On September 14, 2021, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that all green card applicants who are required to complete the immigration medical exam must now be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 beginning on October 1st, 2021.

In general, individuals applying to become a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States, and other applicants as deemed necessary, must undergo an immigration medical examination to show they are free from any conditions that would render them inadmissible under the health-related grounds. Given the on-going state of the novel Coronavirus, the USCIS has now required that applicants complete the COVID-19 vaccine series (one or two doses, depending on the vaccine) and provide documentation of vaccination to the civil surgeon before completion of the immigration medical examination.

However, the USCIS may make an exception to the COVID-19 vaccination requirement under the following circumstances:

• 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.

NEED AN EXPERIENCED AND TRUSTED IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY?

While it is not mandatory, it is always highly recommended to hire a knowledgeable Immigration Attorney to assist you with the preparation of your immigration application(s). A reputable Immigration Law Firm, such as the Law Office of Olivia C Cummings, will have an experienced attorney review your entire case to determine what process is best for you moving forward. A case review by an Immigration Attorney will help to weed out any possible issues that may arise in an attempt to eliminate the possibility of an application denial, or worse, an immigrant being placed into deportation and removal proceedings.

If you have a pending green card application and you required legal assistance, or if you are on the fence about it and would like to gather additional information, please contact the Law Office of Olivia C Cummings to schedule a detailed and informative consultation with our experienced Immigration Attorney. We will guide you through the entire process and answer any questions that you may have.

Contact our office today via phone at (772)236-0148, via email at office@cummingslawpractice.com .

You can also visit our website at www.cummingslawpractice.com.

Attention: This article was written to provide general information, which should not be construed as legal advice. If you are seeking advice on a specific legal matter, you are encouraged to contact our law firm directly and schedule a consultation with our Immigration Attorney for a thorough review of your case.