COVID-19 Vaccine Joins the List of Required Vaccines for New Immigrants

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced a policy change to the admission requirements for immigrants coming into the states. Foreign nationals immigrating into America will now have to add the COVID-19 vaccine to their medical history as part of their immigration process. The new policy is set to take place starting October 1st of this year.

This new change in policy falls under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Under this act, foreign nationals who are eligible for admission into the U.S. along with permanent residents have to prove that they are vaccinated against communicable diseases that are vaccine-preventable.

A couple of exemptions to this new policy change will be available to immigrants. They include children who are too young to get the vaccine and individuals who have certain medical conditions deeming them ineligible to receive the vaccine.

For individuals who do not want to be vaccinated because of religious, moral, or other reasons, there is a waiver process that applicants can go through. Although immigrants can fill out a waiver for the COVID-19 vaccine, they cannot cherry pick which vaccines they want to get. "The applicant needs to demonstrate opposition to vaccinations in all forms, not just certain vaccinations," the agency explains.

USCIS explains, "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 new policy also states that in some instances USCIS can issue a blanket waiver that applies to select groups of people. The updated policy explains that “a blanket waiver could apply in cases where the COVID-19 vaccine is not age-appropriate, where it is contraindicated, or where it is not routinely available in the state…or where it is limited in supply and would cause significant delay for the applicant to receive the vaccination.” The USCIS goes on to explain that any waivers that are submitted will be examined on an individual basis.

The agency explains that this update to the immigration vaccination policy stems from an advisory committee in which the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that all Americans should get the vaccine. This recommendation for Americans was then extended for all immigrants as well.

Currently, immigrants coming into the states are required to take a range of vaccines including hepatitis A, the polio vaccine, and varicella (chickenpox). This latest addition to the list will be part of the continued effort to help mitigate the spread of the virus.

This updated policy will apply to foreign nationals who are seeking an immigrant visa as well as foreign nationals who are looking to change their status to permanent residence in the United States.