Rio - K1 interviews

[Kelbets 14]

1 minute ago, dfmag said:

Hello again! I just saw this today, and I thought I would share the info here since I know a lot of you have schedule the medical exam or are waiting to do so like me.

 

Effective today (October 1st) the CDC will require K1 visa applicants to receive a full COVID-19 vaccine as part of their medical exam, prior to being issued the visa. All the vaccines offered in Brazil (Coronavac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Janssen) make the criteria of being approved through the WHO. 

 

Here is the source with more info: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/changes-to-vaccination-requirements-for-immigrant-visa-applicants.html

 

 

Yes they also send this information when scheduling the medical exam.  We finally heard back from the doctor in Rio three weeks after first requesting a date for the medical appointment.  

[p_marv 6]

10 minutes ago, dfmag said:

Hello again! I just saw this today, and I thought I would share the info here since I know a lot of you have schedule the medical exam or are waiting to do so like me.

 

Effective today (October 1st) the CDC will require K1 visa applicants to receive a full COVID-19 vaccine as part of their medical exam, prior to being issued the visa. All the vaccines offered in Brazil (Coronavac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Janssen) make the criteria of being approved through the WHO. 

 

Here is the source with more info: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/changes-to-vaccination-requirements-for-immigrant-visa-applicants.html

 

 

So does this mean first or second doses would be administered during the exam (along with any other pending vaccinations)? Or just that visa issuance is contingent on showing full vaccination?

Edited October 1, 2021 by p_marv

[dfmag 45]

4 minutes ago, p_marv said:

So does this mean first and/or second doses depending would be administered during the exam (along with any other pending vaccinations)? Or just that visa issuance is contingent on showing full vaccination?

From what I understand the visa issuance seems to be contingent on showing full vaccination. They say in the CDC website that :

 

"The panel physician must confirm in person documentation that the applicants received all doses of COVID-19 vaccine and, if applicants want to complete the remaining components of the exam after they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, panel physicians should accommodate them."

 

But they also say blanket waivers are applicable:

 

"If an approved COVID-19 vaccine is available to the applicant but limited supply would cause significant delay for the applicant to receive it, then this situation would also be considered “Not routinely available.”

 

 I would read the full description on CDC for the specifics (https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/panel-physicians/covid-19-technical-instructions.html). 

[p_marv 6]

3 minutes ago, dfmag said:

From what I understand the visa issuance seems to be contingent on showing full vaccination. They say in the CDC website that :

 

"The panel physician must confirm in person documentation that the applicants received all doses of COVID-19 vaccine and, if applicants want to complete the remaining components of the exam after they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, panel physicians should accommodate them."

 

But they also say blanket waivers are applicable:

 

"If an approved COVID-19 vaccine is available to the applicant but limited supply would cause significant delay for the applicant to receive it, then this situation would also be considered “Not routinely available.”

 

 I would read the full description on CDC for the specifics (https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/panel-physicians/covid-19-technical-instructions.html). 

Thanks for the info.

 

My noiva just contacted Brasilia (she has the first Pfizer dose currently) and she was informed that she would be referred to receive the second Pfizer at their office the same day (along with any other pending vaccines, if/as necessary)

[dfmag 45]

1 minute ago, p_marv said:

Thanks for the info.

 

My noiva just contacted Brasilia (she has the first Pfizer dose currently) and she was informed that she would be referred to receive the second Pfizer at their office the same day (along with any other pending vaccines, if/as necessary)

Ohh that's fantastic!! You guys are better informed than me hahaha Our case just made to the embassy yesterday, so I'm still waiting on the consulate's email (I'm the noiva). Just trying to keep up to date with all the requirements.

[p_marv 6]

On 10/1/2021 at 4:46 PM, dfmag said:

Ohh that's fantastic!! You guys are better informed than me hahaha Our case just made to the embassy yesterday, so I'm still waiting on the consulate's email (I'm the noiva). Just trying to keep up to date with all the requirements.

The story's changed a bit since, she was able to resolve her COVID dose in her hometown ahead of her exams next week, the Brasilia post has been generous in reviewing our situation ahead of time. 

 

You might try having your noivo reach out directly to the consulate after a week or so without response, they were quick to write me back and I think it moved things along quite well.

Edited October 5, 2021 by p_marv

[dfmag 45]

41 minutes ago, p_marv said:

The story's changed a bit since, she was able to resolve her COVID dose in her hometown ahead of her exams next week, the Brasilia post has been generous in reviewing our situation ahead of time. 

 

You might try having your noivo reach out directly to the consulate after a week or so without response, they were quick to write me back and I think it moved things along quite well.

Thank you for the advice. Does it make a difference if the beneficiary contacts the consulate rather than the petitioner?

[p_marv 6]

15 minutes ago, dfmag said:

Thank you for the advice. Does it make a difference if the beneficiary contacts the consulate rather than the petitioner?

I couldn't say one way or another as only I contacted them, I had assumed that I would be better off reaching out. 

[Gauchos 52]

On 10/5/2021 at 2:55 PM, p_marv said:

The story's changed a bit since, she was able to resolve her COVID dose in her hometown ahead of her exams next week, the Brasilia post has been generous in reviewing our situation ahead of time. 

 

You might try having your noivo reach out directly to the consulate after a week or so without response, they were quick to write me back and I think it moved things along quite well.

In Belo Horizonte the doctor is going to hold off on sending the medical to the consulate until both doses are administered. My fiancée only has the first shot so this is something of a bummer. They wouldn’t allow her to get the second shot earlier in RS despite it being beyond Pfizer’s recommendation. 

[Ed&Midori1031 330]

On 6/29/2021 at 5:15 AM, Nazim and Debbie said:

Is Rio the only place in Brazil where the K1 interviews are done?

Yes

[dfmag 45]

Just an update for those still going through this process in Rio and are looking for more info... 

 

The US consulate in Rio received my application from NVC on Sept 30th, I waited for two weeks without any feedback from them. Following the suggestion of other members here, I submitted an e-mail to the embassy and 3 days later I got the instructions for the next steps (at first we just got an automated response). So thank you @p_marv and @Gauchos for the great suggestion!!

 

Regarding the medical exam, I called the doctor's office in Belo Horizonte without any luck. The number ending in 3938 would not even ring. The number ending in 2335 would always just say they were busy. I tried for 3 days at various times and I couldn't reach them. I also submitted an email to them and did not get a response. Since I am from BH, I ended up stopping by the office to make the appointment (which I understand is definitely not an option for most people). Talking to the secretary, we found out that my e-mail was marked as spam and that is why she did not respond to it. So I believe the best way to reach them is through e-mail and, if you don't get a response within one or two days, just send them another e-mail.

 

Also, the medical office requested that I sent the consulate instructions e-mail as well as the consulate interview confirmation e-mail in order to book my medical appointment date. 

 

In the instructions for the medical exam in BH, they state that the fiancé needs to be fully vaccinated against covid for them to release the medical exam.

 

 

 

[ori8 24]

Hi gang -- CEAC status tracker says our case is Ready. Does this mean we can go ahead and schedule our interview, or do we need to still wait for the information packet from the embassy? I already emailed them requesting the packet (3 days ago, I'm hoping they get back to us today). 

[Gauchos 52]

2 hours ago, ori8 said:

Hi gang -- CEAC status tracker says our case is Ready. Does this mean we can go ahead and schedule our interview, or do we need to still wait for the information packet from the embassy? I already emailed them requesting the packet (3 days ago, I'm hoping they get back to us today). 

You wait. The doctor won't schedule you without the go-ahead email from the consulate.

[ori8 24]

1 minute ago, Gauchos said:

You wait. The doctor won't schedule you without the go-ahead email from the consulate.

Thank you!! ❤️ That helps, we were getting confused about whether we were slowing ourselves down by continuing to wait or something. Appreciate the help!

[p_marv 6]

On 10/29/2021 at 11:45 AM, ori8 said:

Thank you!! ❤️ That helps, we were getting confused about whether we were slowing ourselves down by continuing to wait or something. Appreciate the help!

I reached out to them a few times, they usually got back within 3-5 business days. I would ping them again if there is still no response.

 

@All - we just had our interview today and she was approved! We're over the moon. The interview was painless, we were careful to have all the requested documents in order, along with additional supports just in case. Thanks to everyone here for the solidarity and information sharing. Best of luck through this process - the first of many more hahaha.

Edited November 1, 2021 by p_marv