Progress thread for TSC filers now between NVC and Interview Stage

[ChasUno 101]

No problem, not trying to question your knowledge (we don't all know what each person does/ doesn't know), though as there seemed to be different info floating around with a lack of clarity in some statements, I was going by the VJ guide and also what I was told by my practice Nurse (and doctor when I had the initial consultation). Clarity needs to be made with regards to AOS requirements - Nich-Nick should be able to come along and make everything clear. By the time I have my medical I will have had all the required vaccinations, including MMR booster as I am aiming to reduce any potential issues/ RFE's once I get to the USA.

[CheekyMonkeys154 27]

As I said before, if you read a few pages back in this same thread she already went over this bit for me regarding AOS that's what I was quoting from. But have to scroll back awhile to see it.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

US immigration requirement is 2 doses of MMR. 90% of the people are immune with one dose, but the second shot is precautionary to cover the other 10%. Most now have two as a child. Perhaps some were under an earlier UK schedule where only 1 dose was required so they only have one on record. Some are older than the MMR shot or have no childhood records so have nothing to prove they have been immunized even once for MMR.

So let's say you have no record of MMR. You can not go get two doses in one day. It is medically required to have a minimum of 28 days or more between MMR shots. The Dept of State does not require anybody to put their immigration on ice while they complete an entire series of shots. That means when full immunization requires multiples of the same shot, and there are medical waiting periods in between doses, the DOS does not make you wait it out. Nor do they make you wait until a pregnancy is over just so you can get a MMR shot. (MMR is contraindicated during pregnancy.) They give you a blanket waiver.

If you had your first ever recorded MMR shot at your GP then attended your medical less than 28 days later, they could not medically give you the required second dose. So you get the waiver "insufficient time interval".

If you had your first ever recorded shot at your GP then attended your medical more than 28 days later, then there is no medical reason why they could not give dose 2. You are not eligible for a waiver, so you get the shot or decline and are not complete for your AOS.

If you are pregnant, you can not medically have a MMR shot, so get a blanket waiver. The waiver has nothing to do with time interval. The waiver is "Contraindicated". That means it is not appropriate for the individual because of the pregnancy.

[CheekyMonkeys154 27]

Thanks that's what I meant. Lol

Edited May 5, 2015 by DeborahNeil

[ChasUno 101]

Sorry to cause all of the confusion. My James had 2 doses of MMR. The first dose was 5 December 2014, the second dose 20 January 2015. The doses were more than 4 weeks apart, both documented with complete dates on the same page as all of his other immunizations.

When he had his medical, the vaccination form they wrote "governmental restriction" under the MMR space. I had him ask them to correct the form as he has had his two doses since he needed to given them the additional medical information they had requested anyway. The person he spoke to told him that they had already forwarded the results of the medical and that they had arrived on Friday and that the MMR was documented that way because it requires 3 doses. That is incorrect but he didn't want to argue because he was just happy they had sent on his medical results.

Thanks for clarifying. Sorry to hear that the medical office seem to have been completely wrong over James needing 3 x MMR doses. I never like to rock the boat, though I would have seriously challenged that and asked to speak with a supervisor.

Can I ask, you mention that you work as a nurse? I take it that you are the USC? I'm a UK registered nurse (since 2010) and would like to continue practicing as a nurse in the USA. However, the way they now train nurses in the UK means I suspect that the CGFNS won't approve my qualifications as we have to choose one speciality branch (Adult, Mental Health or Paediatric) at University. We are no longer 'General' nurses. Are you aware of any more recently qualified UK nurses that managed to cross the Atlantic and work in the USA? Do you know if they found it easy to get approved to sit the NCLEX?

[TLSR2014 9]

Thanks for clarifying. Sorry to hear that the medical office seem to have been completely wrong over James needing 3 x MMR doses. I never like to rock the boat, though I would have seriously challenged that and asked to speak with a supervisor.

Can I ask, you mention that you work as a nurse? I take it that you are the USC? I'm a UK registered nurse (since 2010) and would like to continue practicing as a nurse in the USA. However, the way they now train nurses in the UK means I suspect that the CGFNS won't approve my qualifications as we have to choose one speciality branch (Adult, Mental Health or Paediatric) at University. We are no longer 'General' nurses. Are you aware of any more recently qualified UK nurses that managed to cross the Atlantic and work in the USA? Do you know if they found it easy to get approved to sit the NCLEX?

Yes, if I had been there a lot more arguing would have been done, but they were lucky and just had to deal with my James.

Yes, I am the USC. I'm afraid I don't know of any UK nurses who have taken NCLEX, but several Filipino nurses have done so. I think if they are able to pass with the language difficulty it wouldn't be too difficult, though the different areas of study and differences in drug names would require probably a review course or several.

[ChasUno 101]

Yes, if I had been there a lot more arguing would have been done, but they were lucky and just had to deal with my James.

Yes, I am the USC. I'm afraid I don't know of any UK nurses who have taken NCLEX, but several Filipino nurses have done so. I think if they are able to pass with the language difficulty it wouldn't be too difficult, though the different areas of study and differences in drug names would require probably a review course or several.

Thanks for that, I'm always hoping to hear more UK nurses are managing to get to work in the USA though it seems a rarity. Filipino nurse training programmes are the same as USA nurse training - they are trained in all the same areas of practice and theory to pass the NCLEX. UK nurses no longer are (I believe it is deliberate to stop many of our nurses being poached overseas). As mentioned, we have to choose a speciality path at University and I chose Adult. As such I lack much in the areas of Mental Health and Paeds. Despite nearly 5 years experience and specialising in Cardiology nursing, I'll likely have to go back to school and take classes to fill in the gaps of required practice and theory. *sigh*. Unless I get lucky with my CGFNS evaluation (in progress), only time will tell.

[CheekyMonkeys154 27]

Oh yay yay! They finally forwarded James's medical on to the embassy on Friday, status updated today. He had to get additional records from his doctor, that didnt say anything more than what he had already brought in, but it must have satisfied them.

Still didn't get the MMR thing on his vaccinations straigtened out. They say that he requires 3 doses and so that is why they wrote the "government restrictions". I was under the impression that 2 doses were sufficient but perhaps his were too close together (4 weeks). At this point I don't care as long as we get past this.

So now we are farther behind but just glad to be back to waiting without as much of the worry.

And btw congrats on finally getting the results over if I didn't say before. What a long awful day. Interview for everyone soon ?

[CheekyMonkeys154 27]

Our case was updated too but that's actually our 3rd update now so IMO it could be the results are in or they sent out the interview letters. Clearly I'm being highly optimistic lol ?

Any news yet for your guys interview date?

[luckyanna 0]

Any news yet for your guys interview date?

I had medical on 16th of April and still no interview date :(

Drives me crazy, at least to say.

Just wondering who has received packet 4 recently in UK?

[JamesRenee 47]

Any news yet for your guys interview date?

Not yet. I think it might depend on what you put for your intended wedding date? I purposely put ours the end of May hoping to have an earlier interview. Whether that will actually work or not I don't know. I was "expecting" to get a letter the end of this week or beginning of next week....if it takes about 2 weeks for them to send the letter after the medical. James' medical was April 23, so if I count out 2 weeks (and I don't include weekends) that would be May 13th. I think Lee's letter came 9 days after her medical (not counting weekends). I'm anxious to get the letter but it's so hard to determine how they send those out.

[CheekyMonkeys154 27]

I had medical on 16th of April and still no interview date :(

Drives me crazy, at least to say.

Just wondering who has received packet 4 recently in UK?

I would almost go ahead Anna and email them because a girl on here had been waiting over 20 days and she hadn't heard anything or rec'd packet 4 so she emailed them and they had already scheduled it for the next week but she didn't get the letter. So you might email them and see and say it might be lost. Since it's almost been a month. Just tell them you think that you didn't receive packet 4 in the mail. If they don't answer then you haven't hurt anything by asking, but if they do like hers you'll know the date. When was the last update done on your case on the website? Because Lee got her packet 4 awhile back and her medical was 04/11 so I would think you would've gotten yours.

Not yet. I think it might depend on what you put for your intended wedding date? I purposely put ours the end of May hoping to have an earlier interview. Whether that will actually work or not I don't know. I was "expecting" to get a letter the end of this week or beginning of next week....if it takes about 2 weeks for them to send the letter after the medical. James' medical was April 23, so if I count out 2 weeks (and I don't include weekends) that would be May 13th. I think Lee's letter came 9 days after her medical (not counting weekends). I'm anxious to get the letter but it's so hard to determine how they send those out.

And yeah hers was 9 days so I keep hoping it is this week. All this uncertainty is driving me crazy lol I just want a date so that I can plan everything the rest of the way. And I thought it was by that date too but then again I don't think so, so who knows honestly. :/

[CheekyMonkeys154 27]

I also noticed that your medical was 04/16 but you didn't send your readiness until 04/19 so even if your medical results got there first it would be based on 04/19 date or when they recd the medical results, whichever came last.

[wbeem 568]

Hi all

I've not been very good at keeping up here the last few days. I'm finishing up at work end of next week and things have been a bit chaotic, including my mood at times

I noticed that the CEAC updated the day the issued the interview letter. It took two days to arrive. I also called NVC (the letter had been issued, but I didn't know at the time) and they gave me my interview date over the phone and said it had been assigned on Monday April 21st.

I'm not sure they pay attention to the intended wedding date if it is too soon. Our actual planned wedding date was at the end of May. WIth the interview date they assigned it was way too risky to stick with that date. If the visa takes more than 8 days to arrive (and there is a bank holiday the Monday after my interview so we have to expect that it will take a little longer) we may have been flying in the night before the wedding.

It's all a big mystery and like the rest of this process.

I tracked the case status updates while we were waiting and it updated as follows:

When the case arrived at the embassy

When the readiness form was received

When the medical results were received

when the interview date was assigned and the letter was issued

When the MRV fee was paid and appointment date confirmed

I hope that helps.

And yes, Deborah is correct that they won't do anything until they have everything they need from you, so they will consider you for an interview only once they have received the last thing they are waiting for, whether that be the medical results or the readiness form. I don't believe it makes an iota of a difference what you send first. Once they have it all, it seems to trigger the system to generate an interview date.

[CheekyMonkeys154 27]

Hi Lee, glad to see everything is ok. Thanks for the input. I think we are all stressed to the max with the waiting and not knowing. I just want a date so I can plan our wedding and family vacation because I keep putting it off and my daughter is getting impatient and wants to know when. Lol!