Is proof of COVID vaccination a requirement for K1 beneficiaries?

[slavaskii 886]

I was googling around for any new developments in the process and I stumbled across this article here (https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/covid-19-vaccine-required-to-immigrate-9859192/) which links to an official CDC page detailing the requirement, to take effect October. I know, of course, that K1 is technically a nonimmigrant visa, but I'm not sure how much weight that is given considering that beneficiaries still need to go through the standard medical evaluation. I'm particularly concerned because there's no CDC-approved vaccine available in my fiancee's home country (Belarus), but she will apparently have to interview in a country where it is available (Poland). 

 

Does anyone know anything more about this? It does look like you can get an exemption based on availability (thank goodness this was thought through), but I'm just thinking about this in advance. Thanks everyone in advance! 

[Justus Forever 85]

I don't know much about the k1 visa but all non/immigrants starting oct 1st will have to be fully vaccinated unless the country they are in don't have the vaccine and that would be one of the exemptions. you can look on your embassy website for more information on it. 

[powerpuff 6,697]

It’s CDC and WHO approved vaccines. Sinopharm is one that is approved by WHO and available in Belarus so I assume that’s the one they will administer at your fiancé’s medical (if it is of course widely available and they have it in stock).

Edited September 13, 2021 by powerpuff

[Pinkrlion 2,719]

Yes,  it is required, and it will be addressed at the Medical.  They will not submit MEdical to Embassy uless vaccine taken after October 1st.  The same thing for Flu Shot

[JeanneAdil 6,505]

immigration has K1 as nonimmigrant when listed in the stats page but when u check on CEAC site u have to do immigrant for status

so,  they confuse us a bit 

but K1 is intending to marry and live here,  so just do the vaccine and be safe  / most vaccines are a 2 shot process 3 weeks apart so prepare for that too in your visa expectations 

[slavaskii 886]

This is really unfortunate to hear because she refuses to take anything besides Pfizer/Moderna and was planning on coming here and getting vaccinated on arrival. I fully support her in that decision, if we don't approve Sinopharm, I'm almost disgusted we would compel her to get it. I asked her and she said that only Sputnik is currently offered in Belarus; they're in talks to import Sinopharm, but it won't be available for a long time (if ever). 

 

Would the exemption work here for countries that don't have access to approved vaccines, if only Sputnik is available? She also can't get it in Poland because she can only go there once per three months due to the current political situation (nor is she a citizen of Poland). So basically, our only option is the exemption. 

Edited September 13, 2021 by slavaskii

[powerpuff 6,697]

4 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

This is really unfortunate to hear because she refuses to take anything besides Pfizer/Moderna and was planning on coming here and getting vaccinated on arrival. I fully support her in that decision, if we don't approve Sinopharm, I'm almost disgusted we would compel her to get it. I asked her and she said that only Sputnik is currently offered in Belarus; they're in talks to import Sinopharm, but it won't be available for a long time (if ever). 

 

Would the exemption work here for countries that don't have access to approved vaccines, if only Sputnik is available? She also can't get it in Poland because she can only go there once per three months due to the current political situation (nor is she a citizen of Poland). So basically, our only option is the exemption. 

Then I think she might be exempted. Sputnik isn’t recognized by WHO, much less CDC. 

[slavaskii 886]

4 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

Then I think she might be exempted. Sputnik isn’t recognized by WHO, much less CDC. 

Thank you so much, I think around the time we get NOA2 (perhaps next month) I'll contact the embassy in Minsk and ask how to receive an exemption. If the medical is done in Minsk, and there's clearly no vaccine available, I presume the physician will be able to fill out something there, as the clinic is specifically approved by the embassy. At least she should be told what to do at the medical in Belarus before having to leave for Poland. 

[Caedmon78 1]

My fiancée didn't have to have it. You'll want to check with the medical requirements and entry requirements at the time. Since this is a changing situation, what is one thing today, may not be the same next week.

[Wouter 141]

4 hours ago, slavaskii said:

This is really unfortunate to hear because she refuses to take anything besides Pfizer/Moderna and was planning on coming here and getting vaccinated on arrival. I fully support her in that decision, if we don't approve Sinopharm, I'm almost disgusted we would compel her to get it. I asked her and she said that only Sputnik is currently offered in Belarus; they're in talks to import Sinopharm, but it won't be available for a long time (if ever). 

 

Would the exemption work here for countries that don't have access to approved vaccines, if only Sputnik is available? She also can't get it in Poland because she can only go there once per three months due to the current political situation (nor is she a citizen of Poland). So basically, our only option is the exemption. 

I have the same situation with my wife in Russia and I fully agree she shouldn't take the Sputnik vaccine and wait until she can get the Pfizer/Moderna shots here in the US.

The CDC guideline says 'not routinely available' is a blanket waiver which only needs to be documented, probably by the doctor at the medical exam, so it seems there is no additional form or other paperwork from the DoS needed.

 

 

[SalishSea 17,829]

4 hours ago, Caedmon78 said:

My fiancée didn't have to have it. You'll want to check with the medical requirements and entry requirements at the time. Since this is a changing situation, what is one thing today, may not be the same next week.

OP has not even received NOA2 yet.  It will definitely be required.

[SalishSea 17,829]

6 hours ago, slavaskii said:

Thank you so much, I think around the time we get NOA2 (perhaps next month) I'll contact the embassy in Minsk and ask how to receive an exemption. If the medical is done in Minsk, and there's clearly no vaccine available, I presume the physician will be able to fill out something there, as the clinic is specifically approved by the embassy. At least she should be told what to do at the medical in Belarus before having to leave for Poland. 

You are months to up to a year away from receiving the visa.  A lot can change in that timeframe, and there is no telling which manufacturer's vaccine will available then. 

[JacobP 185]

Technically, vaccines aren't required for K visas at all. The embassy can't refuse a K visa over incomplete vaccines, but come AOS you would need a civil surgeon in the US to sign off on your vaccines, and it can be hard to get a civil surgeon to just do vaccines and not the entire medical. Also not sure how panel physicians overseas feel about skipping on the vaccine check.

 

That being said, the DS-3025 vaccine form that panel physicians fill out and submit to the embassy does have a few categories which they can blanket waive, including not age appropriate, flu shots out of season and "not routinely available" as stated earlier, so vaccines can still be considered complete in these cases and this will normally be accepted by USCIS at the time of AOS. 

 

Hopefully she can get the vaccine she wants as soon as she can regardless.

Edited September 14, 2021 by JacobP

[Arsalan111 28]

I read that in august 25th on my country’s medical website. It said either CDC or WHO approved vaccine. So the next day I had to go and get Sinopharm. Still waiting for second shot. Takes 30 days for second shot. Go to any medicla clinic and ask them for Pfizer, Moderna  or sinopharm or astra Zeneca. If Pakistan has all of these available I am sure they are available there as well.