Immigration News: COVID-19 Vaccine Required for Adjustment of Status

Recently, the CDC announced that the COVID-19 vaccine will be a requirement for applicants who are applying for their green card through adjustment of status.  Ever since the COVID-19  vaccine came out, we at Ashoori Law, along with other immigration lawyers, have been getting questions regarding whether the COVID-19 vaccine would become mandatory to get your green card.  Up until this point, we have only been able to speculate. But now we have our answer – the COVID-19 vaccine will be required.

In this article, we are going to answer a few of the COVID-19 related questions that might be on your mind.

We are Ashoori Law, led by Michael Ashoori, a U.S. immigration lawyer based in Los Angeles, California.  At our law firm we work with clients from all over the world, and we regularly post articles and videos to make sure that you are up to date with the latest immigration news.  If, after reading this article, you have more questions, then we invite you to contact us at Ashoori Law.  Feel free to call us at +1-818-741-1117 or you may schedule a free consultation by clicking this link.

Adjustment of Status Basics

When somebody applies for their green card in the U.S., the process is called an “adjustment of status.”  Part of the adjustment of status process requires that you attend a medical examination.  At the medical examination, a civil surgeon will examine to see whether you have any medical conditions that would make you inadmissible for getting your green card.  The civil surgeon will also check to make sure that you received all the required vaccines.

COVID-19 Vaccination is Added to the List of Necessary Vaccines

Our update in this article is that the CDC has added the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required vaccines.  In order for you to pass your medical examination, you will have to show proof that you have had the COVID-19 vaccine.  Here are some answers to the frequently asked questions about this new requirement:

• When did the rule go into effect? The rule went into effect as of October 1, 2021.

• What type of proof do I use to show that I got the COVID-19 vaccine? You can show your official vaccination record or an official medical chart.  On that document, it should also show the date that you got the vaccine, as well as the manufacturer and the lot number if available.

• Are there any exceptions to the requirement that you get the COVID-19 vaccine? The answer is yes, there are a number of exceptions.  There is an exception for people who are too young to get the COVID-19 vaccine. There is also an exception for people who have a medical condition which would make it dangerous for them to get the COVID-19 vaccine. There is also an exception for people who don’t have the COVID-19 vaccine readily available in their area.  Finally, there are waivers available on a case-by-case basis for people who have a moral or religious objection to getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

There you have it, our quick immigration update to let you know that the CDC has made it clear that the COVID-19 vaccine will be required for adjustment of status applicants to get their green card.  

My name is Michael Ashoori and I’m a U.S. immigration lawyer and the founder of Ashoori Law. As an immigration lawyer, I help families, professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs get visas, green cards, and citizenship to the United States.  If you have any questions, feel free to schedule a free consultation by clicking this link.