US gov’t drops COVID-19 vaccination requirement for legal immigrants
Published:Friday | January 24, 2025 | 12:06 AM
WASHINGTON (CMC):
The newly appointed Trump administration has announced that a COVID-19 vaccine is no longer a requirement for individuals seeking permanent residence in the country.
The announcement was made in a statement on Wednesday by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which oversees legal immigration.
“USCIS will not issue any Request for Evidence or Notice of Intent to Deny related to proving a COVID-19 vaccination,” the agency stated. “USCIS will not deny any adjustment of status application based on the applicant’s failure to present documentation that they received the COVID-19 vaccination.”
In October 2021, USCIS imposed the COVID-19 vaccination requirement on people looking to move to the United States. Applicants were then required to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination before completing medical examinations.
US immigration officials typically accept proof of prior infection instead of vaccination but did not offer that option for COVID-19.
However, they did offer exceptions if a doctor decided that the COVID-19 vaccine was not medically appropriate, or if a person’s religious beliefs did not permit a vaccination.
Meanwhile, other USCIS vaccination requirements, including for the mumps, measles, and rubella, are still in place.