US will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for green card applicants starting Oct. 1
Those who are applying to immigrate to the United States will be required to show proof that they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 starting Oct. 1, according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
In the policy update released on Sept. 14, the USCIS said the COVID-19 vaccination requirement is for green card applicants and those who must undergo an immigration medical examination. Applicants have to submit COVID-19 vaccination records before completion of the medical examinations.
Children who are not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccination and those who have medical conditions who have contraindication or precaution to the COVID-19 vaccine are exempted from the vaccine requirement.
Meanwhile, a waiver process is outlined in the updated policy for those who refuse COVID-19 vaccines because of religious or moral convictions, and for those who cannot get the vaccine because of of the low vaccine supply in the country of origin.
If an applicant is medically appropriate for the COVID-19 vaccine but refuses to be inoculated will be documented with incomplete requirements.
With the updated policy, the COVID-19 jab is now part of the list of vaccines required by the USCIS for would-be immigrants, which include polio, influenza, hepatitis A, and tetanus.
“If the applicant has not received any of the listed vaccinations and the vaccinations are age-appropriate and medically appropriate, the applicant has a Class A condition and is inadmissible,” the USCIS said.
In an interview with The Filipino Channel, immigration expert and lawyer Lou Tancinco explained that the updated USCIS policy applies to “applicants for immigrant visas either for US citizenships and immigration services through an application for adjustment of status or those undergoing consular processing at the US Embassy in Manila.”
Tancinco said visa applicants who will need to get a medical examination by Oct. 1 will need to show proof of their COVID-19 vaccination. However, medical examinations taken before Oct. 1 will not be affected by the new rule.
Approved COVID-19 vaccines are those authorized for emergency use by the US Food and Drug Administration and vaccines that are listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization.