Question about vaccination requirments AOS for K1 Visa

[NJCube 4]

Hi Everyone,

This site has been very helpful for the whole K1 process. We were able to get our K1 Visa 4 months after the initial petition submission!

Now, we need help with the AOS process.

My husband had his required K1 medical exam in Spain in November 2015. Everything went great. They told him that for a K1 visa, he wouldn't need to be concerned about his vaccine records. Since he didn't have the records and had no idea how to obtain them for vaccines he received as a child, we were relieved it was not required. They gave him a sealed envelope of his medical exam results which he gave to customs upon his arrival in the US

Now we are applying for the AOS and based on everything I've read for form I-693, it seems as if the vaccine portion of the form is required. Since we don't have any records of vaccines he has received, for health reasons we are concerned that he will be required to receive a bunch of vaccines. Is this absolutely required? If so, we had read that there is blood work that can be done that reveals what vaccines have been administered? is this true? Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Also, we have no record of the medical exam that he had done in Spain since he gave the sealed envelope to customs. I'm assuming it get's entered in the system somehow so he doesn't have to get re-examined?

Thanks!

Rich

[Dohan 133]

he does not have to be re-examined, the K-1 medical is usually valid for 1 year. But check in the spain forum, I heard that some countries have medicals expire after 6 months, just to be safe, check

[cocaccro 0]

I have this exact question, although my fiancé (now husband!) is from France. He gave his medical report at customs and they made no indication he would need them again. He wasn't even allowed to open the envelope to make a copy.

Do we still need to submit any part of the I-693? I understand he may not need to be re-examined, but surely some proof is necessary? If not, should I address this issue in the cover letter for the AOS application?

[NJCube 4]

Hi Everyone,

I did some further research and think I answered some of my questions.

Apparently the vaccines required are age specific. There are charts available at the CDC website. Also, If you have no records of previous vaccines you might have already received, you can have your doctor test you for immunity against Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Chicken Pox. You can bring those results to the Civil Surgeon and in theory, he should only have to administer the remaining required vaccines according to your age. That's my understanding. Hope this helps

Still not sure about the second part of my question:

"we have no record of the medical exam that he had done in Spain since he gave the sealed envelope to customs. I'm assuming it get's entered in the system somehow so he doesn't have to get re-examined?

[francais_usa 74]

I have this exact question, although my fiancé (now husband!) is from France. He gave his medical report at customs and they made no indication he would need them again. He wasn't even allowed to open the envelope to make a copy.

Do we still need to submit any part of the I-693? I understand he may not need to be re-examined, but surely some proof is necessary? If not, should I address this issue in the cover letter for the AOS application?

My husband is also from France. Your husband should have received a copy of the ds3025 vaccination record, and he should use that as a reference when deciding whether or not he needs more vaccines. If he does, he needs to complete the I-693 with a panel physician. No one receives anything in the sealed packet--it should remain sealed and is given to the border office at POE.

[cocaccro 0]

Thanks francais_usa. He did not receive a copy of the DS-3025. When did your husband receive it? Was it in the mail? I am wondering if it is just in USCIS's records since he turned it in at customs.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

he does not have to be re-examined, the K-1 medical is usually valid for 1 year. But check in the spain forum, I heard that some countries have medicals expire after 6 months, just to be safe, check

The requirements of the medical and vaccinations for AOS do not change based on which country the K-1 exam was done in. The requirements are across the board for everyone adjusting from a K-1.

Hi Everyone,

I did some further research and think I answered some of my questions.

Apparently the vaccines required are age specific. There are charts available at the CDC website. Also, If you have no records of previous vaccines you might have already received, you can have your doctor test you for immunity against Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Chicken Pox. You can bring those results to the Civil Surgeon and in theory, he should only have to administer the remaining required vaccines according to your age. That's my understanding. Hope this helps

Still not sure about the second part of my question:

"we have no record of the medical exam that he had done in Spain since he gave the sealed envelope to customs. I'm assuming it get's entered in the system somehow so he doesn't have to get re-examined?

Yes, they are age appropriate. See this pinned thread > http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/551080-immunizations-ds-3025-or-i-693/

If you did not have the required vaccinations at the time of your K-1 medical and have them marked off on a properly filled out DS-3025, then you need to see a civil surgeon to get the vaccinations marked off on an I-693.

You do not need a copy of the medical exam, and yes, it was included in the sealed envelope you handed in at your POE. All those documents are sent to the USCIS.

[Dohan 133]

I did not say that the requirements change.

I said that for some countries, as I have been told by several people, the medical done for the K1 is only valid for 6 months. I don't know why. So all I said was check.

Some moderators really just love pointing out people are wrong without actually reading what we said.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

I did not say that the requirements change.

I said that for some countries, as I have been told by several people, the medical done for the K1 is only valid for 6 months. I don't know why. So all I said was check.

Some moderators really just love pointing out people are wrong without actually reading what we said.

I am not a mod, and I read what you said. I am trying to make this less confusing for the OP.

What is there to check on? The requirements are the same, even for those from Spain. The medical expiring within 6 months would be for getting the K-1 visa(which is also not country specific), and not for AOS. The OP already has the K-1 visa and is applying for AOS. The requirements for AOS is that you had to have the K-1 medical done within a year of filing, no matter which country you had the exam in.

Medical validity for K-1 visa(not applicable any longer) > http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/578192-k-visa-valid-for-how-long-before-us-entry/?p=7926480

Medical validity for AOS > http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/555299-medical-will-expire-before-the-aos-interview/?p=7703568

[francais_usa 74]

Thanks francais_usa. He did not receive a copy of the DS-3025. When did your husband receive it? Was it in the mail? I am wondering if it is just in USCIS's records since he turned it in at customs.

Did he have his medical exam done in Paris and if so, was it Dr. Slatterly (sp?)? He should contact the office where he received his medical exam, and they should have a copy on file that they can e-mail. If not, it will create a lot of problems if you can't remember what vaccinations were done, as you wouldn't know whether or not to get more done from a civil surgeon. USCIS will have the original that was included in that packet--the copy is for your personal record.

[bendacott 0]

Hi there,

I recently went through this and just filed my paperwork for my AOS. I had EXACTLY the same questions, so I called USCIS and spoke with them to get the correct information. They told me:

1. The medical is valid for 1 year ONLY IF it was originally performed by a U.S. Civil Surgeon (so he will have to have the medical re-done - phone around to ask about the cost from the list of approved physicians because some are cheaper than others but they all offer the same medical service).
2. The Vaccination portion is required and he will have to have certain vaccinations again if he has no record of them from Spain. My physician said that he has left these out of the package for some patients at their request (because they didn't want the flu shot), and they ALL received an RFE stating that they needed proof of having had this shot, so it's better to have it now and avoid the hassle down the road.

I hope that this help!

Best of Luck!

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Hi there,

I recently went through this and just filed my paperwork for my AOS. I had EXACTLY the same questions, so I called USCIS and spoke with them to get the correct information. They told me:

1. The medical is valid for 1 year ONLY IF it was originally performed by a U.S. Civil Surgeon (so he will have to have the medical re-done - phone around to ask about the cost from the list of approved physicians because some are cheaper than others but they all offer the same medical service). <-- This is absolutely not true. For those adjusting from a K-1, they needed to have their K-1 medical exam, from the panel physician abroad, within a year of filing. If the K-1 exam was within a year of filing for AOS, then they do not need another exam. See the pinned thread at the top of this forum, the I-485 and I-693 instructions, plus the link I posted above to the USCIS policies.
2. The Vaccination portion is required and he will have to have certain vaccinations again if he has no record of them from Spain. My physician said that he has left these out of the package for some patients at their request (because they didn't want the flu shot), and they ALL received an RFE stating that they needed proof of having had this shot, so it's better to have it now and avoid the hassle down the road.

I hope that this help!

Best of Luck!

[NJCube 4]

The Vaccination portion is required and he will have to have certain vaccinations again if he has no record of them from Spain. My physician said that he has left these out of the package for some patients at their request (because they didn't want the flu shot), and they ALL received an RFE stating that they needed proof of having had this shot, so it's better to have it now and avoid the hassle down the road.

I hope that this help!

Best of Luck!

Hi,

Thanks for the advise. This seems so unfair to me. I understand that certain vaccines are required but to force people to have the flu shot makes no sense. We here as US citizens have the option to get the flu shot or not. Why should a foreign national be forced to take it? It's nonsense.