Vaccination Requirement Waiver

[hkl 9]

I strongly believe vaccinations are harmful to your overall health. I would not like to expose my fiancee to that. Has anyone applied for a Vaccination Requirement Waiver? How did it go?

[feli114 65]

The vaccinations are a requirement to enter the Country. I dont know how successful you will be at dodging that requirement. Good luck to you.

[Xanax 349]

I am fairly sure the vaccinations are a requirement; meant to protect the USC's from diseases that are almost no existent in the US but may still be prevalent in other parts of the world.

Your fiancée will only need age appropriate vaccines

Good luck trying to get a waiver, though I doubt the USCIS will risk the health of US citizens for a foreigner attempting to emigrate.

I do hope you don't have to compromise your individual beliefs.

Edited September 15, 2012 by Xanax

[Pinkrlion 2,607]

I strongly believe vaccinations are harmful to your overall health. I would not like to expose my fiancee to that. Has anyone applied for a Vaccination Requirement Waiver? How did it go?

If your fiancee has never had a vaccination, it is most likely acceptable. If he had a flu shot, or any vaccinations associated with employment, there is a chance that it will be denied. The key thing to remember, that it is your fiancee's conviction and/or religious beliefs, not yours.

[QueenE 173]

I thought for K1 its not a requirement until AOS? But is it really that big of a deal? Im sure you were vaccinated as a child and you've made it this far.

[djricky4 67]

United States immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of an immigrant visa. Panel physicians who conduct medical examinations of immigrant visa applicants are required to verify that immigrant visa applicants have met the vaccination requirements, or that it is medically inappropriate for the visa applicant. This is not for you to decide.

Edited September 15, 2012 by djricky4

[Darkmoonfaerie 19]

As a natural health care practitioner, the vaccine requirements kill me too. I do not get vaccines and hate that my soon-to-be-family will be getting them (especially the same vaccine that caused lifetime injuries to me at age 18). I have heard there's a waiver, but it adds months to your process, and that there is a good chance they will deny the waiver. It's hard to get a waiver for vaccines in most states, so it's understandable that it would be worse on the federal level. I do understand why the US has the requirement, and am looking at it as a small hurdle to get into the country. Once he and the kids are here, we'll discuss what we'll do with the family going forward. If he wants to continue to vaccinate him and his boys for life, then it's a decision I will agree with. But I'll continue to laugh at the health department every year when they call me asking if I've had my flu shot

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

I don't think we've had anyone here on VJ who has been successful with the waiver in my 5 years on here.

To be fair, many decide it's not worth even trying as it cost quite a bit of money and months to adjudicate, so most people end up getting the vax anyways- especially because if you have had childhood vax, chances are you don;t need anymore, other than possible a tetanus booster.

[hkl 9]

I don't want to start here a discussion about the medical advantages or detriments of vaccinations. There are better places to discuss that (i.e. www.mercola.com). However one basic fact about vaccination seems to be misunderstood here by few posters claiming the requirement is to protect United States citizens from infectious deseases. If a foreign citizen caries an infection with her/him the vaccination will not heal that desease, it would be too late for that. Vaccination only protects during the time after not before. So if the person enters US after the vaccination those vaccines can only protect her/him from getting infected by US citizens.

The worst part with this requirement regardless if good or bad is that it chips on ones personal rights. It trains future US citizens to give up their rights right at the very begin by harassing them with lengthy processing times if they try execute their rights.

Edited September 15, 2012 by hkl

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

I thought for K1 its not a requirement until AOS? But is it really that big of a deal? Im sure you were vaccinated as a child and you've made it this far.

You are correct. Vaccinations are not required for a K-1 to enter the US. They are required for AOS. Some countries still require the vaccinations anyway at the K-1 medical, and some countries do not. As far as filing for AOS, it is better to have them all done and marked off on the DS-3025 at the time of the K-1 medical. This is because it can be difficult to find a civil surgeon in the US that will not insist on giving another full medical(and overcharging) that is not needed.

[Xanax 349]

I don't want to start here a discussion about the medical advantages or detriments of vaccinations. There are better places to discuss that (i.e. www.mercola.com). However one basic fact about vaccination seems to be misunderstood here by few posters claiming the requirement is to protect United States citizens from infectious deseases. If a foreign citizen caries an infection with her/him the vaccination will not heal that desease, it would be too late for that. Vaccination only protects during the time after not before. So if the person enters US after the vaccination those vaccines can only protect her/him from getting infected by US citizens.

The worst part with this requirement regardless if good or bad is that it chips on ones personal rights. It trains future US citizens to give up their rights right at the very begin by harassing them with lengthy processing times if they try execute their rights.

Unfortunately, immigration is not a right, it is a privilege and not a right and thus you need to comply with USCIS rule to get that privilege.

As a nurse myself, I will not debate semantics on vaccines, how they can help protect people etc or how they work but I truly believe you should have to comply with the vaccine requirements to gain the privilege of emigration.

What does your fiancée think about vaccines? Afterall you have only mentioned your thoughts and it is her body they will be going into?

Edited September 15, 2012 by Xanax

[Moomin 292]

A waiver is possible, just like it's possible to waive the requirement for the i-129f of having met once within the last 2 years. The likelyhood of waiving the requirement is a different matter.

Personally, I'd say the vaccinations aren't to protect you as an immigrant, it's to protect US citizens from communicable diseases. When your religion prohibits vaccinations, then there might be a chance. Certain vaccinations are also required when kids start school btw - to protect the surroundings.

Please view this topic; http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/325201-vaccination-waived/

And this; http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/269164-form-i-601-for-religious-objection-to-vaccines/

Bear in mind that some of the people posting here(as well as anywhere else on other forums) hardly ever come back with the result. I take it as a sign of the waiver being denied, or simply changing their minds.

[lilQueenP 15]

I thought for K1 its not a requirement until AOS? But is it really that big of a deal? Im sure you were vaccinated as a child and you've made it this far.

That was my understanding too.

[jasonofape 17]

That was my understanding too.

Different consulates have different requirements regarding the vaccination issue for K1. For example, I have read that in the Philippines, you are going to get all of required vaccines. No discussion. Additionally, I have read in Mexico, that some rarely get any prior to issuance of K1. Regardless of that fact, once you marry and file adjustment of status, the vaccinations will be required. So, all you are doing is buying a little time with that thought process.

Xanax made a good point about the fact that immigration is a privilege and not a right. With that privilege comes the requirements of vaccinations. Until the law changes, and I don't see that happening anytime soon, it is something that must be dealt with.

If the laws and requirements of the United States do not set well with anyone, then maybe the US isn't for them. We are a highly regulated society and that isn't going to change anytime soon. Whether that is good or bad another topic of discussion.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Different consulates have different requirements regarding the vaccination issue for K1. For example, I have read that in the Philippines, you are going to get all of required vaccines. No discussion. Additionally, I have read in Mexico, that some rarely get any prior to issuance of K1. Regardless of that fact, once you marry and file adjustment of status, the vaccinations will be required. So, all you are doing is buying a little time with that thought process.

Xanax made a good point about the fact that immigration is a privilege and not a right. With that privilege comes the requirements of vaccinations. Until the law changes, and I don't see that happening anytime soon, it is something that must be dealt with.

If the laws and requirements of the United States do not s(i)t well with anyone, then maybe the US isn't for them. We are a highly regulated society and that isn't going to change anytime soon. Whether that is good or bad another topic of discussion.

I actually agree with this.