U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that, effective Oct. 1, 2021, applicants subject to the immigration medical examination must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before the civil surgeon can complete an immigration medical examination.
In other words, if you want to immigrate to the United States, you must be fully vaccinated. This applies to everyone. If you are in the middle of the process and do not want the vaccine, you really only have two options.
- You can apply for a waiver.
- USCIS may grant blanket waivers if the COVID-19 vaccine is:
- Not age-appropriate;
- Contraindicated due to a medical condition;
- Not routinely available where the civil surgeon practices; or
- Limited in supply and would cause significant delay for the applicant to receive the vaccination.
- Individuals may also apply for individual waivers based on religious beliefs or moral convictions by submitting Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility. The problem here is the waiver costs $930.00 and if you have received other vaccines, it is likely you will be denied.
- The only other option is to not immigrate. It is that simple.
If you have any questions, feel free to give our office a call at 972-418-0003.