Immunizations - help needed

[PhotoJ89 30]

I've spent the last 6 hours doing research and I can't find and an answer to this:

 

Varicella. It's my understanding that it's a series of 2 shots, with the second one coming at least 4 weeks after the first. In the stickied post below, it's not clear how this is handled on the DS-3025. Do you need to have both shots completed at the time of the medical, in order to have a "complete" form? Or, if you've only had 1 of the 2, will they give you an "insufficient time interval" code B waiver, similar to MMR? Interesting it's stated below that "2 are required" for MMR, but this is not stated for Varicella. It was my understanding that 2 are required. 

 

My fiancée had her first Varicella shot on May 10, administered by a "regular" doctor. Her medical exam appointment is June 1, less than 4 weeks away. We are trying to decide if we should cancel all travel plans, reschedule the interview and medical, etc. in order to have both Varicella shots completed at the time of the medical, so we don't have to see a civil surgeon when she gets to the US/applies for AOS. 

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

 

Quote

This is a revision of my post that is often quoted as good information on the I-693 and DS-3025 question. The DS-3025 form has changed, so this update matches the new form that looks like this http://photos.state.gov/libraries/thailand/591452/iv/ds3025.pdf

If your DS-3025 from your visa medical is sufficient to prove you have completed all required immunizations, then use it instead of seeing a Civil Surgeon. Read all this for information I have compiled.

Do I need a medical exam?

What if I am a K nonimmigrant visa holder and already had a medical exam overseas?

Source: I-693 instructions page 6 &7, Part 3 FAQ, #3

If you were admitted as a:

A. K-1 fiancé(e) or a K-2 child of a K-1 fiancé(e); or

B. K-3 spouse of a U.S. citizen or a K-4 child of a K-3 spouse of a U.S. citizen; and

C. You received a medical examination prior to admission, then:

1) You are not required to have another medical examination as long as you file your Form I-485 within one year of an overseas medical examination, and:

(a) The panel physician did not find a class A medical condition during your overseas examination; or

(b) The panel physician did find a class A medical condition, you received a waiver of inadmissibility, and you have complied with the terms and conditions of the waiver.

(2) Even if a new medical examination is not required, you must still show proof that you complied with the vaccination requirements. If the vaccination record (DS 3025) was not properly completed and included as part of the original overseas medical examination report, you will have to have the Part 7. Vaccination Record completed by a designated civil surgeon. In this case, you must submit Parts 1., 2., 4., and 7. of Form I-693.

Do you need an I-693 immunization sheet? Is my DS-3025 filled out properly?

Look at your DS-3025. If it has the ALL of the following items, you don't need an I-693 (Adults 19-49 yrs old).

1. Shots marked with a date (at least one of a series)

• MMR (two are required but if you have "insufficient time interval" Code B in the last column, then you get a waiver)
• Td or Tdap or DT or DTP or DtaP (One date must be no longer than 10 years ago)
• Varicella (Either a check by "Vaccine" with a date, OR a check by "Varicella History" if you had chickenpox. History gets you a waiver)
• Influenza (during flu season)** see note below because you may be okay without it. If it is not flu season, the waiver in the last column is Code F.
• Everything else marked "not age appropriate" Code A, insufficient time interval B, not flu season F, contraindicated C...things that allow a waiver.

NOTE: If you have shots missing and no waiver for them, stop here and see a Civil Surgeon. "Most of the shots" isn't complete. A note from your home country doctor won't count. All shots must be recorded on the DS-3025 or waived. You will have to take your doctor note to a Civil Surgeon and get him to record it on an official form.

2. The new form has a summary section. It may be marked:

"US vaccination requirements COMPLETE (Requesting a Blanket Waiver)"

But instructions I have seen says it is only marked for immigrant visas. I know In London they leave section 2 unmarked at K1 medicals.

3. Signed and dated by the doctor

The unknown with this new form is--will every adjudicator across the US know how to interpret the summary section? Their policy manual says:

"The officer should be aware that civil surgeons may improperly mark the boxes because they may misunderstand the meaning of these boxes. Therefore, the officer should determine, from the vaccination assessment completed by the civil surgeon, whether the applicant received all vaccines, which blanket waivers should be granted, and whether the applicant requires any other waivers. The officer should exercise discretion in reviewing the vaccination chart and when evaluating the results boxes at the bottom of the vaccination assessment chart. If the civil surgeon did not check any result boxes, the officer should only return the form for corrective action if he or she is unable to ascertain whether the applicant is admissible. "

While this is not directly addressing the new form that has a "Summary" instead of a "Results" section, I believe the intent is that the adjudicator should look and see if the four required shots (or waivers) are present and accept the form even if the doctor doesn't do the summary to their liking. No guarantees, but I would certainly use the DS-3025 if I knew I had all the required shots.

**Note on flu shot: Flu shots are required for adults of all ages if your visa exam was between (Oct 1 and March 31). But if the AOS adjudicator picks up your case when it is not flu season, you will be excused. And the reverse is true. The adjudicator picks up your case during flu season, but sees it was NOT flu season when you had your medical exam, you are also excused because the date they go by is the date of your visa exam to determine if you were current on that date. Keep in mind that if you go to a civil surgeon for an I-693, then you are resetting the medical exam date for immunizations and you may have to get second doses of shots or a flu shot to become current on your new immunization date of record.

See next post for more information.

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Edited May 20, 2017 by PhotoJ89