Vaccine RFE

[houston100 2]

Hey guys,

Thanks for any advice in advance

I got an RFE today for my wife's AOS that states "Please provide the results of the vaccine history on form I-693, in a sealed envelope" (it's the only box checked out of 12 other potential RFE items)

My interpretation would be that we would only need to have the civil surgeon transcribe the vaccines, no physical exam (but I could be misinterpreting the above). Has anyone ever done this successfully in answering the above type of RFE (or do civil surgeons insist on full exam)? Or is it just safer to do the whole physical?

If we did the full physical, then there's at least one follow up for TB test reading, but I think we have all her needed vaccines. On the other hand, if I just get another RFE for not doing the whole thing, I'd rather just do it all at once and get it over with.

Thanks!

[Caryh 5,206]

Some civil surgeons will insist on doing en entire physical, while others are fine with transcribing. The civil surgeon we used for my wife's AOS was a bit in between those extremes as he required I get her boosters before he would transcribe the vaccination sheet. This transcribed sheet is provided by the civil surgeon in a sealed envelope, although he gave us a separate copy for our records, that sealed transcribed I-693 was all they require.

[Mountain Climber 186]

Some civil surgeons will insist on doing en entire physical, while others are fine with transcribing. The civil surgeon we used for my wife's AOS was a bit in between those extremes as he required I get her boosters before he would transcribe the vaccination sheet. This transcribed sheet is provided by the civil surgeon in a sealed envelope, although he gave us a separate copy for our records, that sealed transcribed I-693 was all they require.

My fiancee will need her varicella vaccination prior to us filing for AOS. Does she need to obtain the

shot from a Civil Surgeons or can she get it anywhere and just supply proof to the Civil Surgeon, to

transcribe to the I-693. Also, will she need to get the follow up dose for her MMR? She had the first

one at her medical.

Thanks

Edited August 6, 2014 by Mountain Climber

[Caryh 5,206]

My fiancee will need her varicella vaccination prior to us filing for AOS. Does she need to obtain the

shot from a Civil Surgeons or can she get it anywhere and just supply proof to the Civil Surgeon, to

transcribe to the I-693. Also, will she need to get the follow up dose for her MMR? She had the first

one at her medical.

Thanks

You're at the mercy of the civil surgeon you go to. Some will require they do it and charge through the nose, others could care less about the booster, as its not a requirement. The one we chose required the boosters, but we just had to bring the doctor's report that they had been completed. He told us he could do them, but they cost too much through him and he'd even help us finding lower cost alternatives if our insurance didn't cover it.

[nobbie 105]

Call a few and ask, you should not need another medical so try and find one who will just do the transcribing. I only had one shot of MMR at my medical but then I did not need to see a civil surgeon who may insist she has the second one. As said above you are at their mercy so call around. There is a thread on here somewhere of surgeons in different areas who are more reasonable than some.

Herein lies the problem of the lunatic for profit health system in the US, they can do and charge what they want and if you don't like it, tough. go somewhere else.

[houston100 2]

Thanks guys. Found a doctor in my area on the list of ones that don't rip you off for $50.

As for Varicella, I have doctor documented prior disease (she had chickenpox), so I'm hoping we're all set.

I called USCIS and they indeed said don't do another physical, just transcribe vaccines.

[houston100 2]

Hey guys, just an update. We went to the civil surgeon today, accepted everything and getting the sealed envelope back next week.

Curious thing we were told: the doctor went to a meeting with USCIS a few weeks ago, and was told that policy would be changing soon and full physicals (no more vaccine transcription only) would be required of everyone on K-1. Not sure if they just heard wrong or explained it wrong, but I'd be curious to hear if anyone has heard the same.

[CowBoE 429]

Hey guys,

Thanks for any advice in advance

I got an RFE today for my wife's AOS that states "Please provide the results of the vaccine history on form I-693, in a sealed envelope" (it's the only box checked out of 12 other potential RFE items)

My interpretation would be that we would only need to have the civil surgeon transcribe the vaccines, no physical exam (but I could be misinterpreting the above). Has anyone ever done this successfully in answering the above type of RFE (or do civil surgeons insist on full exam)? Or is it just safer to do the whole physical?

If we did the full physical, then there's at least one follow up for TB test reading, but I think we have all her needed vaccines. On the other hand, if I just get another RFE for not doing the whole thing, I'd rather just do it all at once and get it over with.

Thanks!

Hey, you are just couple of steps ahead of us. I'm also in Houston area.

My fiancee (in China) was not able to find complete shot records since her birth (unlike we do here in US).

Did your fiancee able to find her complete vaccination shot records in China?

Or are you just proceeding with shots determined during the K1 visa medical exam?

Thanks

[houston100 2]

Hey, you are just couple of steps ahead of us. I'm also in Houston area.

My fiancee (in China) was not able to find complete shot records since her birth (unlike we do here in US).

Did your fiancee able to find her complete vaccination shot records in China?

Or are you just proceeding with shots determined during the K1 visa medical exam?

Thanks

I don't think you need complete shot records since birth, only those age appropriate. See the chart here. http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/civil/vaccination-civil-technical-instructions.html

A lot of them are age inappropriate and so irrelevant (e.g., Polio, DTAP, etc.)

Most of the rest we were able to find in small yellow "immunization books" given out by the local immunization authority (only they are allowed to do it apparently).

The only one that was required she apparently didn't have was Tdap (effectively a 10 year booster). We didn't even know that - the doctor in China didn't say anything during her physical, didn't give her any records to keep, and just gave her a sealed packet. It was only after I got an RFE that I found out (which I'm responding to now).

For anything you can't find and that's age appropriate, you should be able to have blood work done or take the shot again (don't know which applies to which vaccine, but a doctor can tell you)

Hope that helps

[CowBoE 429]

I don't think you need complete shot records since birth, only those age appropriate. See the chart here. http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/civil/vaccination-civil-technical-instructions.html

A lot of them are age inappropriate and so irrelevant (e.g., Polio, DTAP, etc.)

Most of the rest we were able to find in small yellow "immunization books" given out by the local immunization authority (only they are allowed to do it apparently).

The only one that was required she apparently didn't have was Tdap (effectively a 10 year booster). We didn't even know that - the doctor in China didn't say anything during her physical, didn't give her any records to keep, and just gave her a sealed packet. It was only after I got an RFE that I found out (which I'm responding to now).

For anything you can't find and that's age appropriate, you should be able to have blood work done or take the shot again (don't know which applies to which vaccine, but a doctor can tell you)

Hope that helps

Ok. That helps. She's in her early 40's.

I was bit concerned because she says in China, they didn't keep good record of old shot records

so she was completely lost as to where to even begin to get that.

I just wanted her to try to find it because, every doctor visit or even to sign up for insurance sometimes,

they want you to fill out shot history.

But I guess we will do with what we have...

Thanks.

[Caryh 5,206]

Hey guys, just an update. We went to the civil surgeon today, accepted everything and getting the sealed envelope back next week.

Curious thing we were told: the doctor went to a meeting with USCIS a few weeks ago, and was told that policy would be changing soon and full physicals (no more vaccine transcription only) would be required of everyone on K-1. Not sure if they just heard wrong or explained it wrong, but I'd be curious to hear if anyone has heard the same.

I would think the guy heard wrong. There would need to be a change in the law, and this congress has done nothing with immigration laws. It also doesn't make a whole lot of sense either, as the K-1 goes through the exact same physical as a CR-1 goes through.

[clairegie 265]

Ok, I'm about to send in my AOS and I need clarification. Do I send the sealed envelope with my AOS packet?

[CowBoE 429]

I don't think you need complete shot records since birth, only those age appropriate. See the chart here. http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/civil/vaccination-civil-technical-instructions.html

A lot of them are age inappropriate and so irrelevant (e.g., Polio, DTAP, etc.)

Most of the rest we were able to find in small yellow "immunization books" given out by the local immunization authority (only they are allowed to do it apparently).

The only one that was required she apparently didn't have was Tdap (effectively a 10 year booster). We didn't even know that - the doctor in China didn't say anything during her physical, didn't give her any records to keep, and just gave her a sealed packet. It was only after I got an RFE that I found out (which I'm responding to now).

For anything you can't find and that's age appropriate, you should be able to have blood work done or take the shot again (don't know which applies to which vaccine, but a doctor can tell you)

Hope that helps

Hey Houston100,

So today, I find out that during my fiancee's medical exam, they also didn't give her the TD (Tdap) and

they marked it as "Not Routinely Available"...probably meaning they didn't have the supply to give it to her.

So she is also missing this shot like your fiancee.

So we need to go through the civil surgeon route like you to avoid the RFE. I also live in Houston area.

Can you share with me which doctor you went to? And what was the cost?

Also, I'm assuming they just did the transcribing and no medical exam, correct?

Thanks in advance

[CowBoE 429]

Ok, I'm about to send in my AOS and I need clarification. Do I send the sealed envelope with my AOS packet?

I'm preparing to do that in the near future, and that is my understanding.

It's also documented here...in step 20 & 21

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow

[CowBoE 429]

My fiancee will need her varicella vaccination prior to us filing for AOS. Does she need to obtain the

shot from a Civil Surgeons or can she get it anywhere and just supply proof to the Civil Surgeon, to

transcribe to the I-693. Also, will she need to get the follow up dose for her MMR? She had the first

one at her medical.

Thanks

I think some of this is already answered above, and I also confirm the following findings today on this myself.

1. She can get the Varicella shot from any doctor. (confirmed from USCIS site)

Might be cheaper, if you go through your insurance covered doctor.

2. Then you can take the shot record to the civil surgeon and have the transcribe it to I-693.

3. The MMR follow up shot is recommended for health reasons but is not required for AOS.