Immunizations for k1 visa.

[Vicky and Larry 27]

I have some words of wisdom about AOS and immunizations :

So, I made it and I am here in the U.S and about to start the AOS process, but we have to find a civil surgeon to fill out the i693 immunization part of the form. and it's a tough process.

(I was out in the states with my then fiance' when we received our NOA2, so, I planned to get my shots taken care of when I returned to the U.K for the medical, but I got really sick. We decided to wait until I was out here as you have that option with the K1 visa. Big pain in the 8ss.)

I wish I had read-up on how difficult it is this side of the pond to get the shots. Finding a civil surgeon that does not want to make you pay for the whole medical process again, even though you have all ready got one that is valid for a year, is taxing.

I have rang quite a few numbers all ready for the area we live in and I have learned that:

1. no-one seems to accept insurance (my husband got me and my son on his insurance plan as soon as he could) they all want cash.

2. I was told by one secretary that it would cost $480.00 EACH for the WHOLE medical as they did not add on to what was all ready completed in London ( I made it quite clear that I was aware that my medical is valid for up to one year from the time it was issued, and that we should be offered the choice of JUST having the immunizations shots we needed).

3. I'm going to be calling for some time and we are more than likely going to have to travel farther than we would have liked to find a civil surgeon who only charges for the immunizations.

4. If you have the choice to get your shots done in the U.K or stateside, do it in the U.K if at all possible. I can't stress that enough.

5. All this is going to hold up AOS.

6. My husband is going to make a complaint about this as it seems to us from what we have all ready experienced and consequnelty read on here, that this is a loop-hole that doctors are taking advantage of in order to profit financially, or people are just ignorant and misinformed about the process. All in all it's not helpful.

I feel fatalistic about it at this point and have resigned to the mind set that this is where we are and it is another obstacle that we will just have to work our way around. There is still a lot to be done, but I am not going to let it take away from the fact that I am here and we made it - we are married and living as a family.

I hope this helps someone avoid this pitfall.

Epictetus said: "Not every difficult and dangerous thing is suitable for training, but only that which is conducive to success in achieving the object of our effort."

Edited April 10, 2012 by Vicky and Larry

[photomile 101]

I'm sorry to hear you're not having a good time on this! Have you been through the civil surgeons list on the USCIS website? Absolutely yes make the complaint!

[Vicky and Larry 27]

I'm sorry to hear you're not having a good time on this! Have you been through the civil surgeons list on the USCIS website? Absolutely yes make the complaint!

Thanks!

Yes, I am slowly making my way through that list until we come across someone who will just do the shots. I found a post on here posted by Nich-Nick that said you can use a civil surgeon in Texas who you mail and only charges for the shots, but that it takes some time. Gonna keep working through the list and see where we get before we see if that is an option. A long day of calling tomorrow.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/216636-vaccinations-needed-for-k1-process/

[Fil-Am 1]

I am also in the process of putting together all my paperworks for AOS.and unluckily,we haven't found a civil surgeon here in Florida that costs less.they wanted to do the whole medical process again despite the fact that we insist that they only need to transcribe the immunization part.sad.:< still searching for cheaper civil surgeons until now.

[sheeshkabelle 153]

Go to the local county health department. Immunizations are either free, or low cost.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thanks!

Yes, I am slowly making my way through that list until we come across someone who will just do the shots. I found a post on here posted by Nich-Nick that said you can use a civil surgeon in Texas who you mail and only charges for the shots, but that it takes some time. Gonna keep working through the list and see where we get before we see if that is an option. A long day of calling tomorrow.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/216636-vaccinations-needed-for-k1-process/

That's really old information and Dr. Arnold in Austin closed his practice. The forms and requirements have changed many times since then also. Look for a thread call "Civil Surgeons who don't rip you off" started by one of our UK gals. Maybe you can find one near you in that thread.

The whole medical and immunizations has been my crusade for close to 4 years now. I've written to USCIS, posted on their portal, written the company who brought in the new contractors who were issuing RFEs like crazy to most of the K1s in Nov/Dec 2009. I've spoken to Congressman Ron Paul who was a medical doctor in my small hometown before politics and still lives there. And I have preached about doing your shots BEFORE your medical for years in hundreds of posts.

I think a lot of the problem is Civil Surgeons are not the cream of the crop. And they likely don't keep up with updates or read their technical instructions and bulletins. Most people who see them for immigration DO need a full medical exam. K1s are a real small minority and fall through the cracks everywhere. The Social Security offices are often clueless what to do with K1s. DMV laws have changed and left out K1s in many states. There is a limbo you go through as a K1 where you are a nothing. But eventually you get through the frustration zone and get that greencard.

So again....get ALL your shots before your Knightsbridge appointment K1s!!!! After the medical, but before leaving the UK doesn't help.

[MissAAA 9]

I just posted some questions about this very topic today and was already thinking maybe he should wait till he gets here to take the shots but after your experience, thats definitely not an option.

Hope you find somewhere cheaper to get it done.

Hugs.

[Vicky and Larry 27]

I just posted some questions about this very topic today and was already thinking maybe he should wait till he gets here to take the shots but after your experience, thats definitely not an option.

Hope you find somewhere cheaper to get it done.

Hugs.

Now all the hassle seems worth it if our experiences can help at least one other person avoid the same pitfalls. Yay! :-)

[Vicky and Larry 27]

That's really old information and Dr. Arnold in Austin closed his practice. The forms and requirements have changed many times since then also. Look for a thread call "Civil Surgeons who don't rip you off" started by one of our UK gals. Maybe you can find one near you in that thread.

The whole medical and immunizations has been my crusade for close to 4 years now. I've written to USCIS, posted on their portal, written the company who brought in the new contractors who were issuing RFEs like crazy to most of the K1s in Nov/Dec 2009. I've spoken to Congressman Ron Paul who was a medical doctor in my small hometown before politics and still lives there. And I have preached about doing your shots BEFORE your medical for years in hundreds of posts.

I think a lot of the problem is Civil Surgeons are not the cream of the crop. And they likely don't keep up with updates or read their technical instructions and bulletins. Most people who see them for immigration DO need a full medical exam. K1s are a real small minority and fall through the cracks everywhere. The Social Security offices are often clueless what to do with K1s. DMV laws have changed and left out K1s in many states. There is a limbo you go through as a K1 where you are a nothing. But eventually you get through the frustration zone and get that greencard.

So again....get ALL your shots before your Knightsbridge appointment K1s!!!! After the medical, but before leaving the UK doesn't help.

Yes. yes and yes to all you outlined. We were unfortunate with timing, events and me becoming ill for pretty much 2 months. You live and learn, eh. Thanks for the heads up on the other topic, I am going to check it out now. My husband is very good at writing letters of complaint. I will keep you posted on how that goes.

Thanks.

[Vicky and Larry 27]

Okay, I think someone above on this thread posted about going to see a People's Health Center, I spoke with one secretary of a civil surgeon and she suggested the same. She said they would fill out the i693 for 50.00 $$. So I went back on the Civil Surgeons Finder page on USCIS, here: https://egov.uscis.g...offices.summary , and found a People's Health Centre that is in our area who WILL do the shots. My son who is under 18 (he's 16) and needs all 5 of the shots will go for FREE and the two that I need will cost $100.00 together. You don't need to make an appointment with the center as they accept walk-ins from 8.30 - 3.30 from Monday to Friday.

Now I know this is not as inexpensive as getting them all done in the U.K and some of the Civil Surgeons that other people have found, but it's the best we have found so far and the least time consuming.

That all feels better so far.

Edited April 11, 2012 by Vicky and Larry

[MissAAA 9]

Now all the hassle seems worth it if our experiences can help at least one other person avoid the same pitfalls. Yay! :-)

Oh Yeah its worth it!

[Angela256z 30]

I had a question here, but I read a bit more and found my answer.

Edited April 17, 2012 by Angela256z

[Vicky and Larry 27]

I had a question here, but I read a bit more and found my answer.

That's good. :-)

Me and my son went to the Clinic and all of his shots were free, plus they will also make sure that all the shots he needs for his school records are up to date when we return for the second part of the MMR shot. It cost $100.00 in total for me.