Taylor M

Hi everyone - just an update here. So, unfortunately, my employers health insurance is not the greatest and it would be $500/month to add my husband at this time, and until he is able to work we just can't afford the additional $200 more than what I am already paying for my kids and I. We found a civil surgeon here in Jacksonville that charges $294 for the exam fee, and $194 for the labs. This price point is on par with other doctors, as they tell you over the phone their exam fee is approx $300 but that does NOT include the labs needed (tb test, gonorrhea, and syphillis). This doctor does not do the vaccines, however, they break the appointment out into 2 visits. The first visit they review your vaccines to verify what you have, and they will tell you exactly what is needed, we can get those done at a pharmacy. They run the labs, and during the second appointment they complete all of the paperwork after reviewing the results of labs. This seemed to be the best option for us, as they are not trying to make money off of us in vaccine costs. Additionally, if you need vaccines, please be advised you only need ONE of each to submit to immigration (some vaccines require multiple doses to get the series) do not let a doctor push it on you that you require multiple. USCIS will accept it as one dose per series required. You can verify this information on instructions given to panel physicians on the CDC website. It's been quite the journey so far, and an expensive one at that. If you have ANY advice to give to someone that is going through the process still in their home country, please learn from us, and complete all required vaccines at the time of their first medical exam. We had no idea we would be forced to go through this process all over again, and how grossly overpriced it is here in the U.S. Happy Holidays to all!

@SusnOwen this is actually the route we are attempting to take - thank you so much for adding that link I will check it out it will be super helpful!!!

@M plus D I really appreciate your response, this process can be confusing! Unfortunately we are in scenario B. My husband declined receiving vaccines in Jamaica because he (I did as well) thought they would be cheaper/more accessible here. Boy were we wrong! Unfortunately the civil surgeon in Jamaica did not inform him that he would need another medical exam if he didn’t complete the vaccine requirements (if they knew that information, who knows). I will check out that post you tagged, and hope we can find a civil surgeon that won’t give us a hassle, this process is hard enough! Again - truly appreciate your comment and tagging the post for me!!

@J.M. question related to your response - you stated that you took a copy of the DS-3025 and had them add the new vaccines. Were you required to undergo a second medical exam in order to get the new vaccines added to the DS-3025? The reason I am asking is, my husband received his medical in Jamaica, he was informed by the physician he would need additional vaccines and told him he could complete them here in the U.S. Fast forward to now - we need the vaccines to submit for AOS. We have the DS-3025 (1 page is what we were provided, which I see you replied there are 2 pages), however we are being told by multiple places here in the U.S. that they will not update the DS-3025 without completing a second full medical exam. Did you run into this as well? Additionally, are you able to receive the vaccines from anywhere i.e. a pharmacy, health dept, etc, and then take the vaccines provided to the Civil Surgeon for them to update the DS-3025? I appreciate any feedback you have!

@OldUser I honestly just created my account today, and have never actually used this forum. I wish I had - surely would have saved us a bunch of $!!!

@milimelo tell me about it! You won't believe this - I checked the price listing on the Dept of Health website, $480 total for the vaccines through them. We do have the DS-3025 copy from Jamaica where the original exam was performed, but unfortunately it does not include all of the required vaccines for here in the U.S. He does not have MMR, TDAP, or Hep B vaccines. If you are going through the K1 process currently, learn from this and have your significant other complete any vaccines at the time of the original medical exam if given the option to complete vaccines at a later date - don't do it!!! Another money pit 😶

@boiler - thank you so much..I have called about 6 places and unfortunately they are all saying the same thing so I am thinking it's just not possible to get vaccines only, and we will be forced to re-do the medical. It's super unfortunate we weren't aware of this at the time of the first medical exam. Had we of known, we would have gotten all the required vaccines at that time (sigh), just another bump in the immigration road!!!!

My husband had his medical done in Jamaica, he has received some vaccines but is in need of more. He was told at his medical exam before coming to the U.S. on a K1 that he could receive the remaining vaccines in the U.S., which he chose to do. Now, we are finding that the approved civil surgeons in our area (Jacksonville FL) will not administer the vaccines without making him undergo ANOTHER medical exam. The cost of the vaccines is anywhere between $500-800, is there anywhere we can receive JUST the vaccines and not have to pay an additional $300-$400 for another medical exam?! This seems so excessive, and I am shocked at the cost of the vaccines.