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The Immigration and Citizenship Service announced today that , as of October 1, 2021, Applicants subject to immigration medical examination must be fully vaccinated against COVID – 19 before that the civil surgeon can complete an immigration medical examination and sign Form I – 601, Record of medical examinations and vaccination .
USCIS said in a statement that it was updating its policy guidance regarding the immigration medical examination according to the update made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dated 17 August 2021, of the Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons.
That update requires that applicants subject to immigration medical examination complete the series of COVID vaccines – 19 (one or two doses, depending on vaccine) and provide vaccination documentation to the civil surgeon before completing the immigration medical exam.
This requirement will take effect on October 1, 2021 and applies prospectively to all Forms I – 693 signed by surgeons civilians on or after that date. USCIS will update Form I – 693 and the instructions on the form to incorporate this new requirement.
In general, people applying to become legal permanent residents, and other applicants deemed necessary, must undergo an immigration medical examination to show that they are free from any conditions that would make them inadmissible for health-related reasons.
USCIS designates eligible physicians as civil surgeons to perform this immigration medical examination for applicants within the United States and for Document Immigration Medical Exam Results on Form I – 693.
USCIS may grant blanket exemptions if the COVID vaccine – 19 is:
- Not age appropriate
- Is contraindicated due to a medical condition
- Not routinely available where the civil surgeon practices
- The supply of COVID vaccine – 19 is limited and would cause a significant delay for the applicant to receive the vaccine
People can also apply for individual exemptions based on religious beliefs or moral convictions by the submission of Form I – 601, Request for waiver of grounds of inadmissibility.
For For more information, see the Policy Alert here .