Am I Clear for Entry into USA after Updated Vaccine Requirement Rule?

[AnonIndia 58]

I received a 221g updated medical report submission letter in the mail on the 10th of September. I had the medical test done on the 16th of September. All went well and the doctor made me take the yearly flu shot and she asked me if I had taken the COVID vaccine before I was jabbed with the flu shot. I didn't get the vaccine cuz we don't have Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson in India. I was planning to get them after completing immigration. I made an appointment for 221g document submission and dropped off the updated medical report yesterday. (October 6th which is 5 days after the vaccine requirement clause kicked into effect beginning in the 1st of October). Will I receive another 221g request for an updated medical, this time asking me to show proof of covid vaccine completion in the medicals? We don't have any of the three US vaccines. We have the Indian version of AstraZeneca called Covishield which has a 12 week interval between the 2 doses.  

[AnonIndia 58]

I have done some more reading into this and it seems like the doctor would not have given me the sealed medical envelope if the Covid vaccine mandate was in effect when I had the test taken. It seems like the medical report cannot be completed without proof of complete vaccination. But since I submitted the 221g dropoff on October 6th, would the consular officer ask for yet another updated medical report? Exhausted with all these shenanigans. 

[AnonIndia 58]

Bumping my own thread. Would really like some veterans to weigh in on my dilemma and put my mind at ease. Should I just relax and see if my passport comes back with the visa stamped? The CGI document drop off guy said my passport will be returned to me in 7 to 10 days. Does that mean I get the visa or does that mean it can go both ways? Another worry is a scenario where I get the first dose AstraZeneca vaccine tomorrow, have my visa approved, I move to America, they don't recognize the first dose and I end up having to take a cocktail of another 2 doses of Pfizer or Moderna. I don't wanna end up like the guy in this meme. 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

You had your interview already, correct?

If so, what does the USCIS case status say?

 

If none of the approved vaccines is available in your country, you'd receive a blanket waiver.

Edited October 7, 2021 by Allaboutwaiting

[HRQX 4,145]

3 hours ago, AnonIndia said:

I had the medical test done on the 16th of September.

It isn't clear but I assume since your Panel Physician exam was before Oct. 1 you should be good in regards to the visa issuance. But starting "early November" it's still unclear who (*other than Americans) would have some leeway in regards to the CDC order for flights to the US: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/09/20/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-september-20-2021/

Q    Yeah, just a technical thing on the international travel policy.  You talk about unvaccinated Americans; what about like green card holders, visa holders?  Would they — people who — you know, who under the current travel policy can get into the country, would they have to be vaccinated or would they have to do the testing protocol like Americans?

 

MS. PSAKI:  That’s a really good question.  I’ll have to ask what the specification is there for them.

3 hours ago, AnonIndia said:

called Covishield which has a 12 week interval between the 2 doses.  

Ouch. Because if my assumption above is incorrect then you'll need both doses for a (new) sign off by the Panel Physician: https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/panel-physicians/covid-19-technical-instructions.html "The COVID-19 vaccination requirement will differ from previous requirements in that the entire vaccine series (1 or 2 doses depending on formulation) must be completed"

17 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

If so, what does the USCIS case status say?

OP had a visa interview in Mumbai.

17 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

If none of the approved vaccines is available in your country, you'd receive a blanket waiver.

Covishield is an approved vaccine:

• https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/panel-physicians/covid-19-technical-instructions.html "The COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in these Technical Instructions, hereinafter referred to as “approved COVID-19 vaccines,” are those vaccines authorized for emergency use (EUA) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or listed for emergency use (EUL) by the World Health Organization (WHO) (see “Status of COVID-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process”)."
• https://extranet.who.int/pqweb/sites/default/files/documents/Status_COVID_VAX_29Sept2021_0.pdf Page 1

Edited October 7, 2021 by HRQX

[AnonIndia 58]

6 hours ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

You had your interview already, correct?

If so, what does the USCIS case status say?

 

If none of the approved vaccines is available in your country, you'd receive a blanket waiver.

Case status still says 'refused under 221g'. Case last updated September 9. The CGI portal says my passport is being sent to post.

 

6 hours ago, HRQX said:

It isn't clear but I assume since your Panel Physician exam was before Oct. 1 you should be good in regards to the visa issuance. But starting "early November" it's still unclear who (*other than Americans) would have some leeway in regards to the CDC order for flights to the US: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/09/20/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-september-20-2021/

Q    Yeah, just a technical thing on the international travel policy.  You talk about unvaccinated Americans; what about like green card holders, visa holders?  Would they — people who — you know, who under the current travel policy can get into the country, would they have to be vaccinated or would they have to do the testing protocol like Americans?

 

MS. PSAKI:  That’s a really good question.  I’ll have to ask what the specification is there for them.

 

Love how vague these government officials are. I'm hoping everything is fine. Thanks for the reply. I found this on some other thread here. 

https://tt.usembassy.gov/white-house-announces-new-covid-19-vaccination-entry-requirements-for-foreign-nationals/

 

 

 

[AnonIndia 58]

7 hours ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

You had your interview already, correct?

If so, what does the USCIS case status say?

 

If none of the approved vaccines is available in your country, you'd receive a blanket waiver.

The CGI portal says 'Your passport is still with the US Embassy/Consulate' now. CEAC status still says 'refused'.  Case Last Updated:07-Oct-2021

[HRQX 4,145]

37 minutes ago, AnonIndia said:

I found this on some other thread here. 

https://tt.usembassy.gov/white-house-announces-new-covid-19-vaccination-entry-requirements-for-foreign-nationals/

 

 

 

The exact CDC order is yet to be released. When the WH is asked for any specific details they answer that they'll have more info when it gets closer to November: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/10/04/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-october-4-2021/

Q    — the administration is looking at the CDC to guide which vaccines will be accepted.  Right now, the CDC says it considers “fully vaccinated” those who got Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, of course, but it also says that guidance can be applied to vaccines that have been listed by the World Health Organization.  Will there be any change to this guidance?  And — for example, the Russian vaccine, who is not in the WHO, will it be accepted?

 

MS. PSAKI:  I would point to the CDC.  As you know, we’re going to have an update on our international travel guidelines as we get closer to November.  Early November remains the timeline that we’re focused on, but I will leave it to our health experts to outline more specifics.

[AnonIndia 58]

2 minutes ago, HRQX said:

The exact CDC order is yet to be released. When the WH is asked for any specific details they answer that they'll have more info when it gets closer to November: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/10/04/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-october-4-2021/

Q    — the administration is looking at the CDC to guide which vaccines will be accepted.  Right now, the CDC says it considers “fully vaccinated” those who got Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, of course, but it also says that guidance can be applied to vaccines that have been listed by the World Health Organization.  Will there be any change to this guidance?  And — for example, the Russian vaccine, who is not in the WHO, will it be accepted?

 

MS. PSAKI:  I would point to the CDC.  As you know, we’re going to have an update on our international travel guidelines as we get closer to November.  Early November remains the timeline that we’re focused on, but I will leave it to our health experts to outline more specifics.

I have an appointment with the vx center to get covishield (AstraZeneca 12 weeks between shots) tomorrow. Do you think it would be better for me to wait till November cuz I can get the Russian vaccine which has a shorter time between doses (4 weeks) if the Sputnik one ends up being recognized by the CDC. 

[slavaskii 886]

5 hours ago, AnonIndia said:

I have an appointment with the vx center to get covishield (AstraZeneca 12 weeks between shots) tomorrow. Do you think it would be better for me to wait till November cuz I can get the Russian vaccine which has a shorter time between doses (4 weeks) if the Sputnik one ends up being recognized by the CDC. 

No. Sputnik will never be recognized by the CDC, I don’t mean to go down some political rabbit hole but it simply never will be accepted in the US. Note that Europe doesn’t even accept Sputnik, save for few countries (like Greece and Hungary) who either imported the vaccine early on or want to encourage tourists from Eastern Europe.

 

Further, it appears as if the rules state a WHO approved vaccine for medical, though the jury’s still out on what vaccine you’ll need to get on the plane. Sputnik being approved by WHO isn’t as unrealistic as approval by the CDC (which chance is virtually 0 imo), but considering Sputnik was the first COVID vaccine, I wouldn’t hedge your bets on it. I presume you have no access to Johnson/Janssen?

Edited October 7, 2021 by slavaskii

[AnonIndia 58]

14 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

I presume you have no access to Johnson/Janssen?

No we don't have access to it here. There was a brief shipment of moderna but it was exhausted instantly. Our three choices are the Astra Zeneca, Covaxin, which is an Indian homebrew vaccine and Sputnik. If countries have to agree on an international vaccine passport system to reopen air travel, I don't know how this non-recognition of certain vaccines for political reasons is gonna do well within the system. Total clusterfook.

[Wouter 141]

Not sure if this helps but I just got back from getting the CR1 visa for my wife in Poland and I was at my wife's medical exam on Sept 27th and I asked the doctor about the requirement for the Covid vaccine, especially since my wife's interview was in October on the 4th. 

He said that there were no updated medical forms or instructions yet requiring the covid vaccine for the immigration visas, so he was not going to even address it.

I then asked if the Consular Officer at the embassy could ask for it during the interview and the doctor was very resolute: the medical officer appointed by the embassy has the final say. When he/she signs off on your medical file and gives you the green light that is final. So if you have the sealed envelope that should mean you are good. The CO does not have the authority to ask for any further medical records or requirements because the CO is not qualified to determine whether you have any condition that would exempt you from being able to receive the vaccine, whether the vaccines you have received are appropriate for immigration. The only thing the CO is supposed to do is to see if the medical officer approved and signed the form, and that is it.

Of course the covid vaccination requirement that is allegedly coming into effect in November for all travelers to the US is a different story and I sincerely hope they will include an exemption for immigrants from countries where an approved vaccine is not available.

[Ctechz 1]

Your medical was before oct 1 so no. If it was oct 1 then they would have cancel your medical in first place if not fully covid vax. Coming nov there will be new rules though... All travelers must be fully vax to enter usa so have to get it regardless. 

[Logan87 0]

17 hours ago, AnonIndia said:

I have done some more reading into this and it seems like the doctor would not have given me the sealed medical envelope if the Covid vaccine mandate was in effect when I had the test taken. It seems like the medical report cannot be completed without proof of complete vaccination. But since I submitted the 221g dropoff on October 6th, would the consular officer ask for yet another updated medical report? Exhausted with all these shenanigans. 

I'm going through the same thing, though I'm vaccinated. Here's what I'll tell you.

 

Just sit back and wait for the consulate to make a decision. I got my new medical done last week and they require proof of vaccine to do it.

 

In your case, I don't think consular officer would care (about Covid Vaccine status) as long as you don't have any medical issues.

 

Just wait for it, and you will receive your Visa IMO.

 

P.S. how the hell did you manage to make a VAC appointment for passport Submition lol. I got my second 221G in the last week of September and I can't find an appointment. It keeps on showing "currently no appointment available." 

[slavaskii 886]

2 hours ago, AnonIndia said:

No we don't have access to it here. There was a brief shipment of moderna but it was exhausted instantly. Our three choices are the Astra Zeneca, Covaxin, which is an Indian homebrew vaccine and Sputnik. If countries have to agree on an international vaccine passport system to reopen air travel, I don't know how this non-recognition of certain vaccines for political reasons is gonna do well within the system. Total clusterfook.

I'm sorry to hear that. You're right, the political element of this has caused problems already, if I recall correctly the Russian Embassy has already strongly voiced their opposition (not because Russians will find it harder to emigrate, but because they can no longer travel for any reason).

 

In regards to Astra Zeneca, I think it's important to mention that while it appears to be accepted for medical, there's not enough information right now to determine whether or not it'll be accepted on US-bound flights. Fauci was asked about this a few weeks ago, and he said he saw no reason for it *not* to be recognized, but I understood that as the CDC was seriously skeptical of foreign vaccines. After seeing Britain's surprisingly restrictive rules, I have no idea what we'll eventually decide on. 

 

You mentioned that Astra Zeneca has a 12-week period between shots, and that the Moderna supply was quickly exhausted. Is there any chance a new shipment of Moderna could arrive within those 12 weeks as to justify waiting? We're nearing November so we'll have answers soon; obviously I'm not the most qualified to talk about this, but you definitely should be aware of all the factors at play here.