgeon who transferred the records to the I-693A (we only paid $25 for the civil surgeon appointment so figured it was worth the cost to avoid a potential RFE) said that provided the first shot had been given there would be no issue with it being accepted.

Hope this helps.