vaccinations for K1 visa

[Lauren and Kevin 55]

We were lucky - my GP is a complete romantic, and has known about and supported us in our Journey, and did all the extra injections for free - my advice - be honest and you may get a nice surprise

[vicks5721 18]

thank you everyone for your advice, we have decided to wait until I am in America to get my vaccinations, as MMR for sure will cost something and we can't afford it at the moment.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

thank you everyone for your advice, we have decided to wait until I am in America to get my vaccinations, as MMR for sure will cost something and we can't afford it at the moment.

Are you afraid to ring up and ask? "I need immunizations. Are they covered for adults?" My husband's GP did them free and they knew he was immigrating to America. Lots of people get them free.

Don't count on getting anything medical free or cheap in the US. Don't count on easily being added (immediately) to your husband's insurance, or that it won't cost hundreds more a month, or that they will actually fully cover your immunizations.

Also budget for the $1070 cost of adjusting status. Plus the civil surgeon. I've read all the crying posts from K1s who are in the US and trying to get their AOS sorted and civil surgeons who quote $240.

At least try for free shots on NHS.

[wbeem 568]

Are you afraid to ring up and ask? "I need immunizations. Are they covered for adults?" My husband's GP did them free and they knew he was immigrating to America. Lots of people get them free.

Don't count on getting anything medical free or cheap in the US. Don't count on easily being added (immediately) to your husband's insurance, or that it won't cost hundreds more a month, or that they will actually fully cover your immunizations.

Also budget for the $1070 cost of adjusting status. Plus the civil surgeon. I've read all the crying posts from K1s who are in the US and trying to get their AOS sorted and civil surgeons who quote $240.

At least try for free shots on NHS.

I agree with this. At least ask. My GP will not vaccinate adults for free, but is willing to give my daughter the boosters she needs without charge, because she's still a child. After reasoning with them, the Practice Nurse has (reluctantly) agreed to give me the Diptheria Tetanus Polio booster.

Vicks5721, you can get the flu shot at Boots for about £12. Even if you needed them all as an adult, you could do this for under £100 paying privately. It is going to cost a fortune and be time consuming as well, doing them in the USA if you can avoid them. Even if the cost were not a factor, I really want to be done with as much of this as soon as possible. I want to settle and live once I move. There's enough paperwork as is without having to run around to find a civil surgeon, in addition to the expense. At least think about it.

Edited February 9, 2015 by wbeem

[-Shana- 152]

I told my GP I was travelling, not immigrating and they did my MMR and Tetanus for free. If you don't mind telling a fib then do it! Avoid the costs.

[wbeem 568]

I told my GP I was travelling, not immigrating and they did my MMR and Tetanus for free. If you don't mind telling a fib then do it! Avoid the costs.

The majority of the reports I've read on here had the same experience. I think it depends on the doctor. I also pulled the traveling card the first time. She asked where and the immediate response as that I don't need vaccinations to travel to the USA. But I still got them to agree to do one of the boosters for me which would have cost in the region of £35. There are two of us (daughter as well) so the savings add up. The point is, as Nich Nick said, you have to ask or you won't know.

Hope your interview date comes soon Shana. I'm watching all of the timelines here now to see how long it takes from medical to letter of notification to interview. The better it goes for you, the better it looks for us

[-Shana- 152]

The majority of the reports I've read on here had the same experience. I think it depends on the doctor. I also pulled the traveling card the first time. She asked where and the immediate response as that I don't need vaccinations to travel to the USA. But I still got them to agree to do one of the boosters for me which would have cost in the region of £35. There are two of us (daughter as well) so the savings add up. The point is, as Nich Nick said, you have to ask or you won't know.

Hope your interview date comes soon Shana. I'm watching all of the timelines here now to see how long it takes from medical to letter of notification to interview. The better it goes for you, the better it looks for us

Interesting, I wonder why she treated your case differently to mine? I was really vague, said I was just going to visit different states and wasn't entirely sure where I'd end up. She even offered to give me a Hep A vaccination in case I was going to any areas where that's a problem! I suppose I got lucky. The nurse there isn't one to play by the rules entirely, she cuts corners when she thinks people are being too pedantic. I still didn't want to say I was immigrating though, since she probably would have told me it wasn't covered by NHS!

Aww, thanks a lot!! I'm certain I will spring on to the boards as soon as I have the letter!

[wbeem 568]

Interesting, I wonder why she treated your case differently to mine? I was really vague, said I was just going to visit different states and wasn't entirely sure where I'd end up. She even offered to give me a Hep A vaccination in case I was going to any areas where that's a problem! I suppose I got lucky. The nurse there isn't one to play by the rules entirely, she cuts corners when she thinks people are being too pedantic. I still didn't want to say I was immigrating though, since she probably would have told me it wasn't covered by NHS!

Aww, thanks a lot!! I'm certain I will spring on to the boards as soon as I have the letter!

This nurse plays by the book. She is very good. But she wont' bend the rules. I have skirted around the emigration phrase as i don't want to lie, but if she knows, she won't give me the DT&Polio shot.

I have had to do this with a few things. Daughter has braces so I'm not telling the orthodontist anything until we have an interview date, at which stage I suspect they will want the braces removed before we go.

I have also been ordering copious quantities of prescription contact lenses (stock piled about an 8 month supply for December when I was with my fiance and left them there) and I am delaying a couple of annual checks (optician and dentist) so that we have a freshly completed check up just before we go. The games you have to play!

[-Shana- 152]

This nurse plays by the book. She is very good. But she wont' bend the rules. I have skirted around the emigration phrase as i don't want to lie, but if she knows, she won't give me the DT&Polio shot.

I have had to do this with a few things. Daughter has braces so I'm not telling the orthodontist anything until we have an interview date, at which stage I suspect they will want the braces removed before we go.

I have also been ordering copious quantities of prescription contact lenses (stock piled about an 8 month supply for December when I was with my fiance and left them there) and I am delaying a couple of annual checks (optician and dentist) so that we have a freshly completed check up just before we go. The games you have to play!

Haha, that's the spirit! I used to stock pile the contraceptive pill when I was in Japan. I know I'll have to deal with buying it eventually but not before I can be cheeky!

[wbeem 568]

Haha, that's the spirit! I used to stock pile the contraceptive pill when I was in Japan. I know I'll have to deal with buying it eventually but not before I can be cheeky!

Oh, to clarify, I do pay for my lenses. I just don't think the optician would be very happy about me stock piling like I am, as an annual lens check is a mandatory condition to renewing the prescription.

I feel nothing about (finally) getting something small from the NHS. I've been a tax payer and made my NI contributions for a continuous period in excess of 20 years and have taken advantage of very few of the benefits of the health service. I'm going to make sure I get something before I leave. Even if it is just a tetanus shot.

[-Shana- 152]

Oh, to clarify, I do pay for my lenses. I just don't think the optician would be very happy about me stock piling like I am, as an annual lens check is a mandatory condition to renewing the prescription.

I feel nothing about (finally) getting something small from the NHS. I've been a tax payer and made my NI contributions for a continuous period in excess of 20 years and have taken advantage of very few of the benefits of the health service. I'm going to make sure I get something before I leave. Even if it is just a tetanus shot.

And gosh darnit you deserve a free tetanus shot!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I would say I was going on a mission trip to a sickly village in Africa to help Oprah.

[wbeem 568]

I would say I was going on a mission trip to a sickly village in Africa to help Oprah.

Well, damn! I missed a trick there. Perhaps I need to find a new GP for my new story!