Starting January 22, applicants submitting medical reports (Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record) with their Green Card applications (I-485 application) will no longer be required to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination. The Trump administration announced the removal of the COVID-19 vaccination requirement, which had been mandatory since October 1, 2021, under the Biden administration for medical reports.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that it is waiving any and all requirements for applicants seeking adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident to present documentation on their Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, showing they received the COVID-19 vaccination.
Furthermore, USCIS has stated that it will not issue any Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) related to proving a COVID-19 vaccination. USCIS will not deny any adjustment of status application based on the applicant’s failure to provide documentation that they received the COVID-19 vaccination.
Starting in December, USCIS introduced the requirement that applicants submit their medical report along with the Form I-485 Green Card application. This policy change removed the provision allowing medical reports to be submitted later and now requires them to be submitted at the same time as the Green Card application.
Green Card applicants, typically those applying for adjustment of status, are still required to complete the necessary immigration medical exams and vaccinations. A completed Form I-693, signed by a civil surgeon, must be submitted to show that the applicant has been cleared of health conditions that could result in the denial of the Green Card on health grounds.
In April, USCIS announced that medical reports submitted for Green Card applications would no longer have an expiration date. Medical reports signed by a civil surgeon after November 1, 2023, will remain valid indefinitely, ensuring applicants are not disqualified due to health issues.
Based on consultations with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and advancements in public health electronic information, USCIS concluded that the validity of medical reports should not be limited to a specific time period and that their expiration should not be enforced.
However, if a civil surgeon signs a medical report and later believes there has been a change in the applicant’s medical condition, USCIS officials may request additional proof or a new medical report. Similarly, if the medical report does not accurately reflect the applicant’s medical condition, or if it indicates that the applicant may be ineligible for a Green Card on health grounds, USCIS may ask for further evidence or a new report.
Medical reports signed by civil surgeons before November 1, 2023, will only be valid for two years, with the policy in place before that date still applying. Prior to November 1, civil surgeons were not required to electronically share or report the information to the CDC when preparing medical reports.
USCIS, after consulting with the CDC, has determined that medical reports filled out correctly and signed by a civil surgeon before November 1, 2023, will be valid for two years from the signature date.