Flu shot clarification question

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

Hello all!

My fiancé is currently preparing for his medical (he is still in his home country, this is for the visa not AOS) and is making sure he has all his shots bc free health care yeah.

Anyway the only shot he does not have at this point is the flu shot. What I have come to believe is that at this point it's not worth it for him to get a flu shot in his country because by the time we file for AOS (late summer 2016) it will either A) not be part of the flu seasons (before Oct. 1) or B) next year's flu season so there will be a completely different flu shot out.

Am I correct in thinking this? I guess it's the later option that I am concerned about. I know the flu shot changes from year to year in regards to its composition and I guess just assumed that you would need the most recent years for AOS. Is that how it works?

Edited November 5, 2015 by MorganandMichael

[londongal 17]

Yeah you're right - this was clarified in another thread - http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/574161-can-the-flu-jab-be-avoided/

If when you file for AoS it is not flu season then the flu jab is not required.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

If he got complete with a flu shot on his Knightsbridge signed off immunization form, then he would be considered complete for AOS because on the day of record (date signed off) he was deemed complete. The reverse would be true if it wasn't flu season and he was signed off without a shot and the waiver "not flu season". They don't reject a certification because of seasonal changes.

If he skips the shot on his "date of record" during flu season, then he is not complete. But if his AOS is reviewed for approval before Oct 1, 2016 when it is not flu season, he would be okay because the day they are making their decision, a flu shot is not required for anybody because it's not flu season. Note that is not the date when you mail it off. It is the date of your AOS interview or if no interview, the date somebody afar picks up his case to decide.

So theoretically his options are--

Get complete at Knightsbridge and he's okay.

Skip the flu shot now, get greencard approved after Mar 31 and before Oct 1, 2016 and he's okay.

Skip the flu shot now and end up with an interview after Oct 1, and they should RFE for lack of flu shot because his Knightsbridge form was not complete. He goes and gets one then.

Wait too long to file AOS, and his entire Knightsbridge medical can be considered expired and he may be asked to start over with full medical exam and flu shot.

I say theoretically because each office across the land has many adjudicators who may or may not have studied the guidance in their manual which is where this came from. The officer could accept or reject anything and unless you are prepared to argue his correctness, then you will just go along with what he says to do.

Team Mayshaw is NOT correct. It is not when you FILE that counts. It is when your AOS is being reviewed for approval. If it is not flu season on that judgement day, then no shot is required. Unfortunately you won't be able to plan for when that day is going to be.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Yeah you're right - this was clarified in another thread - http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/574161-can-the-flu-jab-be-avoided/

If when you file for AoS it is not flu season then the flu jab is not required.

You have that wrong, Has nothing to do with the filing date being in or out of flu season. Maybe read over again.

[baron555 934]

Hello all!

My fiancé is currently preparing for his medical (he is still in his home country, this is for the visa not AOS) and is making sure he has all his shots bc free health care yeah.

Anyway the only shot he does not have at this point is the flu shot. What I have come to believe is that at this point it's not worth it for him to get a flu shot in his country because by the time we file for AOS (late summer 2016) it will either A) not be part of the flu seasons (before Oct. 1) or B) next year's flu season so there will be a completely different flu shot out.

Am I correct in thinking this? I guess it's the later option that I am concerned about. I know the flu shot changes from year to year in regards to its composition and I guess just assumed that you would need the most recent years for AOS. Is that how it works?

I think they have the flu virus up in Canada as well as the US.....so a flu shot now before the peak of the season is suggested.

And, you can't get the flu from the flu shot but others may think differently based on their scientific research.

And, you should get one also.

Edited November 5, 2015 by baron555

[londongal 17]

You have that wrong, Has nothing to do with the filing date being in or out of flu season. Maybe read over again.

Aaaahh thank you for the clarification - this makes a big difference!

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

I think they have the flu virus up in Canada as well as the US.....so a flu shot now before the peak of the season is suggested.

And, you can't get the flu from the flu shot but others may think differently based on their scientific research.

And, you should get one also.

Thank you for the input, but I think you are assuming quite a bit. I never said anything about anyone in this situation not wanting to get the flu shot. I just wasn't sure if the one he can get now would meet the requirements if we have our AOS interview

I never said anything about thinking that you could get the flu from the shot, and I have already gotten mine for the year as I live with someone who has a compromised immune system.

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

If he got complete with a flu shot on his Knightsbridge signed off immunization form, then he would be considered complete for AOS because on the day of record (date signed off) he was deemed complete. The reverse would be true if it wasn't flu season and he was signed off without a shot and the waiver "not flu season". They don't reject a certification because of seasonal changes.

If he skips the shot on his "date of record" during flu season, then he is not complete. But if his AOS is reviewed for approval before Oct 1, 2016 when it is not flu season, he would be okay because the day they are making their decision, a flu shot is not required for anybody because it's not flu season. Note that is not the date when you mail it off. It is the date of your AOS interview or if no interview, the date somebody afar picks up his case to decide.

So theoretically his options are--

Get complete at Knightsbridge and he's okay.

Skip the flu shot now, get greencard approved after Mar 31 and before Oct 1, 2016 and he's okay.

Skip the flu shot now and end up with an interview after Oct 1, and they should RFE for lack of flu shot because his Knightsbridge form was not complete. He goes and gets one then.

Wait too long to file AOS, and his entire Knightsbridge medical can be considered expired and he may be asked to start over with full medical exam and flu shot.

I say theoretically because each office across the land has many adjudicators who may or may not have studied the guidance in their manual which is where this came from. The officer could accept or reject anything and unless you are prepared to argue his correctness, then you will just go along with what he says to do.

Team Mayshaw is NOT correct. It is not when you FILE that counts. It is when your AOS is being reviewed for approval. If it is not flu season on that judgement day, then no shot is required. Unfortunately you won't be able to plan for when that day is going to be.

Thank you, that is interesting! I'm surprised they don't make you get the most recent one, but that is good news! Either way it wasn't going to be a big issue since the flu shot is pretty inexpensive compared to other vaccines if we had to go the civil surgeon route, but I will tell him to go get the flu shot this week!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thank you, that is interesting! I'm surprised they don't make you get the most recent one, but that is good news! Either way it wasn't going to be a big issue since the flu shot is pretty inexpensive compared to other vaccines if we had to go the civil surgeon route, but I will tell him to go get the flu shot this week!

The USCIS doesn't try make immigration harder by changing the rules against you depending on the calendar. If you got cleared by a panel physician or civil surgeon, they woundn't send you back for a different shot version simply because the calendar flipped to the next page. If down the road next flu season, he got an RFE for no flu shot, then he would get the 2016 version. But if he gets as complete as possible on his medical date of record with a 2015 shot, they accept that he did what he was supposed to do at the time.

Other examples are if you submitted documentation about finances right now with a 2014 tax return but the case was not adjudicated until next year, they are told to accept what was correct at the time the Affidavit of Support was signed. You don't have to re-do the entire I-864 when you complete your 2015 taxes. I believe their wording is to accept what was presented unless the adjudicator strongly suspects there is a change of circumstances "other than the passage of time."

The way some of these things drag out, it's good to get a few considerations.