Covid Vaccine Required?

[Nat_Bogota 2]

My wife and I were given our interview date for Bogota on Oct 15th. One of the 2 doctors available told us she needs to receive both doses of the covid vaccine before they will do the medical exam. Their is no way to get two doses currently before the 15th since you need 3 weeks between shots. Does anyone have any advice or experience here?

[HRQX 4,145]

16 minutes ago, Nat_Bogota said:

Does anyone have any advice or experience here?

Still go to the visa interview on Oct 15th. It'll just be a 221g notice while they wait for the complete medical results:

[waiting1234 25]

Is this a requirement from the embassy or from the doctors office? If it’s only one can we just go to the other? I want the vaccine but the moderna one has been clearly shown to be better and I can’t find any place to get it in Colombia.

[Nat_Bogota 2]

Both doctors have been almost impossible to reach. One only takes calls but doesn't answer the phone. The other only uses email.

[waiting1234 25]

5 minutes ago, Nat_Bogota said:

Both doctors have been almost impossible to reach. One only takes calls but doesn't answer the phone. The other only uses email.

Amazing. But sounds about right for how this entire thing has been.

[HRQX 4,145]

38 minutes ago, waiting1234 said:

Is this a requirement from the embassy or from the doctors office?

OP's timeline says IR-1 visa: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=394518 So it's required for OP's wife; see INA 212(a)(1)(A)(ii): "Any alien, except as provided in subparagraph (C), who seeks admission as an immigrant, or who seeks adjustment of status to the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, and who has failed to present documentation of having received vaccination against vaccine-preventable diseases, which shall include at least the following diseases: mumps, measles, rubella, polio, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, pertussis, influenza type B and hepatitis B, and any other vaccinations against vaccine-preventable diseases recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices is inadmissible.

 

@waiting1234, for your fiancée it's different since K-1 is technically nonimmigrant: https://fam.state.gov/fam/09fam/09fam030202.html "Since applicants for K visas are essentially intending immigrants, a complete medical examination is required in every case. (See 9 FAM 502.7-3(C)(3). As nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants, fiancé(e) visa applicants technically are not subject to the INA 212(a)(1)(A)(ii) vaccination requirement. However, we (the Department of State) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have agreed that medical exams for fiancé(e) visa applicants should include the vaccination assessment as a matter of expediency. Therefore, you should make every effort to encourage fiancé(e) visa applicants to meet the vaccination requirements before admission to the United States. Nevertheless, you may not refuse K-visa applicants for refusing to meet the vaccination requirements." The "K Visa applicant electing not to be vaccinated at this examination" box on DS-3025 would be selected:

 

When doing adjustment of status from K-1 would need the required vaccines: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-b-chapter-3 "Even if a new medical examination is not required, applicants must still comply with the vaccination requirements if the vaccination record was not included as part of the original medical examination report."

[Nat_Bogota 2]

So pretty sure this is inaccurate for the moment. The covid vaccine is not included yet since it is not a disease but a virus. Also yes K-1 will also be required to have covid vaccine as of Oct. 1sts executive order

[HRQX 4,145]

45 minutes ago, Nat_Bogota said:

So pretty sure this is inaccurate for the moment. The covid vaccine is not included yet since it is not a disease but a virus.

https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/panel-physicians/covid-19-technical-instructions.html

COVID-19 meets the definition of a quarantinable communicable disease under 42 USC 264 and Executive Order 13295, as amended by Executive Order 13375 and 13674. Specifically, COVID-19 meets the definition of severe acute respiratory syndromes as specified by Presidential Executive Order 13674 (issued July 31, 2014), thus making it a Class A Inadmissible Condition.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Symptoms of COVID-19 are highly variable and include fever, chills, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle and body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.  The clinical course of the disease ranges from asymptomatic to severe illness resulting in death; studies suggest that approximately half of those who test positive are asymptomatic. Although asymptomatic infection and mild illness can occur in all age and risk groups, advanced age is a significant risk factor for severe illness and death. In addition, people with certain health conditions are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness.

45 minutes ago, Nat_Bogota said:

Also yes K-1 will also be required to have covid vaccine as of Oct. 1sts

Look at the box that clearly says: "K Visa applicant electing not to be vaccinated at this examination" (it's above the box that says "Other NIV...")

It'll still be required when doing the adjustment of status from K-1 process:

1 hour ago, HRQX said:

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-b-chapter-3 "Even if a new medical examination is not required, applicants must still comply with the vaccination requirements if the vaccination record was not included as part of the original medical examination report."

Edited September 20, 2021 by HRQX

[Seemoreglass83 18]

It is a requirement starting oct 1. The order comes from the federal government. Now, the order says that if the vaccine isn't available or is difficult to get in your country, you can be given am exemption. Personally I feel that Colombia fits this description because my fiance got her first moderna shot in july but the second moderna hasn't been available.  Unfortunately both doctors seem to be saying they wont be giving exceptions.

 

Not sure if the doctors dont know about the exemption or just dont believe that there is a shortage in colombia warranting an exemption but one doctor went so far as to say "no excuses" which I found really frustrating because my fiance is literally going to the clinics almost every day asking for her second dose and it's not available..

 

My recommendation is to get one of the vaccines that is only one shot like johnson and johnson because if you elect to get the 2 shots, the second shot might not be available... what a mess... again.

[waiting1234 25]

25 minutes ago, Seemoreglass83 said:

It is a requirement starting oct 1. The order comes from the federal government. Now, the order says that if the vaccine isn't available or is difficult to get in your country, you can be given am exemption. Personally I feel that Colombia fits this description because my fiance got her first moderna shot in july but the second moderna hasn't been available.  Unfortunately both doctors seem to be saying they wont be giving exceptions.

 

Not sure if the doctors dont know about the exemption or just dont believe that there is a shortage in colombia warranting an exemption but one doctor went so far as to say "no excuses" which I found really frustrating because my fiance is literally going to the clinics almost every day asking for her second dose and it's not available..

 

My recommendation is to get one of the vaccines that is only one shot like johnson and johnson because if you elect to get the 2 shots, the second shot might not be available... what a mess... again.

Really sad that this is so trivially solved if anyone in the government would care. We have so many doses in the US and then we could ensure our loved ones get the ones they want.

 

just another example of the US treating its current and future citizens like #######.

[Nat_Bogota 2]

32 minutes ago, Seemoreglass83 said:

It is a requirement starting oct 1. The order comes from the federal government. Now, the order says that if the vaccine isn't available or is difficult to get in your country, you can be given am exemption. Personally I feel that Colombia fits this description because my fiance got her first moderna shot in july but the second moderna hasn't been available.  Unfortunately both doctors seem to be saying they wont be giving exceptions.

 

Not sure if the doctors dont know about the exemption or just dont believe that there is a shortage in colombia warranting an exemption but one doctor went so far as to say "no excuses" which I found really frustrating because my fiance is literally going to the clinics almost every day asking for her second dose and it's not available..

 

My recommendation is to get one of the vaccines that is only one shot like johnson and johnson because if you elect to get the 2 shots, the second shot might not be available... what a mess... again.

Seemore so what are you guys doing? We are in Mexico currently and have absolutely no way to get the one shot j&j. Now there isn't even time to get both doses. Will the doctors see you anyway or do you know have to reschedule the interview appointment

[Seemoreglass83 18]

56 minutes ago, Nat_Bogota said:

Seemore so what are you guys doing? We are in Mexico currently and have absolutely no way to get the one shot j&j. Now there isn't even time to get both doses. Will the doctors see you anyway or do you know have to reschedule the interview appointment

Is your embassy in Bogota? Honestly, we are still at the Nvc so we are hoping she will have her second shot by the time our case is sent to Bogota. As far as what the doctors are going to do, I'm not sure. I do know one person in the whatsapp group was able to schedule their medical with only one shot done. We will know more once people have their medicals in october. I'd recommend following the whatsapp group to see what happens.

[HRQX 4,145]

3 hours ago, Seemoreglass83 said:

As far as what the doctors are going to do, I'm not sure.

For K-1 cases the government strongly prefers that the full covid vaccine series is done before the medical results are completed but it's technically not required: https://fam.state.gov/fam/09fam/09fam030202.html

14 hours ago, HRQX said:

we (the Department of State) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have agreed that medical exams for fiancé(e) visa applicants should include the vaccination assessment as a matter of expediency. Therefore, you should make every effort to encourage fiancé(e) visa applicants to meet the vaccination requirements before admission to the United States. Nevertheless, you may not refuse K-visa applicants for refusing to meet the vaccination requirements."

Tell the Panel Physician to look for...

13 hours ago, HRQX said:

the box that clearly says: "K Visa applicant electing not to be vaccinated at this examination" (it's above the box that says "Other NIV...")

 

[waiting1234 25]

Just to confirm what we already know. The embassy gives ####### all about letting you know what is going on. Still nothing at all about the recent changes from them. Second when you go to schedule the medical you won't be able to until you have both covid vaccines.

 

If anyone knows where I can get a non astrazenica one please let me know I refuse to let anyone I know get that trash vaccine.

[Andrs01-2020 24]

On 9/19/2021 at 11:26 PM, Nat_Bogota said:

Both doctors have been almost impossible to reach. One only takes calls but doesn't answer the phone. The other only uses email.

 

Just today we started to try to reach them, and its a mess..

which doctor asks you to have the 2 covid shots? or the other hasn't replied?