Need some advice

[Wishin-n-hopin 15]

My fiancee lives in Scotland and he went to his doctor yesterday to get a record of his vacinations. He was told that there was no copy on his chart (he has seen the same doctor since he was a little boy). So...we have no proof of him ever being vaccinated. I downloaded the list of vaccinations from the US Embassy in London website, but I see that some vaccinations are to be given when you are a child, but cannot be given to an adult. Since we have nothing that shows any proof of any vaccinations, I'm wondering: 1) Will he have to be vaccinated with everything all over again? or... 2)Can he just get the MMR (Measles/Mumps/Rubella) vaccine and a new Tetanus vaccine? I realize that we have the option to pay for vaccinations when he goes for his medical...but they are quite costly, and we're trying to avoid unnessary expenses, if possible.

I guess I'm rambling. All I really want to know is exactly what vaccinations are absolutely required when coming from the UK to the USA?

Thank you!!! :-)

[bigdog 376]

My fiancee lives in Scotland and he went to his doctor yesterday to get a record of his vacinations. He was told that there was no copy on his chart (he has seen the same doctor since he was a little boy). So...we have no proof of him ever being vaccinated. I downloaded the list of vaccinations from the US Embassy in London website, but I see that some vaccinations are to be given when you are a child, but cannot be given to an adult. Since we have nothing that shows any proof of any vaccinations, I'm wondering: 1) Will he have to be vaccinated with everything all over again? or... 2)Can he just get the MMR (Measles/Mumps/Rubella) vaccine and a new Tetanus vaccine? I realize that we have the option to pay for vaccinations when he goes for his medical...but they are quite costly, and we're trying to avoid unnessary expenses, if possible.

I guess I'm rambling. All I really want to know is exactly what vaccinations are absolutely required when coming from the UK to the USA?

Thank you!!! :-)

[Liz09 0]

Your fiancee can get a titer done to check which vaccines are still in his system, hence avoiding to have these done again unnecessarily. He should ask his doctor for such a test and later provide him with a copy to take to the interview.

[bigdog 376]

My wife had to get any and all missing then have TB and blood test here. Find ;those records.

[Inky 1,110]

Just get a titre test, takes a few weeks to get it back, but saves you a lot of shots and money in the end when you find out what he actually needs and does not need.

[Wishin-n-hopin 15]

My wife had to get any and all missing then have TB and blood test here. Find ;those records.

I'm hoping that he doesn't have to be re-vaccinated. He knows that he was vaccinated as a child...so I'm not sure if you can actually be re-vaccinated with some of the vaccines. As far as finding those records...the doctor's office told him that anything over 15 years old is purged from the chart and they no longer have access to it. So, it appears that we are left with nothing and no hope of getting a record, either.

[Inky 1,110]

I'm hoping that he doesn't have to be re-vaccinated. He knows that he was vaccinated as a child...so I'm not sure if you can actually be re-vaccinated with some of the vaccines. As far as finding those records...the doctor's office told him that anything over 15 years old is purged from the chart and they no longer have access to it. So, it appears that we are left with nothing and no hope of getting a record, either.

And you just disregard what I and another VJ member said? a titre test can build a shot record for him. All it is, is a blood test that can test his immunity levels and tell you what hes had and what he needs.

[Wishin-n-hopin 15]

And you just disregard what I and another VJ member said? a titre test can build a shot record for him. All it is, is a blood test that can test his immunity levels and tell you what hes had and what he needs.

No, I didn't disregard what you and "Liz09" said. I merely responded to the "Big Dog" because it sounded so emphatic that we NEEDED to find those records. I was just making the point that the records no longer exist and I was sympathizing with the fact that his wife had to be re-vaccinated completely. Perhaps, if his wife had requested a titre it could have spared her some pain and money, but apparently, they didn't know to requet it.

I have already emailed my fiancee and told him to request the titre levels for the vaccines. Some vaccines (such as chicken pox) are not available in the UK. However, according to the "chart" on the US Embassy London website, he is too old for this vaccine now anyway (he will be 45 this year). So...I'm guessing that he wouldn't need to receive this one even though the titre will show there is no immunity(He has never had chicken pox...so...the titre will come back negative).

Thank you for your help. My fiancee will plan a visit to his doctor this week to get this done.

Edited July 31, 2011 by Wishin-n-hopin

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

All I really want to know is exactly what vaccinations are absolutely required when coming from the UK to the USA?

ZERO vaccines are required to get a K1 visa. Knightsbridge doctors will suggest what you need, but it is not until you file for AOS that you need to meet the immunization requirements. However if your doctor will give them free on NHS, then it's good to have them done in the UK.

Here's what the AOS people will be looking for:

27 through 49 years: Td or Tdap (if DT, DTP or DTaP shown: okay to accept); MMR; Varicella

You only have to prove those shots, not go back and cover every childhood shot listed was given at some point in his life. Also, if your medical exam is during flu season (Oct 1-March 31) then a flu shot for all ages has been added and not just for over age 50.

Also note that D or d is diptheria, T is Tetanus, and P or p is Pertussis (whooping cough). It is not just a tetanus shot like you said in your first post. The regulations further say the DTP variations must be within the last 10 years, so a baby shot (if he could prove it) would still need updating. Also remember this is a USA list so your UK doctor is not the one to advise you on what you need. The UK has different standards and while your UK doctor may say you don't need something, it's the USA you have to please. I've read many posts that say some UK GPs won't give Pertussis again. My husband's GP gave him the DTP (baby version) with no problem because he asked and didn't charge him either. They do not have to do immigration shots for free on NHS, but many do.

Varicella is not routinely available in the UK, so he will get that once in the US before filing for AOS. Yes, adults can get varicella shots. (Knightsbridge does take your word for it if you say you had chickenpox.) He can get his other shots (MMR & Tdap) in the US too if he decides to wait. He will have to have a Civil Surgeon sign off on the immunization section of a medical form I-693. K1s can actually skip the civil surgeon form I-693 if they get every requirement recorded on their Knightsbridge immunization form DS-3025. But without chickenpox or the varicella shot, your fiance will definitely not have it complete in the UK and will have to do so in the US to include with the AOS application.

[Wishin-n-hopin 15]

ZERO vaccines are required to get a K1 visa. Knightsbridge doctors will suggest what you need, but it is not until you file for AOS that you need to meet the immunization requirements. However if your doctor will give them free on NHS, then it's good to have them done in the UK.

Here's what the AOS people will be looking for:

27 through 49 years: Td or Tdap (if DT, DTP or DTaP shown: okay to accept); MMR; Varicella

You only have to prove those shots, not go back and cover every childhood shot listed was given at some point in his life. Also, if your medical exam is during flu season (Oct 1-March 31) then a flu shot for all ages has been added and not just for over age 50.

Also note that D or d is diptheria, T is Tetanus, and P or p is Pertussis (whooping cough). It is not just a tetanus shot like you said in your first post. The regulations further say the DTP variations must be within the last 10 years, so a baby shot (if he could prove it) would still need updating. Also remember this is a USA list so your UK doctor is not the one to advise you on what you need. The UK has different standards and while your UK doctor may say you don't need something, it's the USA you have to please. I've read many posts that say some UK GPs won't give Pertussis again. My husband's GP gave him the DTP (baby version) with no problem because he asked and didn't charge him either. They do not have to do immigration shots for free on NHS, but many do.

Varicella is not routinely available in the UK, so he will get that once in the US before filing for AOS. Yes, adults can get varicella shots. (Knightsbridge does take your word for it if you say you had chickenpox.) He can get his other shots (MMR & Tdap) in the US too if he decides to wait. He will have to have a Civil Surgeon sign off on the immunization section of a medical form I-693. K1s can actually skip the civil surgeon form I-693 if they get every requirement recorded on their Knightsbridge immunization form DS-3025. But without chickenpox or the varicella shot, your fiance will definitely not have it complete in the UK and will have to do so in the US to include with the AOS application.

Wow! Thank you so much for all the information. Could you clarify one more thing for me? If my fiancee can come here to the US without the vaccinations, can my family doctor give him the required injections (and those not available in the UK) and then, could we have a civil surgeon sign off on them....OR....does the civil surgeon actually have to administer the injections?

Thanks!

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Wow! Thank you so much for all the information. Could you clarify one more thing for me? If my fiancee can come here to the US without the vaccinations, can my family doctor give him the required injections (and those not available in the UK) and then, could we have a civil surgeon sign off on them....OR....does the civil surgeon actually have to administer the injections?

Thanks!

The civil surgeon does not have to give the shots. He can go to your doctor, the Redi-Cinic at Walgreens drug store, or the public health department. Many find the health department cheaper. So for example if he gets MMR and Td free in the UK and those go on his Knightsbridge record. Then he got varicella at the health department. He goes to a civil surgeon with all those records (his GP, Knightsbridge, and the health dept) and the CS "transcribes" them onto one official form. The only problem I see with some shots in the UK now, knowing he's still going to have to get more in the US--

Some of those are a series of shots like Dose 2 suggested four weeks later. If he could get complete by Knightsbridge (if he had chickenpox), then just the first shot of a series is okay with AOS. As long as he was up to date the day his DS3025 was signed, then USCIS won't make him get Dose 2/3. They don't make you wait out the interval to get all the doses as long as you were started with one dose at the medical exam. That's all he could medically get by that date. But I'm thinking by the time he gets to the US, the civil surgeon may say....hmmmm, it's been 8 weeks since your MMR Dose 1, so you're due another dose. He may not sign off until another dose is given since medically it's appropriate (now that time has passed) to continue the series. That would just be up to the civil surgeon. So he could end up with another shot and paying for it in the US, even if he got a free one in the UK. If the CS signs, then you don't need to comlete all the doses ever (unless you just want to). I hope thiis makes sense about the time interval and what the CS might say.

Beware of civil surgeons and call around and ask how much for just the immunization section. Many are not that well informed that K1 does not need a full exam. If they act clueless and insist you must have an exam, then hang up and call another. Find somebody who will do it for less than $50. Sometimes that becomes a huge hassle. Shame he can't get it done and dusted by the time of his UK exam. Are you sure your fiance didn't have chickenpox??? Everybody in the UK has had them.

[Wishin-n-hopin 15]

The civil surgeon does not have to give the shots. He can go to your doctor, the Redi-Cinic at Walgreens drug store, or the public health department. Many find the health department cheaper. So for example if he gets MMR and Td free in the UK and those go on his Knightsbridge record. Then he got varicella at the health department. He goes to a civil surgeon with all those records (his GP, Knightsbridge, and the health dept) and the CS "transcribes" them onto one official form. The only problem I see with some shots in the UK now, knowing he's still going to have to get more in the US--

Some of those are a series of shots like Dose 2 suggested four weeks later. If he could get complete by Knightsbridge (if he had chickenpox), then just the first shot of a series is okay with AOS. As long as he was up to date the day his DS3025 was signed, then USCIS won't make him get Dose 2/3. They don't make you wait out the interval to get all the doses as long as you were started with one dose at the medical exam. That's all he could medically get by that date. But I'm thinking by the time he gets to the US, the civil surgeon may say....hmmmm, it's been 8 weeks since your MMR Dose 1, so you're due another dose. He may not sign off until another dose is given since medically it's appropriate (now that time has passed) to continue the series. That would just be up to the civil surgeon. So he could end up with another shot and paying for it in the US, even if he got a free one in the UK. If the CS signs, then you don't need to comlete all the doses ever (unless you just want to). I hope thiis makes sense about the time interval and what the CS might say.

Beware of civil surgeons and call around and ask how much for just the immunization section. Many are not that well informed that K1 does not need a full exam. If they act clueless and insist you must have an exam, then hang up and call another. Find somebody who will do it for less than $50. Sometimes that becomes a huge hassle. Shame he can't get it done and dusted by the time of his UK exam. Are you sure your fiance didn't have chickenpox??? Everybody in the UK has had them.

Thanks so much....it makes perfect sense. I asked him again today if he ever had chicken pox. He told me that he remembers being sick when he was younger, but it's 100% positive that it was chicken pox. His parents were divorced when he was young and he went to live with his dad, who is now deceased. But, I think I'm going to suggest that he try asking his mother -- maybe she will remember if he had them when he was really young, before the divorce (I'm hoping ).

[VanessaTony 3,567]

ZERO vaccines are required to get a K1 visa. Knightsbridge doctors will suggest what you need, but it is not until you file for AOS that you need to meet the immunization requirements. However if your doctor will give them free on NHS, then it's good to have them done in the UK.

Here's what the AOS people will be looking for:

27 through 49 years: Td or Tdap (if DT, DTP or DTaP shown: okay to accept); MMR; Varicella

You only have to prove those shots, not go back and cover every childhood shot listed was given at some point in his life. Also, if your medical exam is during flu season (Oct 1-March 31) then a flu shot for all ages has been added and not just for over age 50.

Also note that D or d is diptheria, T is Tetanus, and P or p is Pertussis (whooping cough). It is not just a tetanus shot like you said in your first post. The regulations further say the DTP variations must be within the last 10 years, so a baby shot (if he could prove it) would still need updating. Also remember this is a USA list so your UK doctor is not the one to advise you on what you need. The UK has different standards and while your UK doctor may say you don't need something, it's the USA you have to please. I've read many posts that say some UK GPs won't give Pertussis again. My husband's GP gave him the DTP (baby version) with no problem because he asked and didn't charge him either. They do not have to do immigration shots for free on NHS, but many do.

Varicella is not routinely available in the UK, so he will get that once in the US before filing for AOS. Yes, adults can get varicella shots. (Knightsbridge does take your word for it if you say you had chickenpox.) He can get his other shots (MMR & Tdap) in the US too if he decides to wait. He will have to have a Civil Surgeon sign off on the immunization section of a medical form I-693. K1s can actually skip the civil surgeon form I-693 if they get every requirement recorded on their Knightsbridge immunization form DS-3025. But without chickenpox or the varicella shot, your fiance will definitely not have it complete in the UK and will have to do so in the US to include with the AOS application.

Just to clarify this for people reading, while immunisations might not be required for the K1 visa, some embassies WILL require it. Australia is one. You cannot get a K1 visa in Aus without meeting the requirements. Just like the I-864 isn't required but some countries require it. And just like tax returns for the I-134 isn't required but some embassies request it.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Some of those are a series of shots like Dose 2 suggested four weeks later. If he could get complete by Knightsbridge (if he had chickenpox), then just the first shot of a series is okay with AOS. As long as he was up to date the day his DS3025 was signed, then USCIS won't make him get Dose 2/3. They don't make you wait out the interval to get all the doses as long as you were started with one dose at the medical exam. That's all he could medically get by that date. But I'm thinking by the time he gets to the US, the civil surgeon may say....hmmmm, it's been 8 weeks since your MMR Dose 1, so you're due another dose. He may not sign off until another dose is given since medically it's appropriate (now that time has passed) to continue the series. That would just be up to the civil surgeon. So he could end up with another shot and paying for it in the US, even if he got a free one in the UK. If the CS signs, then you don't need to comlete all the doses ever (unless you just want to). I hope thiis makes sense about the time interval and what the CS might say.

Just to clarify here as well, the OP must be up to date with the shots at the time of filing AOS. If they've had one shot of a series and are due for another they will be queried on it. Better to be safe and see a CS to get the transcription (in my oh so humble opinion).

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Just to clarify here as well, the OP must be up to date with the shots at the time of filing AOS. If they've had one shot of a series and are due for another they will be queried on it. Better to be safe and see a CS to get the transcription (in my oh so humble opinion).

Just to clarify my reason for saying the date of the medical exam is the date the adjudicator goes by. From the manual--

Steps to determine the necessary vaccinations . [Chapter added 12-15-2009]

Step 1 . First determine which vaccinations were required for the applicant

as of the date the medical exam was conducted

.

Step 2 . Verify that the vaccinations required

as of the date of the medical exam

had been received by the applicant or that the vaccinations required

as of that date

were marked as not medically appropriate. Form I-693 is acceptable if the applicant has received each of the required vaccinations, or if the civil surgeon has noted that the vaccination was not medically appropriate

at the time of the examination

.

If you had an MMR dose the week of the medical exam, it would not be medically appropriate to have the whole series done in one day.

And this from a FAQ page about immunizations on uscis.gov website

Q. Certain vaccine series can only be completed with multiple visits to the civil surgeon. Am I required to complete the entire series before the civil surgeon can sign the Form I-693?

A. You are only required to receive a single dose of each vaccine when you visit the civil surgeon. You are encouraged to follow up with your private health care provider to complete the series. Once you have received the single dose appropriate at the time, the civil surgeon can sign and certify the Form I-693.

And from the instructions to Panel Physicians and Civil Surgeon- CDC website

Reviewing any incomplete vaccination series to determine if eligible for a blanket waiver.

A blanket waiver is a waiver that is applied uniformly to a group of conditions and does not require a separate waiver application or fee to be filed with USCIS. In many cases, it might not be medically appropriate to administer a dose of a particular vaccine. Four "Not Medically Appropriate" categories are acceptable when determining an applicant's eligibility for a blanket waiver.

The four "Not Medically Appropriate" categories are

◦Not age appropriate

◦Contraindication

◦Insufficient time interval between doses

◦Not flu season

Edited August 1, 2011 by Nich-Nick