K-1 Vaccinations - clarification

[Russel1995 163]

51 minutes ago, nics222 said:

Vaccinations are absolutely not optional, I was told by the doc in Amsterdam that I would fail the exam if I didn't have all vaccinations on the list, it cost me a fortune over a few months, but it was the only way forward. 

This is from the DS-3025 of my wife.

 

If you did a CR1 visa (given green card at port of entry), then that medical exam is slightly different and the vaccines are required.

Edited March 15, 2020 by Russel1995

[Russel1995 163]

This part is not optional for the AOS,

 

Note last section it state if the DS3025 was not completed at the overseas medical, you will require the vaccination section of i693 to be completed. Not a full medical exam.  Simply get vaccines done at a local clinic, then bring those records ro a civil surgeon to transcibe into the vaccination portion of i693 and file with the AOS or being with to the interview. (does not need to be filed with the i485, but doing so makes it easier)

[Russel1995 163]

1 hour ago, Greenbaum said:

https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/civil/vaccination-civil-technical-instructions.html#tbl1

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/vaccinations.html

 

https://www.uscis.gov/news/questions-and-answers/vaccination-requirements

Adding to the links provided, this link will help you locate nearby civil surgeons to better determine costs if you elect to wait.

 

https://my.uscis.gov/findadoctor

 

Call and ask how much they charge for transcibing the vaccines for a k1 visa.  some will say you need a full exam.. hang up and call another.

 

I spent 2 days calling and emailing to find the lowest cost civil surgeon near me.

 

[J+J 49]

Thanks for all the responses.  I do think what is best (vaccines overseas or in the states) will depend on a case by case and is not a ""no brainer"..not just around cost - for my case, my fiance will have to take a three day return journey to go get vaccinations in Bangkok - which is also expensive and means time from work.  In the US, this could be done in a few hours.

 

Follow-up question - some of these vaccines require two doses, especially for those with specific health conditions.  Do BOTH doses need to be completed before AOS, or just the first?

 

Thank you all once again

[J+J 49]

Ah nevermind, in reading the links posted I see only the first dose is required.

[geowrian 22,337]

They are technicaly optional for the K-1 visa.

Having them done in the US instead typically has 2 concerns:

1) Cost (if any); and

2) Finding a Civil Surgeon (CS) who will transcribe them without requiring a new medical.

Note that a new medical is not required if AOS is filed within 1 year of the original physical abroad...but finding a CS who is willing to transcribe them w/o one can become a huge hassle. Many people have been bit with this an either spent so much time and/or had so much frustration in doing so, that they regretted their decision not to have them abroad. Time/effort of making the calls and arguing with staff on what is actually needed was just not worth the (little) in savings.

[Ameshia carpenter 1]

12 hours ago, JL0583 said:

I was planning on getting my vaccinations topped up now, whilst waiting for the NOA2... would that be wise?

 

We only just got our NOA1 last week, but anything I can do to be 'ready' for sooner is good in my eyes.

 

Hi,so how long did it take you to get the NoA1 from the day you sent your packet In

[LoveJonLovell 306]

5 hours ago, Ameshia carpenter said:

Hi,so how long did it take you to get the NoA1 from the day you sent your packet In

We sent it on the 3rd of March. We then received the text confirming receipt and with our case number on the 10th. The paperwork arrived yesterday (14th March)

[Ameshia carpenter 1]

11 hours ago, JL0583 said:

We sent it on the 3rd of March. We then received the text confirming receipt and with our case number on the 10th. The paperwork arrived yesterday (14th March)

Thank you for answering I sent mine off through Fedx it was sign for on Thursday so now I am waiting for my receipt and case number.

Congrats as well lol

[LoveJonLovell 306]

5 minutes ago, Ameshia carpenter said:

Thank you for answering I sent mine off through Fedx it was sign for on Thursday so now I am waiting for my receipt and case number.

Congrats as well lol

Chances are you'll hear something back by the end of the week... Good luck! Congrats to you, too!

[SmallTownPA 72]

On 3/14/2020 at 12:36 PM, Boiler said:

Your focus seems to be saving money, certainly for me  the ones I had missing were free to get done, I assume she could get them done at relatively low cost compared to the US if she has to pay at all.

 

And they are done. You can file to adjust without another issue.

 

Otherwise you come to the US, have to find a Surgeon who will not overcharge, many seem to insist on doing the full medical and charge accordingly, travel to that Surgeon, get the paperwork done maybe recover some of the costs of the injections from your Insurer but have to pay the balance.

 

Seems a no brainer.

 

You assumptions can be wrong.  In the US you can (married or not) get the vaccinations done for free by a state or local health office.   Even TB testing. 

 

You do know VJ has a running list of CS that 'don't rip you off' for transcription services???

 

You should reconsider your position, as they are not very accurate.

 

[Boiler 45,501]

14 minutes ago, SmallTownPA said:

 

You assumptions can be wrong.  In the US you can (married or not) get the vaccinations done for free by a state or local health office.   Even TB testing. 

 

You do know VJ has a running list of CS that 'don't rip you off' for transcription services???

 

You should reconsider your position, as they are not very accurate.

 

I know the deal where I am, or knew, major major hassle to find someone who would not insist on the full medical,  many calls later followed by a long drive just to do the transcription

[Greenbaum 12,259]

8 hours ago, SmallTownPA said:

 

You assumptions can be wrong.  In the US you can (married or not) get the vaccinations done for free by a state or local health office.   Even TB testing. 

 

You do know VJ has a running list of CS that 'don't rip you off' for transcription services???

 

You should reconsider your position, as they are not very accurate.

 

 

8 hours ago, Boiler said:

I know the deal where I am, or knew, major major hassle to find someone who would not insist on the full medical,  many calls later followed by a long drive just to do the transcription

Boiler is correct. You will find CS's that will make an effort to request you do your medical exam again. Cost can run rather high. My wife called around to a number of CS's until she could find one that would actually transpose her DS-3025 to add the flu vaccination that she was missing. She went and had the shot done at CVS took the receipt and went to the CS and his office transposed everything to the I-693. 75 bukaroos and out the door with the necessary paperwork to complete her I-693. 

 

I can't comment on the validity of your statement that other vaccines are covered through your state's health care system but I have read over a bit of what my state offers and it's like reading computer code in algebraic sequence. Too many if and then this statements. So confusing. 

 

A combination of your effort and Boiler's would get the end result and that is vaccinations completed and a I-693 completed to include with the AOS package. Just my 2 cents.

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

The (general case) recommendation that K-1 beneficiaries get all vaccinations done before their K-1 medical assumes that they can get things done for free or little cost at home. This is true for most countries.

 

There may be countries where that's not true, but even if you don't save money doing things that way, you can avoid the hassle of having to do a medical or get vaccinations transcribed during the AOS process, so I wouldn't delay getting them unless there's a medical reason to or they're very expensive.

 

I'm pretty sure it's true that the required vaccinations for immigration are required to be fully covered by compliant insurance plans, but not everyone is able to get their fiance(e)/spouse health insurance quickly, and as others have noted, finding a civil surgeon that will do a transcription rather than the full medical exam is not simple.

 

 

[Limey 551]

On 3/14/2020 at 9:28 PM, Russel1995 said:

 

I spent 2 days calling and emailing to find the lowest cost civil surgeon near me.

 

 

That sounds like another reason to have them done in your home country, if possible.

 

Some of the required vaccines (eg MMR) require multiple shots, so take a little longer to complete. I had most of them already, and did a couple of trips to my local NHS doctor's office to get the rest. Zero charge, zero days spent calling around for prices, and virtually zero hassle.