COVID-19 Vaccine Required for Immigration Medical Exams
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service announced today that, effective October 1, 2021, applicants subject to medical examination must receive the full series of COVID-19 vaccines before the civilian physician can complete the immigration medical exam and sign the Form I-693, Medical Report and Immunization Record.
We are in the process of updating our policy guides in accordance with the updated Technical Instructions for Civil Doctors made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on August 17, 2021. This update requires applicants subject to the immigration medical examination to complete the series of vaccines against COVID-19 (one or two doses, depending on the formula ) and provide the vaccination documentation to the licensed civilian physician prior to completing the immigration medical examination. This requirement takes effect on October 1, 2021 and applies to Form I-693 signed by civilian physicians on or after that date. We are working to update Form I-693 and the instructions on the form to incorporate this new requirement.
In general, people applying to become lawful permanent residents, and other applicants deemed necessary, must undergo an immigration medical examination to show that they are free from any conditions that would deem them inadmissible for health-related reasons. USCIS designates eligible physicians as civil physicians to perform this immigration medical examination for applicants within the United States and to document the results of the immigration medical examination on Form I-693.
USCIS may grant blanket waivers if the COVID-19 vaccine:
- It is not age appropriate;
- It is contraindicated due to a medical condition;
- It is not routinely available where the civil physician practices; or
- There is a restricted stock, which will cause a significant delay for the applicant to receive the vaccine.
Individuals can also apply for individual exemptions based on religious beliefs or moral convictions by filing the Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility.
