BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Waives the COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Adjustment of Status (Green Card) Applicants

family-6719424_1280Are you applying for adjustment of status to lawful permanent residence (a green card)?

If so, you will be pleased to know that on January 22, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is waiving any and all requirements for the COVID-19 vaccination on the Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.

As a result, adjustment of status (green card) applicants will no longer be required to present evidence that they have received the COVID-19 vaccination.

USCIS will also not deny any adjustment of status application based on an applicant’s failure to present documentation that they received the COVID-19 vaccination.

Due to this new policy, USCIS will no longer issue any Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) related to proving a COVID-19 vaccination.

Evidence of having received the COVID-19 vaccine was previously a requirement of the Form I-693, Immigration Medical Examination under the Biden administration. Those who were opposed to receiving the vaccine based on a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction, were required to complete an I-601 vaccine waiver. 

This new change will provide green card applicants with the freedom to choose whether they would like to receive the vaccine. Those who are opposed to receiving other vaccinations should consult with an immigration attorney to discuss their options.

For more information about this new change, please click here.


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