The United States has eliminated the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for immigrant visa applicants. Effective March 11, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has removed the technical instructions related to the COVID-19 vaccination requirement previously provided to panel physicians, effectively ending the mandate for immigrant visa applicants to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Panel physicians will no longer determine whether an immigrant visa applicant is ineligible to travel based on failure to receive or document the COVID-19 vaccine. The U.S. Department of State has clarified that U.S. embassies and consulates will not deny immigrant visa applications solely due to an applicant’s failure to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, in line with the updated CDC guidance.
For applicants whose visa applications were previously denied due to failure to establish COVID-19 vaccination, those with unexpired medical examinations that are otherwise still valid for travel to the United States can now request a new medical examination from a panel physician at no additional cost. The U.S. Department of State has stated that affected applicants should contact the U.S. embassy or consulate where they applied for their immigrant visa to make this request.
Previously, the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for green card applicants within the U.S. had already been lifted. The Trump administration announced the removal of the COVID-19 vaccine requirement, effective January 22. Prior to this, the Biden administration had made the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory starting October 1, 2021.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that green card applicants are no longer required to submit documentation of COVID-19 vaccination with their Form I-693 medical reports, eliminating all such mandates. USCIS clarified that it will not issue requests for additional documentation or deny applications solely based on failure to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Additionally, USCIS stated that it will not reject green card applications due to the absence of COVID-19 vaccination documentation. Since last December, USCIS has introduced a policy requiring the medical report to be submitted alongside the Form I-485 green card application, updating the previous provision that allowed submission at a later date.
Green card applicants adjusting their status are generally required to complete an immigration medical examination and receive all necessary vaccinations. A properly completed Form I-693, signed by a civil surgeon, must be submitted to demonstrate that the applicant is free from health conditions that would render them inadmissible for a green card.
In April, USCIS announced that medical reports submitted for green card applications would no longer expire. Medical reports prepared and signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, will remain valid indefinitely to prove an applicant’s eligibility regarding health-related grounds, as clarified by USCIS.
Based on consultations with the CDC and advancements in public health electronic reporting, USCIS concluded that medical reports should not have a fixed validity period or expire after a set time. However, if USCIS officers have reason to believe an applicant’s medical condition has changed since the civil surgeon signed the report, they may request additional evidence or a new medical report.
Similarly, if the medical report does not accurately reflect the applicant’s health condition or indicates potential health-related grounds for green card denial, USCIS officers may request further documentation.
Medical reports prepared or signed by a civil surgeon before November 1, 2023, will remain valid for only two years, adhering to the previous policy. This is because, prior to November 1, 2023, civil surgeons were not required to electronically share or report information to the CDC. Following consultations with the CDC, USCIS determined that properly completed medical reports signed by civil surgeons before November 1, 2023, would be valid for two years from the date of the civil surgeon’s signature.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
