Do you remember the pandemic?

It feels odd to talk about - as a society we have basically moved on from it - and something that once controlled our lives entirely is now a passing thought. 

But for the thousands of people who apply for permanent residency every year, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is still present. Since late 2021, in order to apply for permanent residency with USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) an applicant had to prove their compliance with the requirement of the Covid-19 vaccine. This was because once the Covid-19 vaccine became available, it was added to the regular vaccination list that green card applicants are generally required to show proof of receiving. This posed a problem for people who had an objection to the Covid-19 vaccine, as vaccine waivers are difficult to obtain. 

In a massive shift from the last several years, USCIS announced that, effective January 22, 2025, it is waiving all requirements that an adjustment of status applicant have received the Covid-19 vaccine or have proof of it on their I-693 civil surgeon medical exam. Along with the announcement, USCIS 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.” Furthermore, the agency ‘will not deny any adjustment of status (I-485/green card) application based on the applicant's failure to present documentation that they received the COVID-19 vaccination.'

Why the Change?

USCIS has not explicitly stated why the change in its approach to the Covid-19 vaccine, but it is anticipated that this change will prove more efficient for USCIS, who has had to take the time to issue many evidence requests and notices to I-485 applicants pertaining to the Covid-19 vaccination.

What This Means for Applicants

Although the Covid-19 vaccine is no longer required by USCIS, in order to successfully process your application for permanent residence you must show that you have complied with USCIS's vaccine requirements. A USCIS civil surgeon must sign an I-693 exam, which is sent to USCIS in a sealed envelope as proof that the medical information has not been changed. You can look for civil surgeons near you by using this USCIS civil surgeon locator. 

If you need assistance filing for permanent residency or another immigration petition, you can reach us at (757) 422-8472, or send us a message on our website. You can also schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys by clicking on this link.