US Immigration from Japan

Does anyone have any experience foregoing the covid vaccination requirements using a "Not routinely available" waiver? We have the option to do so but not sure if anyone had trouble during the interview process for this reason.

Background: Our case has been accepted for expedited processing while in the NVC process. Fees have been paid on April 24, 2024 and both I-864 and DS-260 have been submitted, April 27, 2024 and April 28, 2024 respectively. Civil documents have not been uploaded yet. We received an email the very next day on April 29, 2024 from NVCExpedite stating the "Embassy accepted our case for expedited processing". On the ceac website, we received a message in our inbox that same day April 29, 2024 that just reads "Case has been expedited to post", which I know now 'post' means embassy or consulate. My understanding from the email sent by the NVC is that we will continue our case at the Embassy/Consulate level at this moment in time. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong. We're assuming our packet should be arriving at the Tokyo Embassy soon.

We want to start the medical process prior to our packet arriving at the embassy. After calling all designated visa medical examination facilities in Tokyo, one medical facility requires a COVID vaccination before scheduling an appointment and the other does not require covid vaccination but notified us that "it may not be accepted during the interview". Diving in more we are asking if we can forego the covid vaccination by documenting the "Not routinely available" blanket waiver. Both the Embassy in Tokyo website and Department of State point to the CDC guidelines stating this waiver. The CDC guidelines also mention that the 'Not routinely available' blanket waiver should be used if "...the required vaccine is not licensed or not routinely available..." and "...panel physicians are required to make every reasonable effort to have vaccines that are required for US immigration available for applicants...". The best advice we received from one of the medical facilities is to go to a military base to get the covid vaccine! This should not be the case at all. We have called many medical facilities not listed as a designated facility and all do not admit patients for the covid vaccine as a normal check up, my wife's main physician included. The Prime Minister's Office of Japan explains covid vaccinations as "free" but has no further guidance and points to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare(MHLW) for more information. The MHLW states "...all others will be vaccinated once per year..." and the vaccination program ends March of 2024, which is over now and the links to file for a vaccination ticket are taken down. This is conflicting information.

After speaking on the phone with a representative at the U.S. Visa Information Services and in my thorough research, its ultimately its up to the Panel Physician. I'm just wondering if anyone has experience with using a "Not routinely available" blanket waiver. Otherwise I'm paying 60,000JPY, which is about 385USD, out of pocket for a covid vaccine that doesn't include the plane ride to get there from where she currently lives. The covid vaccine would cost more than paying for the medical exam. I hope no one has to go through this.

I m finding different data points on the next steps for our process. We received an email from NVCExpedite acknowledging our expedite request and that NVC will send our case to the embassy. We re not sure what happens next since NVC will not schedule our interview appointment.

Will we need to contact the embassy to schedule the interview appointment or wait to be contacted? I want to be proactive but I m not sure how to go about the next steps.

I ve read the instructions on the ceac and state.gov website. I m reading it as you have to scan each document.

You would think just submitting the original .pdf downloaded from the IRS website is good enough. I m really confused if something that small of a detail matters and will extend the process longer.

I'm having trouble with the downloadable pdf form from the "guide" hyperlink. I'm pretty sure someone has had the same problem before. I'm able to edit most text boxes on Lumin, Google Drive, and Adobe Acrobat. The form is protected as a secured document.

For example, Part 6, #4 allows me to mark an "x" on Self-Employed but not able to input on the text field the occupation.

Should I just type in as much as possible and then hand write the remaining spaces? I would think this not as appropriate. So would hand writing be the only option?

Just want to check if this is normal. Submitted I-130 in September last year. For the first few weeks, the website would give me an estimated date. Ever since about 6 months ago however, it just says "Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS". Should I be concerned?