Figuring out which path to take and the covid vaccine requirement (split)

[kmalone 0]

On 9/14/2021 at 12:27 PM, aurmorr said:

COVID-19 USCIS VACCINATION REQUIREMENT UPDATE

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20210914-COVIDVaccinationRequirement.pdf 

I just spent the last 4 hours going through this threat back to last year and seeing this really breaks my heart. I live in Toronto and my fiance in Florida. My fiancé and I are trying to decide between a K-1 or just get married already and submit a CR-1 but I am not vaccinated and do not wish to be......so does that just mean we'll never be able to be together now? We've been together for 4 years now and haven't seen each other now in over 6 months because of the border closures so we're ready to just submit the papers so we can be together sooner. Yet this literally just eradicates us ever being together if it's being forced. I understand most people wish to be vaccinated against Covid and I respect that but I do not, and am honestly more scared of the vaccine than the virus. I don't know what to do now and honestly just feel broken and depressed now knowing even if I submit now it'll be a year before I might even get an interview let alone will be approved without this vaccine.... Don't even know what to do anymore.... I can't go a year and a half not seeing him, let alone not being approved after waiting that long.... 

[MadKittyCat 63]

1 minute ago, kmalone said:

I just spent the last 4 hours going through this threat back to last year and seeing this really breaks my heart. I live in Toronto and my fiance in Florida. My fiancé and I are trying to decide between a K-1 or just get married already and submit a CR-1 but I am not vaccinated and do not wish to be......so does that just mean we'll never be able to be together now? We've been together for 4 years now and haven't seen each other now in over 6 months because of the border closures so we're ready to just submit the papers so we can be together sooner. Yet this literally just eradicates us ever being together if it's being forced. I understand most people wish to be vaccinated against Covid and I respect that but I do not, and am honestly more scared of the vaccine than the virus. I don't know what to do now and honestly just feel broken and depressed now knowing even if I submit now it'll be a year before I might even get an interview let alone will be approved without this vaccine.... Don't even know what to do anymore.... I can't go a year and a half not seeing him, let alone not being approved after waiting that long.... 

I think someone awhile ago talked about getting a waiver for all vaccines, so id imagine something like that can be done for the COVID vaccine also. Someone else might have more insight than me though. Hang in there, I just received my visa after 2.5 years of waiting, it’s terrible but you’ll get there!

[kmalone 0]

Just now, MadKittyCat said:

I think someone awhile ago talked about getting a waiver for all vaccines, so id imagine something like that can be done for the COVID vaccine also. Someone else might have more insight than me though. Hang in there, I just received my visa after 2.5 years of waiting, it’s terrible but you’ll get there!

Thanks for the positivie insight! I've been reading everyone's stories and it's so heartbreaking. I'm still not sure if we should submit a K-1 or just get married as we want to be married anyways, but again with the border issues not sure how we could go about that or if a virtual wedding would be accepted. His mother is an ordained minister so she could marry us too. This entire thing is still confusing no matter how much research I try to do on it. 

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

39 minutes ago, kmalone said:

I just spent the last 4 hours going through this threat back to last year and seeing this really breaks my heart. I live in Toronto and my fiance in Florida. My fiancé and I are trying to decide between a K-1 or just get married already and submit a CR-1 but I am not vaccinated and do not wish to be......so does that just mean we'll never be able to be together now? We've been together for 4 years now and haven't seen each other now in over 6 months because of the border closures so we're ready to just submit the papers so we can be together sooner. Yet this literally just eradicates us ever being together if it's being forced. I understand most people wish to be vaccinated against Covid and I respect that but I do not, and am honestly more scared of the vaccine than the virus. I don't know what to do now and honestly just feel broken and depressed now knowing even if I submit now it'll be a year before I might even get an interview let alone will be approved without this vaccine.... Don't even know what to do anymore.... I can't go a year and a half not seeing him, let alone not being approved after waiting that long.... 

I’m sorry this is causing you anguish.

 

It is not the end of the world though. There is provision for waiver on religious and moral grounds. You would need to apply for this waiver providing your reasons and proof for why you do not wish to get vaccinated. USCIS will make the decision or whether or not to grant the waiver.

 

If there is a medical reason for you not to be vaccinated (such as you are allergic) the panel physician can also provide you with a waiver.

 

I will say though, if you are not getting the vaccine simply because you are scared of it, don’t be. There is a lot of false news out there about it for political reasons. The virus is very dangerous, and I hope you will protect yourself and those around you.
 

I sincerely hope you find a way to be with your partner. Would your partner be able to move to Canada instead?

Edited September 16, 2021 by From_CAN_2_US

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

30 minutes ago, kmalone said:

Thanks for the positivie insight! I've been reading everyone's stories and it's so heartbreaking. I'm still not sure if we should submit a K-1 or just get married as we want to be married anyways, but again with the border issues not sure how we could go about that or if a virtual wedding would be accepted. His mother is an ordained minister so she could marry us too. This entire thing is still confusing no matter how much research I try to do on it. 

Get married and apply for CR1. It is a better route than K1. 
 

K1 would take almost the same time as CR1, and you would not be able to work or travel for a long time (6-8 months) after you enter the US.

 

CR1 doesn’t always take 2-3 years. USCIS has gotten faster in the last year or so. My i130 was approved in a little more than 2.5 months. NVC approval was about a month. Montréal consulate also seems to be improving.

 

So I would strongly recommend the CR1 route.

[kmalone 0]

3 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

I’m sorry this is causing you anguish.

 

It is not the end of the world though. There is provision for waiver on religious and moral grounds. You would need to apply for this waiver providing your reasons and proof for why you do not wish to get vaccinated. USCIS will make the decision or whether or not to grant the waiver.

 

If there is a medical reason for you not to be vaccinated (such as you are allergic) the panel physician can also provide you with a waiver.

 

I will say though, if you are not getting the vaccine simply because you are scared of it, don’t be. There is a lot of false news out there about it for political reasons. The virus is very dangerous, and I hope you will protect yourself and those around you.
 

I sincerely hope you find a way to be with your partner. Would your partner be able to move to Canada instead?

No, he doesn't want to live here and I personally hate living in Canada. I can't get out of here fast enough. The Montreal consulate handling the backlog so terribly while other countries continue to pump out interviews is another reason to add. I also have multiple reasons to not want the vaccine, including my fiancé and his entire close family had covid and are completely fine from it; I was also exposed to them 3 times and came back with negative tests each time. I also have multiple close relatives and friends who received the vaccine and are very sick from it and have had to go to the ER numerous times since receiving it. I do not feel comfortable what so ever getting it; I feel like I'm risking my life to get it. I'll be up to date on every other vaccine but do not what that one. It's crazy that that could destroy my entire life and plans. 

 

Thanks for your insight on the CR-1 as well! Really thinking about going that route but just don't know how we'll be able to see each other in order to do it. I can't take a month of work to visit and quarantine upon returning at the moment, and he has 2 weeks paid off work but his entire trip would be in quarantine in Canada. So it all just seems impossible still. Holding out hope they lessen the quarantine time at least in the coming months because that would be more doable. Very doubtful though that will happen...  

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

44 minutes ago, MadKittyCat said:

I think someone awhile ago talked about getting a waiver for all vaccines, so id imagine something like that can be done for the COVID vaccine also. Someone else might have more insight than me though. Hang in there, I just received my visa after 2.5 years of waiting, it’s terrible but you’ll get there!

@kmalone You submit the waiver for vaccines (regular ones) after you get refused at the interview. You submit the waiver form (fee of $500 I believe) and proof of your religious/ moral convictions that do not allow you to get vaccines. The strongest evidence is waivers you applied for in the past for school/ work/ access to amenities etc. You basically have to prove that you have been consistent in your beliefs even if they are fairly recent. Some people submit affidavits, but I understand that’s not the strongest proof.

 

There was someone here who recently went through the process and it took about a month after the interview to get approved, so the delay caused by the waiver is not necessarily long…

There is no precedence for Covid vaccine waivers yet of course, but I am sure there are many that will be applying in the coming months that will show you the way of how to do it

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

10 minutes ago, kmalone said:

No, he doesn't want to live here and I personally hate living in Canada. I can't get out of here fast enough. The Montreal consulate handling the backlog so terribly while other countries continue to pump out interviews is another reason to add. I also have multiple reasons to not want the vaccine, including my fiancé and his entire close family had covid and are completely fine from it; I was also exposed to them 3 times and came back with negative tests each time. I also have multiple close relatives and friends who received the vaccine and are very sick from it and have had to go to the ER numerous times since receiving it. I do not feel comfortable what so ever getting it; I feel like I'm risking my life to get it. I'll be up to date on every other vaccine but do not what that one. It's crazy that that could destroy my entire life and plans. 

 

Thanks for your insight on the CR-1 as well! Really thinking about going that route but just don't know how we'll be able to see each other in order to do it. I can't take a month of work to visit and quarantine upon returning at the moment, and he has 2 weeks paid off work but his entire trip would be in quarantine in Canada. So it all just seems impossible still. Holding out hope they lessen the quarantine time at least in the coming months because that would be more doable. Very doubtful though that will happen...  

I feel you. I had the same dilemma last year from March to October 2020 when we were trying to get married. It was worse then because there were no vaccines and he couldn’t visit without being married to me (border was closed to everyone except immediate family). The quarantine period makes it very tough…

 

A few options - 

 

1. Peace Arch Park in Vancouver - It’s a park at the border we’re you don’t cross immigrations to enter. Americans and Canadians can see each other without going through an immigration port and (I think) don’t need to quarantine after coming back (you have to return on the side you entered). Many couples got married there last year when they had no other way of seeing each other. My husband and I almost did it too, until my employer approved my 2.5 week vacation that allowed me to fly to US quarantine and then marry.

 

2. Utah zoom marriage. I believe this can be done remotely… while you are apart in two different countries, or from your home while he visits and he is in quarantine. 

Edited September 16, 2021 by From_CAN_2_US

[Twiz&Toz 240]

47 minutes ago, kmalone said:

No, he doesn't want to live here and I personally hate living in Canada. I can't get out of here fast enough. The Montreal consulate handling the backlog so terribly while other countries continue to pump out interviews is another reason to add. I also have multiple reasons to not want the vaccine, including my fiancé and his entire close family had covid and are completely fine from it; I was also exposed to them 3 times and came back with negative tests each time. I also have multiple close relatives and friends who received the vaccine and are very sick from it and have had to go to the ER numerous times since receiving it. I do not feel comfortable what so ever getting it; I feel like I'm risking my life to get it. I'll be up to date on every other vaccine but do not what that one. It's crazy that that could destroy my entire life and plans. 

 

Thanks for your insight on the CR-1 as well! Really thinking about going that route but just don't know how we'll be able to see each other in order to do it. I can't take a month of work to visit and quarantine upon returning at the moment, and he has 2 weeks paid off work but his entire trip would be in quarantine in Canada. So it all just seems impossible still. Holding out hope they lessen the quarantine time at least in the coming months because that would be more doable. Very doubtful though that will happen...  

No matter what type you go for it’s a long wait. Cr1 is prob your best bet as well as cheapest in the long run. They have said they are going to slow down the i130 to help with the backlog (I don’t understand that but it is what it is) as for the vaccine u need a waver as said before. But no matter what road you pick you always have us on here to help out. My i130 took almost a year then 2 weeks for nvc now almost another year for waiting for an interview. Long wait but in the end it’s worth it.

 

[kmalone 0]

2 minutes ago, Twiz&Toz said:

No matter what type you go for it’s a long wait. Cr1 is prob your best bet as well as cheapest in the long run. They have said they are going to slow down the i130 to help with the backlog (I don’t understand that but it is what it is) as for the vaccine u need a waver as said before. But no matter what road you pick you always have us on here to help out. My i130 took almost a year then 2 weeks for nvc now almost another year for waiting for an interview. Long wait but in the end it’s worth it.

 

I'm just not sure with the CR-1 because at the moment we can't get married and then see each other immediately after so that would prolong us applying,. We could go the proxy route with the Utah online marriage but again, I'm not sure if we need to see each other immediately after in order to file the CR-1 or if we can file it and then see each other before the interview. Where as with the K-1 we could file it tomorrow and begin the process. I just want to get the ball rolling at this point, especially if it's taking as long as everyone says it is...... at this rate I'm going to be nearly 30 before I can move there and we wanted to start a family which seems like it's not going to happen now for a long, long time. We don't want to do that living in separate counties not being able to see each other for extended periods of time. Feels like we're wasting our life and youth now because of these long processing times and restrictions. At least with the K-1 the ball will be rolling...  

[alphabetagamma 102]

9 hours ago, kmalone said:

No, he doesn't want to live here and I personally hate living in Canada. I can't get out of here fast enough. The Montreal consulate handling the backlog so terribly while other countries continue to pump out interviews is another reason to add. I also have multiple reasons to not want the vaccine, including my fiancé and his entire close family had covid and are completely fine from it; I was also exposed to them 3 times and came back with negative tests each time. I also have multiple close relatives and friends who received the vaccine and are very sick from it and have had to go to the ER numerous times since receiving it. I do not feel comfortable what so ever getting it; I feel like I'm risking my life to get it. I'll be up to date on every other vaccine but do not what that one. It's crazy that that could destroy my entire life and plans. 

 

Thanks for your insight on the CR-1 as well! Really thinking about going that route but just don't know how we'll be able to see each other in order to do it. I can't take a month of work to visit and quarantine upon returning at the moment, and he has 2 weeks paid off work but his entire trip would be in quarantine in Canada. So it all just seems impossible still. Holding out hope they lessen the quarantine time at least in the coming months because that would be more doable. Very doubtful though that will happen...  

Based on the evidence so far, I personally think vaccinations have worked quite well for majority. If you compare the time before and after vaccination there is a clear visible drop in the number of cases/deaths overall across the globe. Things were shut down because people were dying due to the virus and people/families suffered a lot particularly with the delta variant. Anyways it's everyone personal decision to get vaccinated or not and I totally respect that.

 

On the contrary, it really amazes me why US has different rules for immigrants. Why is it mandatory to get vaccinated when an outsider wants to move to US but their own citizens are free to take their own decisions and there is no mandate  

[Ontarkie 14,282]

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[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

3 hours ago, alphabetagamma said:

On the contrary, it really amazes me why US has different rules for immigrants. Why is it mandatory to get vaccinated when an outsider wants to move to US but their own citizens are free to take their own decisions and there is no mandate  

Because that is how it has always been for vaccines in the past for citizens. There aren’t usually blanket mandates for vaccines. Vaccinations are required to access public services. For example it is mandatory to get your kids vaccinated for measles, mumps etc to be admitted to schools. At immigration level, I these same vaccines are a mandatory requirement to get a visa, and rightfully so, because immigration is not a right, but a privilege, and US should be looking out for the health of their citizens. An unvaccinated immigrant entering the country and living there, puts the citizens in danger.

 

The only blanket vaccine mandate that I know of is the small pox vaccine, but that was back in the 1800s. Apparently it had a lot of backlash then as well. Amazing right? But thank goodness it was mandated  leading to the irradiation of small pox, otherwise we would be still dying of small pox today.

Edited September 16, 2021 by From_CAN_2_US

[alphabetagamma 102]

19 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

Because that is how it has always been for vaccines in the past for citizens. There aren’t usually blanket mandates for vaccines. Vaccinations are required to access public services. For example it is mandatory to get your kids vaccinated for measles, mumps etc to be admitted to schools. At immigration level, I these same vaccines are a mandatory requirement to get a visa, and rightfully so, because immigration is not a right, but a privilege, and US should be looking out for the health of their citizens. An unvaccinated immigrant entering the country and living there, puts the citizens in danger.

 

The only blanket vaccine mandate that I know of is the small pox vaccine, but that was back in the 1800s. Apparently it had a lot of backlash then as well. Amazing right? But thank goodness it was mandated  leading to the irradiation of small pox, otherwise we would be still dying of small pox today.

Yes I understand the previous vaccinations, I was questioning the new mandate of Covid. This is a new virus and every country in the world is equally exposed or vulnerable to it at the moment. 

[Ontarkie 14,282]

~~Thread Hijack and replies split off to their own thread. I left this thread in the Canada forum instead of moving it to What Visa Do I Need- due to Canada's unique stance on K1 and the vaccine requirement. (Canada is the only country that requires K1's to be vaccinated prior to visa issuance.~~