COVID-19 vaccination required for immigration medical exams, with waivers

Validated finding · five-country-2010-20260922-v118-evidence-presentation-fix

Operative dateOctober 1, 2021

CategoryHealth-related immigration requirements

Policy toolVaccination requirement

Affected groupApplicants subject to immigration medical examinations using form i-693, with stated blanket-waiver exceptions

Policy effect

For Forms I-693 signed by a civil surgeon on or after October 1, 2021, applicants subject to the immigration medical examination generally had to complete the COVID-19 vaccination series and provide vaccination documentation before the civil surgeon completed the examination and signed the form. A blanket waiver could apply if vaccination was not age appropriate, was contraindicated, was not routinely available in the state where the civil surgeon practised, or was in limited supply that would cause significant delay.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: For Forms I-693 signed by a civil surgeon on or after October 1, 2021, applicants subject to the immigration medical examination generally had to complete the COVID-19 vaccination series and provide vaccination documentation before the civil surgeon completed the examination and signed the form.; A blanket waiver could apply if vaccination was not age appropriate, was contraindicated, was not routinely available in the state where the civil surgeon practised, or was in limited supply that would cause significant delay.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office of the Director Camp Springs, MD 20588-0009 September 14, 2021 PA-2021-20 Policy Alert SUBJECT: COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Immigration Medical Examination Purpose U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding health-related grounds of inadmissibility in accordance with recently updated requirements issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The updated guidance, which is effective October 1, 2021, requires applicants subject to the immigration medical examination to submit COVID-19 vaccination records before completion of immigration medical examinations conducted in the United States and overseas. Background In general, those applying to become a lawful permanent resident, and other applicants as required, must undergo an immigration medical examination to show they are free from any conditions that would render them inadmissible under health-related grounds. 1 USCIS designates eligible physicians as civil surgeons to perform this immigration medical examination for those applying within the United States using the Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693). On August 17, 2021, the CDC released an update to the Vaccination Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons, requiring applicants subject to the immigration medical examination to complete the COVID-19 vaccine series (currently one or two doses, depending on formulation) and provide documentation of vaccination to the civil surgeon before completion of the immigration medical examination. This update, contained in Volumes 8 and 9 of the Policy Manual, is effective October 1, 2021, and applies prospectively to all Forms I-693 signed by a civil surgeon on … or after that date. The guidance contained in the Policy Manual is controlling and supersedes any related prior guidance. Policy Highlights • Explains that, beginning October 1, 2021, applicants who are required to undergo the immigration medical examination must complete the COVID-19 vaccine series before the civil surgeon can complete the immigration medical examination and sign Form I-693. 1 See INA 232 and 8 CFR 232 (immigration medical examination). See INA 212(a)(1) (health-related grounds of inadmissibility). PA-2021-20: COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Immigration Medical Examination Page: 2 • Explains that the civil surgeon may indicate that a blanket waiver could apply in cases where the COVID-19 vaccine is not age appropriate, where it is contraindicated, or where it is not routinely available in the state where the civil surgeon practices or where it is limited in supply and would cause significant delay for the applicant to receive the vaccination. Citation Volume 8: Admissibility, Part B, Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility, Chapter 9, Vaccination Requirement [8 USCIS-PM B.9]; and Volume 9: Waivers and Other Forms of Relief, Part D, Health-Related Grounds of …

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration ServicesPOLICY ALERT - COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Immigration Medical ExaminationOpen official source

Retrieved from https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20210914-COVIDVaccinationRequirement.pdf

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Automated source validation is not independent human legal review. The finding should not be treated as legal advice. Record fcp-a2d4579321ca2e50313d. Something wrong? Flag this record.

COVID-19 vaccination required for immigration medical exams, with waivers

Policy effect

Conditions and exceptions

Official source excerpt

Review method

Other United States changes operative in 2021