SLEC Medical Exam - COVID-19 Vaccination NOT Required for K1 Applicants?

[brightfuture78 118]

My fiancé is currently in Manila to do her medical exam and then take her interview at the Embassy. She got her required RT PCR test at SLEC earlier today and I was searching around St. Luke's website to get an idea of when to expect the results (she got her results in about 12 hours, btw). I found their FAQ and discovered the following statements:

 

Starting October 1, 2021:

1. Applicants who have received COVID-19 vaccination should provide the proper documentation of their vaccination.

2. Applicants who have been given ONLY the first dose dose of any of the following vaccines (Sinovac, Sinopharm, Pfizer, Astra Zeneca or Moderna) can also proceed with their medical examination but will have to complete their 2nd dose first before their medical examination report can be submitted. Other age-appropriate vaccines required by the US will be given after the 2nd COVID vaccine dose.

3. Applicants who receive the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may proceed with their medical examination.

4. Applicants who do not have access to COVID-19 vaccines yet because of vaccine shortage can still proceed with their medical appointment. It would be helpful if they can provide a certification from their local health unit or barangay stating that the COVID vaccines are not yet available for them.

5. Applicants whose age is not yet appropriate for COVID-19 vaccination may proceed with the medical examination.

6. Applicants who cannot be given COVID-19 vaccine due to medical reasons (severe allergy or anaphylaxis reaction) may proceed with the medical examination. Kindly provide a certification from your doctor for the reason why vaccine was not given. Please note that asthma is not considered a contraindication to COVID-19 vaccine.

 

 

Ok, so this makes it seem like EVERYONE (with circumstantial exceptions) must get the vaccine before they're permitted to pass the medical exam, right? But as I looked further in the FAQ, I discovered this statement:

 

Q: I am applying for a K1 (Fiance) visa, do I need to have a COVID-19 vaccination?

 

A: K1 visa applicants can opt to get or complete their COVID-19 vaccine once they are in the U.S.

 

https://slec.ph/faq/us.php

 

If I knew this, we would have done things differently... I have no idea why K1 applicants specifically seem to exempt from this requirement.

 

[Chancy 6,243]

43 minutes ago, brightfuture78 said:

If I knew this, we would have done things differently... I have no idea why K1 applicants specifically seem to exempt from this requirement.

 

CDC added a note about the exemption in the instructions for panel physicians -- https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/panel-physicians/covid-19-technical-instructions.html

 

"Refugees and NIVs, including K-visa applicants are not required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as part of the immigration medical examination"

 

But, there's still no certainty on any exemption for immigrant or K1 visa holders regarding the new requirement for COVID vaccination for air travelers to the US starting Nov 8.  So your fiancee might be required anyway to show proof of COVID vaccination to be able to board her flight.  Hopefully we'll get clarification on this requirement soon.

 

[brightfuture78 118]

10 minutes ago, Chancy said:

But, there's still no certainty on any exemption for immigrant or K1 visa holders regarding the new requirement for COVID vaccination for air travelers to the US starting Nov 8.  So your fiancee might be required anyway to show proof of COVID vaccination to be able to board her flight.  Hopefully we'll get clarification on this requirement soon.

This is true. I guess I'm glad she's fully vaccinated regardless, but if I knew she didn't absolutely have to be fully vaccinated to complete the exam (she got 2nd shot last Friday), we wouldn't be so tight on scheduling this medical/interview.

[Adventine 3,209]

In the long run, your fiancée getting vaccinated early was probably the best scenario. That way you are ahead of any possible headaches at the airport related to air travellers headed to the US.