New COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Most Green Card Applicants Effective October 1st, 2021

Effective October 1st, 2021, green card applicants will be required to present proof that they have received a complete COVID-19 vaccine series in order to complete the permanent residency process. Introduced on August 25th, 2021, the new COVID-19 vaccination requirement will only apply to applicants who are deemed age-appropriate (i.e., over 12 years of age) and not medically at-risk of completing a full COVID-19 vaccine series. The CDC has added the COVID-19 vaccines to the list of vaccinations already required for applicants seeking U.S. immigrant visas. 

Both Adjustment of Status applicants in the U.S. and immigrant visa applicants abroad must provide documentation of COVID-19 vaccination to the Civil Surgeon in person before completion of the medical examination. Acceptable vaccination documentation includes a vaccination record, either in the form of an official vaccination record or a copy of a medical chart with entries made by a physician or other appropriate medical personnel. If COVID-19 vaccine is available to civil surgeons, the civil surgeon may vaccinate applicants and document the doses.

ImmiPartner recommends that all Adjustment of Status applicants anticipating the completion of a medical exam, either to submit initially with an I-485 application or in response to an I-485 Request for Evidence (RFE), complete a COVID-19 vaccine series and retain vaccination records to present to the Civil Surgeon. If an applicant is over the age of 12 and unable to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine series, ImmiPartner recommends that the applicant reach out to discuss possible options.