Legal Alien

I didn't go through Frankfurt because in January the consulate in Amsterdam was still handling the K1 Visas for The Netherlands, but I did go to my interview and my medical had not arrived there yet. I asked if it may still arrive since it was sent by the civil surgeon with DHL the day before, but it turns out that the medical exam is shipped to the embassy first before forwarded to the consulate so that takes about a week. I am assuming the same goes for Germany. My timeline, hope it helps: Medical exam: January 12 Medical exam sent with DHL to embassy: January 22 Interview at consulate: January 23, approved pending medical, passport was taken Visa issued: January 31 So it took 8 days for me after the interview to see 'Issued' on my screen and a few days later I received the package with my passport and Visa(I paid to have it delivered). So if you had your medical already, ask the health center when they shipped it and where. When did you have your interview?

I have received my NOA's finally, both for my I-485 (dated 08/14) and for my I-601 (dated 08/14) plus biometrics appointment (dated 08/19) on the 4th of September!

Well that explains a lot, I was under the assumption that OP was outside of the US, waiting for a visa to be approved to enter the USA. I did not realize it was for people that overstayed and were still IN the USA. Thanks for the clarification.

I did add "Unless you suspect a hard denial without it." But I never said anything about traveling anywhere I don't think? What do you mean by leaving the USA? OP is not in the USA, right?

Let's just agree to disagree on the vaccine argument there.

If this is your argument for a waiver, you will not get approved.

For me it is not difficult because I have a genuine and strong (and protected) conviction and I would be highly surprised if it got denied, it's just annoying and expensive and I believe that a vaccine should ALWAYS be voluntary, no matter what reason you have not to take it. Whomever wants to feel safe by taking whatever jab should be free to do so but not force me to do the same. After all, if they got theirs, they should be protected, no? But you say you are worried to take multiple shots at once so you're not really against vaccines. That means you do not have a strong moral or religious conviction against vaccines in general so getting the waiver approved would be very hard, if not impossible.

I see what you mean. Yes that means wait and file the waiver after denial.

I agree, it is worthy of mention and if that is too much work, then their convictions are probably not strong enough anyway and that is what USCIS aims for with the high cost. But to say that people can't make a case, or that they need a lawyer, scaring them into just taking the vaccines against their will is not fair either, I have seen such responses on here quite a lot so I like to balance that out. I just filed my waiver on religious grounds so I do not know the outcome yet, but I do know I have a strong case and I can defend it if needed because my beliefs are genuine and I am willing to give up my green card for it. I knew way before even filing the I-129F that I was going to need the waiver and I was also told I needed a lawyer, it was nearly impossible, took years to be approved, but after I researched it for a while I saw that this waiver (vaccine) seemed more successful with people DIY-ing it than people hiring expensive lawyers and that most of them were approved without issues and it didn't take as long. You don't need an expensive lawyer to defend your own beliefs. If you can't express it well in English, write it down in your own language and have it translated.

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: