AOS and pregnancy

[gretchen_darren 67]

Working on AOS and trying to get paperwork submitted. But in trying to get vaccines done, have been unable to because of spouse being pregnant. We thought of waiting to file until after the baby is born so her vaccination record can be updated. However, I have been reading that waiting to file after 6 months past the K-1 expiration can cause the AP to be denied and possibly cause out of status accrual time.

She has some of the vaccines, but not all. If I submit a statement of spouse being pregnant with vaccines being completed after baby is born will the statement be honored?

Any advice?

[gretchen_darren 67]

so far all I can find is what it says on page 6 of the instructions:

USCIS may grant you a waiver based on the civil surgeon's certification on the vaccination supplement. HHS has determined that a vaccine is "not medically appropriate" if:

....

b. there is a medical reason why it would not be safe to have the vaccine

c. you are unable to complete the entire series of a required vaccine in a reasonable amount of time.

the problem is may grant a waiver.... Does this mean I have to find a civil surgeon certifiying the vaccines canot be given at this time due to pregnancy?

[Caryh 5,206]

You need to see a civil surgeon to at a minimum transcribe the vaccination record. The civil surgeon we went to see, looked over her vaccination record from her medical and told us which ones she needed to have before we went to see him. He had us fax the record over first. I'm quite sure there was at least one he said she did not need and noted that on the sealed paperwork. I believe he said it was age inappropriate? The civil surgeon appeared to be very up to date and what's going on and was even aware of a form that had just been changed literally days within us showing up.

[Tahoma 2,292]

Which vaccinations are you referring to? If she got shots at St. Lukes for Tdap, MMR, and the flu, she's already good to go for her AOS.

Just take her DS-3025 to a civil surgeon who knows the drill. The only thing the civil surgeon needs to do is to transcribe the info from her DS-3025 onto her I-693. It should take about 15 minutes and it shouldn't cost more than $30-40.

[gretchen_darren 67]

she opted out of shots at St. Luke's saying she might be pregnant. (she wasn't pregnant until October after we were in the USA.) I am making an appointment with a civil surgeon to see what can be done or how complete her medical is. I am hoping to be lucky, but then again.... nothing in life is ever easy......

the DS-3025 is completely empty. Nothing on it, just states opted out.

[Tahoma 2,292]

she opted out of shots at St. Luke's saying she might be pregnant. (she wasn't pregnant until October after we were in the USA.) I am making an appointment with a civil surgeon to see what can be done or how complete her medical is. I am hoping to be lucky, but then again.... nothing in life is ever easy......

the DS-3025 is completely empty. Nothing on it, just states opted out.

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't spend any money on a civil surgeon just yet. Since your wife's due date is in July, I would send in the AOS packet (without including the I-693) a couple of months before her due date. You may or may not get an RFE regarding the I-693. If you get an RFE, you can deal with getting the vaccinations after she gives birth. If I remember correctly, you would have 30 days to respond to the RFE.

One benefit of sending in the AOS packet is that the NOA letter you receive from the USCIS is her proof of status.

[renecherubs 18]

you can refer to this:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-693instr.pdf

go to section III frequently asked questions.no. 2

it is on page 4

[Leatherneck 693]

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't spend any money on a civil surgeon just yet. Since your wife's due date is in July, I would send in the AOS packet (without including the I-693) a couple of months before her due date. You may or may not get an RFE regarding the I-693. If you get an RFE, you can deal with getting the vaccinations after she gives birth. If I remember correctly, you would have 30 days to respond to the RFE.

One benefit of sending in the AOS packet is that the NOA letter you receive from the USCIS is her proof of status.

[gretchen_darren 67]

it is only going to cost me $160 to meet with the civil surgeon. My worry in sending in the packet, is they deny it, or reject after cashing the check instead of RFE. The AOS packet says to include the I693 in a sealed envelope from the civil surgeon in the packet filing.

The "front desk" person thinks the civil surgeon will look at the vaccines history, then mark cannot complete remaining due to pregnancy at this time, but will be completed after birth of baby. If the civil surgeon does that, we will be good. But wil have to wait and see. I just don't want to risk the chance of losing AP for her. The EAD would be nice so we can get her SSN for the hospital and stop my insurance from complaining.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

she opted out of shots at St. Luke's saying she might be pregnant. (she wasn't pregnant until October after we were in the USA.) I am making an appointment with a civil surgeon to see what can be done or how complete her medical is. I am hoping to be lucky, but then again.... nothing in life is ever easy......

the DS-3025 is completely empty. Nothing on it, just states opted out.

Because she opted out of vaccines as indicated on her DS-3025 she will need a civil surgeon.

The only shot she will need is Tdap (or Td). Varicella and MMR are contraindicated during pregnancy. The CS will indicate those can not be given and say she is eligible for a blanket waiver. The flu shot will be indicated as "not flu season" and that is another reason a shot can be waived. The USCIS will waive the shots and she never has to get them for immigration purposes. The civil surgeon should do only the shot portion and not do an exam or a TB test. That was covered at St. Lukes and is on record in her immigration file. (Did she have an x-ray or sputum test?) $160 sounds pricey for what she needs. Call around.

If she is opposed to Tdap, which is okay to have during pregnancy, then you will have to wait to file after getting the shot. At that time she will no longer be pregnant so will deal with MMR and Varicella too. And if by that time a year has passed since her medical exam, then a full medical will be needed. If shs's not agreeable to a Tdap at this time, then save your Civil Surgeon money until she is ready to have the shot(s).

[gretchen_darren 67]

Thanks, She has had a TB shot and x-rays. Also she had Hep-b shots before getting here. I do not know if she got Tdap and MMR but I think she did those as well. I tried to have her get all of the shots before us going to the embassy while we were waiting for clearance. I have called around phoenix to several civil surgeosn. The $160 was as cheap as I could get. With shots, it would be much much more. I will submit to my insurance after payment, I may be eligible for some reimbursement or I can write off on taxes.

I don't think she needs an exam as St Lukes was last Sept. Just trying to focus on today right now... not trying to look at tomorrow..... if I look too far ahead I will feel overwhelmed.....

[Darnell 8,479]

the problem is may grant a waiver.... Does this mean I have to find a civil surgeon certifiying the vaccines canot be given at this time due to pregnancy?

Yes.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thanks, She has had a TB shot and x-rays. Also she had Hep-b shots before getting here. I do not know if she got Tdap and MMR but I think she did those as well. I tried to have her get all of the shots before us going to the embassy while we were waiting for clearance. I have called around phoenix to several civil surgeosn. The $160 was as cheap as I could get. With shots, it would be much much more. I will submit to my insurance after payment, I may be eligible for some reimbursement or I can write off on taxes.

I don't think she needs an exam as St Lukes was last Sept.

No she doesn't need an exam but the $160 you were quoted may be the price for an exam was my point. So ask for immunizations only without the exam if you haven't done so. Many doctors don't seem to have a clue about K1s only needing the immunization section completed so they quote a full exam price.

"I think" won't work with the doctor. If she got immunizations, then she needs it written and signed by the clinic doctor where they were done. It could be her family doctor, but you need documentation.

Just trying to focus on today right now... not trying to look at tomorrow..... if I look too far ahead I will feel overwhelmed.....

????

Confusing because you started discussing having to apply for AOS after the baby is born. That's looking at "tomorrow". Now you want to do something "today". Also confusing because you said she declined all shots. Then you said you think she got shots.

You have two choices--"Today" and "tomorrow/far ahead"

1. Get (or prove she already had) a Tdap shot now and have a civil surgeon sign off and mark the ones not appropriate for a pregnant woman. Apply for AOS soon.[today]

2. Wait on the baby and get (or prove she already had) Tdap, MMR, Varicella. Have a civil surgeon sign off. Apply for AOS later after baby is born. [far ahead]

[gretchen_darren 67]

today and tomorrow is referring to something else... not the AOS.... I am simply stating I am focusing on one day at a time right now versus long term planning...I am making a list of everything I need to do each day, then working on accomplishing those goals....If I focus on everything going on, and all the problems right now.... borrow from tomorrow what already has not yet happened and may not happen but yet might happen if I expect it to happen.

I found I can submit to insurance with diagnosis code V70.3 Medical examination for administrative purposes, immigration and naturalization

It will probably be paid out of network after deductible. But still, can help with deductible and maybe reduce my costs of baby being born.

Just took Gretchen to the Dentist this afternoon for a bad tooth which turns out needs a root canal. She is missing the tooth in front of it. (she lost that tooth at 18) Adding a root canal and crown on top of a baby being born.... besides a car needing a new engine, car payments, house issues, AOS, teaching her how to drive (or driving school), baby proofing house again, baby clothes, diapers, etc, and other petty things.... I could easily feel overwhelmed. right now my goal is one day at a time....do what needs done today....

[gretchen_darren 67]

I have called around Phoenix. (not many Doctors listed here. All want some sort of monetary payment even for just shot records. It may be adjusted during the visit. I am just going on what was told to me over the phone. $160 cash no shots, $360 cash with shots. No exam is needed, just shot records filled out, but they are still charging for the exam. This is the case for ALL of the civil surgeons in Phoenix. Maybe different elsewhere, but with the recent AZ laws of immigration, receptionists at civil surgeon offices are tight lipped on the phone. I am trying to get to the civil surgeons but the "gatekeepers" do not know what I am talking about since fiancee visa is only less then 1% of their business.

She has had shots BEFORE going to St. Lukes. I paid for a lot of shots to be done. I am trying to read her medical records, but then again, I am no expert on reading notations. How much she has had, I do not know. We do have bloodwork and lab tests from the ob/gyn which we are taking as well. These will show some vaccines are showing up in lab tests. Again, I do not know if the whole list is covered. But the lab tests will help us at the civil surgeons office.

the I-94 expired on Dec 17, six months from then is June 17. baby girl is due July 4. I have read and been told if you wait to file AOS until after the six months of the I-94 expiring, you can accrue out of status time, and lose AP. (also possibly get hit with a 3 year ban on re-entry.) Looking at the updated I-693 form, there is no valid reason to wait to file which would cause a waiver to be given for filing late.

We were planning on waiting until after the baby girl was born. We want to travel back to philippines around late September 2012 (baby 3 months) and sometime between November 2012 to March 2013 (baby 6 to 9 months). and the possible loss of AP, I decided to get it filed now. Our goal is to travel back twice a year. (plus I do not want to lose my premier elite status with Philippine airlines plus get Gretchen to premier elite status --take at least two more round trip flights for her.) (hopefully taking one or both of my 2 older boys. Going to be fun getting the passports since my ex also has to sign the passport application),

On Wednesday after the civil surgeon, we just have to drop the sealed envelope into the main envelope, and place in the mail.

based on filing timelines:

AOS:

file 4/19/2012

1st NOA: expected 5/3/2012

Biometrics: expected: 5/24/2012

interview date: expected 8/9/2012

green card: expected 8/23/2012

AP:

file 4/19/2012

1st NOA: expected 5/3/2012

Biometrics: expected: 5/24/2012

AP approval: expected 6/23/2012

EAD:

file 4/19/2012

1st NOA: expected 5/3/2012

Biometrics: expected: 5/24/2012

EAD approval: expected 6/23/2012

Edited April 13, 2012 by gretchen_darren