Legal Alien

Yes that is why I said "I can see how that may be an issue for other people". We are financially well off and my husband owns our house. I do not need to work (although I might want to later) so I don't have to drive anywhere yet and I am fine being driven by my husband for a while. I am in a position where I can wait, that is why I said it's not a big issue for me.

I agree, I think the CS waiving them for medical reasons would be the first approach simply because it would be easiest, fastest and cheapest, plus it seems that the OP has a valid medical case. But if that doesn't work for whatever reason, OP might be able to build a case on moral grounds. Not religious, I agree, because I do not see OP mention anything about faith and beliefs and if you are not religious it will be a hard case to defend, but it should be possible to get it waived on moral grounds. After all that simply means that their conviction is that it is wrong to take the vaccines, which the OP clearly believes because they genuinely believe and fear it might cause harm to their health. Just because people claim that something is rare, doesn't mean that 1.) that is actually true, or 2.) that OP will not get harmed. Would any USCIS bet their own health on statistics? Would they put their children in a situation where they have a certain percentage of getting harmed? It would need a strong defense to make that case but I do not see why that would be impossible? It includes 'moral' next to 'religious' for a reason. I think most people who do not want to take the vaccines could make a strong moral case against it if they would be willing to put the time into it and spend the money for it. Most do not and just get the vaccines because of the cost and inconvenience (which means they couldn't have made a strong case anyway) but some are simply not doing it because they are being told that it's a 'waste of money' because 'it will never get approved anyway' and I think that is not true. If your conviction is strong enough you will be able to convince the USCIS officer of it. I see too many fear mongering remarks in this forum that claim it 'takes too long' and 'costs too much'. Nothing takes too long or costs too much if that means you do not have to do something against your moral or religious convictions. But if it sounds like a hassle you're not willing to get into, then don't bother indeed because that would for sure be a waste of time.

Checks were finally cashed last Friday, no NOA yet.

Yes I assumed as much, but what type of inadmissibility? Some are quicker and easier than others.

I know, right! Nothing here yet.

No not lying, just not bringing it up. I have no ideas what laws they have in Tunisia and I was asking if they could renounce their Tunisian citizenship. I know Moroccans can't. If they can't, I would assume they'd have to enter on valid Tunisian passport. I guess I don't see the issue, just renew your Tunisian passport and travel with both just in case.

That is actually a strong possibility.

I filed for a waiver based on religious convictions and I am from The Netherlands where most people are either atheists, protestants or Catholics, none of those groups have any issues with vaccines. That doesn't mean that every single person in that country belongs or identifies with those religious groups. I don't belong to any type of church or religion, yet I have a strong religious case for my vaccine waiver. More and more people these days are non denominational Christians who live by the teachings in the Bible instead of the traditions of men. The waiver does not require you to be a part of some religious group at all.

I am the same age as you. If you only had your childhood vaccines there is quite a long list that you are required to take and/or boost. If you have to save up for the money, just let the process do its thing and wait for the denial at the interview. In the meantime get your I-601 with statement(s) prepared and set money aside so you can file immediately after your denial. At least that is probably what I would do. You know now what you need and what the cost is, so you can prepare.

Those specific vaccines would be waived on the DS-3025 form by the civil surgeon. That also goes for vaccines not available in your country. My covid vaccine was not available in The Netherlands when I had my exam and those were waived by the civil surgeon. Some were waived because they were not age appropriate and others can be waived because there is not enough time in between doses.

Ah ok, not a big issue for me but I can see how that may be an issue for other people.

I'll share my process as well: Got my medical exam in The Netherlands and told the CS that I did not want to receive any vaccines at all as I was going to file a waiver with my AOS once in the USA based on religious convictions After our marriage in the US I filed my AOS package on July 3rd, 2024 and did not include the I-693 form but only a copy of my incomplete DS-3025 from my medical exam abroad (I only received vaccinations as a child) and I also filed the I-601 waiver with my statements with my AOS package as I already knew I was going to need it. Included fees for both I-485 and I-601 in separate envelopes (I did not file for EAD or AP). Checks for both I-485 and the I-601 waiver were cashed in last Friday and I am waiting for my NOAs.

Honestly no. I was not told this information at my interview, nor at the POE. I knew it because I wanted to know the whole process going in, and I am surprised the OP hasn't researched, but you do not always get all the information in the process. What is the hurry? I checked the box for my social security number on I-485. Why does that need to be done within 75 days? I see that a lot but I am not really understanding why as you can request one when you file your AOS.

I have never been in Tunisia but I think in Morocco they do not allow you to renounce your citizenship, is that the same in Tunisia? If that is the case or if you want to keep your Tunisian citizenship why not renew your passport to avoid problems? And just traveling on your US passport would not be possible? I mean if you never had a Tunisian passport then nothing would pop up either I would assume. Why even bring up your Tunisian citizenship? Or am I saying something stupid now?

I see you are confused, maybe we are misunderstanding each other . I am saying that you do not need to wait filing your I-601 waiver until after the interview and denial. I already knew when I filed my AOS (in their case that would be the paperwork for the CR-1/IR-1) that I was going to need the waiver because my vaccine record is incomplete and I am refusing all vaccinations. So instead of waiting for it all to process, go to the interview, get denied, get the word that you can file a waiver, wait months longer, I filed everything all together with my AOS and the fees with it. So when I go to my interview, the waiver has already been filed (and possibly even approved) and I will not get denied because of an incomplete DS-3025 so they can then approve me right there and then. OP might still be able to file the waiver now while their paperwork is pending, but I am not sure how or where to do that. With 'it doesn't change much' I meant for the OP to go through with it even though it might take longer, cost money etc. if they have a genuine conviction. If they are not willing to go through any of it then filing the waiver is a waste of time because their conviction wouldn't be strong enough to convince a USCIS officer, regardless of visa type.

Yep I read that as well and I noticed that when I had my K1 interview in Amsterdam in January and wanted to see if I could reschedule the appointment (because my medical exam was so close to my interview) that there were no slots left, not even months later. Back then I didn't understand that but makes sense after hearing you have to g to Frankfurt now. I am so glad I was able to do it in Amsterdam still, Frankfurt is quite the drive. No idea why they did that but it is what it is. You get a lot of contradictory information in this process is my experience. I needed to send in my stuff to the US Embassy in Wassenaar for my appointment to be made by them but when it came to scheduling the interview I had to do it myself and could only pick Amsterdam even though I could pick Wassenaar as an option earlier in the process somewhere and had to send in my stuff there. Below the letter I received from the US Consulate in Amsterdam. At my actual interview I learned from the girl who interviewed me that everything just gets sent through the Embassy first for screening before forwarding it to the Consulate but they do not do any immigrant interviews there. When it comes to this process, don't assume anything. You will likely be asked to send in information to the US Embassy in Wassenaar so they can send it to the consulate in Amsterdam to be forwarded to Frankfurt to be scheduled an appointment there. Confusing but that is what I expect. I hope that will not delay things for you, I found the US Consulate in Amsterdam to be pleasant, smooth and quick. Anyway, looks like they make the appointment for you. K visas can schedule themselves:

I see that, doesn't change much though except for maybe processing time, since they didn't file it right away with their paperwork for CR1. If they would have it might not have added much time, if any, to the whole process. Plus if OP is really against vaccines, the waiver or not moving to the USA are the only options.

+1, is that an open group?

I went to my interview that I seemed to have booked way too early (luckily in hind sight since they moved the whole process from Amsterdam to Frankfurt. Germany just a little later!) and had to beg the healthcare center to let me do the medical before that but everything was so tight that the consulate did not have my medical in and I was approved pending medical. They took my passport and a week later my VISA was approved. I am not sure how long you are expecting that waiver to take but if you expect a short time and you can miss your passport for a bit, I would just go to the interview. Unless you suspect a hard denial without it.

What is the waiver request for? I bet that makes a difference.

Nice, so that is about 3.5 months from filing to approval. What state are you and where did you file?

I agree. When in doubt, just state the truth because it will never hurt you more than a lie (that is true for everything btw!). I don't remember the DS-160, don't you have some room somewhere for extra comments/information where you can explain? Otherwise definitely explain at your interview but do not forget to bring all the supporting evidence you have, including copies of passport stamps, marriage certificate etc. Better to be over-prepared (like I was) than to have to wait more months because you didn't have enough paperwork with you. I'm gonna follow, interesting thread.

If you do not want to receive the vaccines then you can apply for a waiver (form-601). That does not add 2 years if you file it right with your i-485 instead of waiting to be denied first. I saw someone recently who had I-485 and i-601 filed simultaneously and had her green card in just a few months. Even after denial I believe the waiver for vaccines takes just a few months to be approved. Form I-601 CAN take long, but it's a form for all kinds of waivers, including criminal records, misrepresentation etc. The vaccine waiver, I was told, is quicker to be approved. Plus don't let anyone scare you out of that process even IF that might take 2 years if you really do not want to take the vaccines! I applied for a vaccine waiver myself but I just filed last month so I can't tell you the outcome yet. Point is though, if you want to file for the waiver, you must be against ALL vaccines and not just 1 or 2. So if you recently had vaccines it will be harder to get your i-601 approved because you would have a harder time convincing USCIS that you changed your mind on vaccines, whether on moral or on religious grounds (but NOT impossible!). But if you have a genuine conviction against vaccines and you can defend your position, then GO FOR IT. Your convictions can't be medical though, they must be moral and/or religious. The waiver is expensive though, I think I paid $1,040.00 just for the waiver. But to me, it is 100% worth it. My beliefs and my health are more important than living in the USA. Vaccines should be a personal choice anyway and never forced on you. I remember my civil surgeon said that as well when I told them at my medical that I refused the vaccines and would file for a waiver. I know the pressure is difficult to deal with and I have seen some ignorant and judgmental comments on this forum about vaccine waivers, but if your belief is genuine, those should not hold you back. IF you wouldn't get approved for the vaccine waiver (and I haven't seen any cases so far that were denied, people just don't like talking about it on here because of the comments they get), then just consider living in your home country, or any other country that is not forcing you to take anything against your will. If you are willing to be refused a green card for the USA for your belief, you have a strong case. If not and you already know you will take the vaccines for your green card if you have to, don't bother filing because if you can't even convince yourself, you're never gonna convince USCIS. Just get the vaccines then. The other option, and that is if you are willing to take the entire list of other vaccines they require (and considering your age that will be more than you might think you need, I was shocked how many I apparently 'missed'), is to have the civil surgeon put with the covid vaccine that you can't have that particular vaccine for medical reasons. Not sure how that works and if they will, but worth looking into.

My checks were cashed last Friday it turns out so NOA's should come soon. 6 weeks looks like.

I've sent in my I-485 on July 3rd, it was delivered on July 5th and I haven't received my NOA either. After reading the thread about the girl being arrested and detained for 5 weeks because she didn't have an NOA for her AOS (although she actually hadn't filed it at all yet) I am just staying at home as much as I can but it's becoming a bit boring! You guys say it should arrive in about 8 weeks so I will give it another 2 weeks before I contact them. My checks have not been cashed either. Does anyone know how to best contact USCIS for this?