Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s update on AUG 17, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a new directive in Form I-693. The instructions from the update are to be obeyed for COVID-19 vaccination among immigration applicants and are effective as of October 1, 2021. Where vaccination against hepatitis A, polio & chickenpox are already required, immigrants to the U.S. now should indicate they are immunized against COVID19 as part of a clinical test.

For Immigration Applicants,

People applying for permanent residency must go through an immigration medical examination to exhibit that they are free from any medical condition that may make them impermissible concerning their health. Hence, as an immigration applicant, you must undergo an immigration medical examination to meet the COVID-19 vaccine and provide vaccination documentation to the civil surgeon before completing the immigration medical examination.

For Civil Surgeons,

Civil Surgeons must use the new I-693 form which also provisions to record the results of the Covid-19 vaccination requirements along with the results of the immigration medical examination.

Blanket Waivers

However, immigration aspirants can apply for waivers if the Covid-19 vaccination is:

• Not age-appropriate
• Contradicting the medical conditions you suffer
• Unavailable where the civil surgeon practices
• Facing a scarcity causing the applicant to wait a long time to get vaccinated

By submitting Form I-601, an individual can demand a waiver based on religious beliefs or moral beliefs.

We always recommend that visa applicants schedule the medical examination close to the time of filing for immigration to ensure that their medical examination results are valid when the immigration department adjudicates their associated benefit application. Hence, they can have sufficient time for laboratory testing or any other testing needed under CDC’s technical guide.

Note: USCIS is temporarily waiving the requirement for the civil surgeon to mark and acknowledge the Report of Medical Examination including Vaccination Record (Form I-693) no more than 60 days before the date the applicant files an Application for Permanent Residence. This temporary waiver is effective from December 9, 2021, until September 30, 2022.

Do you need more information on how to get your medical examination form signed by a civil surgeon? Check out the easyIME website and find out your nearest immigration medical doctors.