The United States Government has announced that Green Card applicants must now be fully vaccinated to be eligible for permanent residence in the United States.
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention disclosed that COVID-19 vaccination has become part of the requirements to apply for a Green Card and is compulsory for all applicants seeking lawful permanent residence in the US.
According to the CDC, "Beginning October 1, 2021, green card applicants will now be required to establish that they have received a complete COVID-19 vaccine series, in order to be deemed eligible for permanent residence in the United States."
"The new vaccine requirement will apply to routine medical examinations necessary for both adjustments of status applicants applying for green cards in the United States and immigrant visa applicants applying at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad."
“Individuals must be vaccinated with either the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The CDC will also accept different COVID-19 vaccines as they are recommended by its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices."
The CDC stated in its statement that "it now classified COVID-19 as a 'Class A inadmissible condition,' and failure to vaccinate against a vaccine-preventable disease would render a person ineligible for a visa."
It added that "the requirement does not apply to non-immigrant visas (NIV) classes such as tourist or student visas." But applicants seeking residence permits must provide an official vaccination record showing evidence of their vaccine status.
The CDC stated further that waivers will be granted to underage applicants, those with special health conditions who might have an adverse reaction to the vaccination, and individuals from countries with no or limited COVID-19 vaccine supplies.
Applicants can also request a waiver from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on moral or religious grounds.
The CDC emphasized that the US will not welcome self-reported vaccine doses without written documentation by a doctor or other appropriate medical personnel, adding that a negative COVID-19 test is not sufficient to prove that an individual does not pose a public risk of spreading the disease.
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