There have been proclamations and changes and announcements and so many things around the
COVID vaccine. There is a lot of confusion about whether or not the COVID vaccine is required for
K1 fiancé visa applicants. I have had many many people ask on the YouTube channel, clients
and also in our Facebook group. Is it required for K1 visa applicants? The short answer is yes,
it is required. It needs to be done before you receive your green card. To back up a little bit,
K1 visa applicants have to complete a process through a US embassy or consulate abroad.
Part of that process involves a medical exam. K1 visa applicants, unlike individuals who are going
through the spouse visa process to receive a green card, after the US embassy or consulate interview,
K1 visa applicants don't actually have to get the vaccines at that interview with that medical
exam abroad. The USCIS policy manual, the Department of State makes it very clear
K1 visa applicants do not have to get their vaccinations before they enter the United States.
They do highly encourage and we do as well encourage our clients to go ahead and get
the vaccinations abroad just to expedite the process, keep things moving and also oftentimes
the vaccines and the vaccinations abroad are cheaper than in the United States.
However, we know there are individuals who are not necessarily able to get the COVID vaccine
or maybe they aren't wanting to get the vaccine, I don't want to go into all of that about waivers
but I just want to address the truth about whether or not you actually have to get a COVID vaccine
before or any of your vaccinations rather before you enter the United States.
There are a lot of US embassies and consulates who make it very clear on their website. Japan United
Kingdom, those are two that we see where they actually have written on their website: "Please
note K1 visa applicants are not required to get their vaccinations before they enter the United
States and please note the COVID vaccine is not required for K1 applicants before they enter the
United States." There are other embassies, this is actually really common immigration policies change
frequently, it's an ever-evolving landscape and a lot of times it's not uncommon for other embassies
and consulates to actually do things different or to be confused about what the policy is. I know
that's shocking but the US embassy and UAE and Abu Dhabi and Dubai, they have taken a position where
they are saying you have to get the COVID vaccine, you have to complete your vaccinations before we
issue you a visa. That's actually not accurate. Just so all of you know, it is possible that US
embassies and consulates can be confused and have contradicting policies. I want to show you
something from the CDC, from the Center for Disease Control where they have outlined an
immigrant who is listed in an immigrant visa category, that means that you're entering
the United States with an immigrant visa with the intent to come here and live,
it says that it does not include K1 non-immigrant visa holders. I know the other question was, with
a proclamation that was was released, do I have to have the COVID vaccine to
be able to be allowed to enter the United States? The Department of State has been very clear,
K1 visa applicants do not have to have the COVID vaccine before they enter the United States.
The last thing I will say on that point is you are still required, K1
visa applicant when you are going through the adjustment of status phase of your case,
at that point, you would have to get the vaccinations
before you could receive your green card. The vaccinations are required, just not
before entry. Hopefully, that gives you clarity and clarify some of the rumors and confusion that
is out there right now regarding the COVID vaccine as it relates to K1 visa applicants.