Vaccine Waiver & Exemption for U.S. Immigration
If you are applying for a U.S. green card, you have to show proof of certain vaccinations as part of your immigration medical exam. If you cannot or will not get a required vaccine, you may still qualify through a waiver. A blanket waiver covers medical reasons, such as a contraindication or a vaccine that is not age-appropriate or not available, and the doctor records it on Form I-693 with no separate application. A waiver based on a sincere religious or moral objection works differently: you apply to USCIS, usually on Form I-601. We help you pick the right path and build the evidence.
This is general information, not legal advice for your situation.
Who needs a vaccine waiver for immigration?
Anyone applying for permanent residence has to meet the vaccination requirement. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, section 212(a)(1)(A)(ii), a person who cannot show proof of the required vaccines is inadmissible, which means the green card can be denied. A waiver is how you stay eligible when a required vaccine does not fit your situation, whether the reason is medical or a matter of conscience.
Which vaccines are required for U.S. immigration?
The list of required vaccines is set by the CDC and it changes over time, so the safest source is always the current CDC list confirmed at your medical exam, not an older article. As a general guide, the requirement has long covered vaccines such as measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), polio, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap), Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), hepatitis A and B, varicella, pneumococcal disease, meningococcal disease, rotavirus, and seasonal influenza when it is flu season. The COVID-19 vaccine was added to this list in 2021 and is no longer part of the immigration vaccination requirement. Because the CDC updates the list, confirm what applies to you at the time of your exam.
Who checks my vaccines, and how?
A doctor does. If you are in the United States, it is a USCIS-designated civil surgeon; if you are abroad, it is a panel physician. Bring all of your vaccination records to the exam. To be accepted, each record has to show the day, month, and year a vaccine was given, and it cannot look altered. Vaccines given anywhere in the world are accepted, but self-reported doses without documentation are not. The doctor records everything in the vaccination section of Form I-693 (in the U.S.) or Form DS-3025 (abroad).
What is a blanket waiver?
A blanket waiver is the simple kind. The doctor grants it right at the exam and notes it on your form, and you do not file a separate application. Once it is on the form, you are treated as having met the vaccination requirement. A blanket waiver applies when a vaccine is not medically appropriate for you, for reasons such as:
- A medical contraindication or precaution, meaning the vaccine could seriously harm you
- The vaccine is not age-appropriate for you
- Not enough time has passed between doses to complete the series
- The vaccine is not licensed or routinely available where the panel physician practices
- It is not flu season, so the influenza vaccine is not available
- You have a documented chronic hepatitis B infection, so the hepatitis B vaccine is not needed
Bring documentation of any medical condition to the exam. A lawyer can help you prepare that package so the waiver is granted the first time.
Can proof of immunity replace a vaccine?
Sometimes. If your own doctor has tested you and you have written evidence that you are already immune, that can stand in for the vaccine. This works only for certain diseases: measles, mumps, rubella, polio, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and varicella. Bring the written proof to your civil surgeon.
Can I get a waiver based on religious or moral beliefs?
Yes, but it is a separate process from the blanket waiver. If you object to vaccination because of sincere religious beliefs or moral convictions, you note that at the medical exam and then file a waiver request with USCIS, usually on Form I-601. USCIS decides it, not the doctor and not the CDC. To succeed, you generally have to show three things: that you object to all vaccines, not just some; that the objection is rooted in religious or moral conviction rather than mere preference; and that the belief is sincere and consistent in your life. You do not have to belong to a specific religion or church. Filing early, at or soon after your application, avoids delays later.
What happens if I skip the vaccines and do not get a waiver?
Your green card application can be denied. Without proof of the required vaccines or an approved waiver, you are inadmissible under the Immigration and Nationality Act, so the application cannot be approved until the issue is fixed. If you reach your interview without having filed a needed waiver, the officer will usually issue a Request for Evidence, which slows everything down.
How can Sisu Legal help with a vaccine waiver?
We look at your situation and tell you honestly which path fits. If you qualify for a blanket waiver on medical grounds, we prepare the package you bring to your medical exam. If your objection is religious or moral, we prepare and file the Form I-601 waiver and the evidence USCIS looks for. We work on both U.S. and Canadian immigration from our offices in Windsor, Ontario and Troy, Michigan, and our fees are flat and quoted upfront.
Frequently asked questions about immigration vaccine waivers
Is the COVID-19 vaccine required for a green card?
No. The COVID-19 vaccine was added to the required list in 2021 but is no longer part of the immigration vaccination requirement. Always confirm the current CDC list at your medical exam.
What is the difference between a blanket waiver and a religious waiver?
A blanket waiver is granted by the doctor at your exam for medical reasons, with no separate application. A religious or moral waiver is filed with USCIS, usually on Form I-601, and USCIS decides it.
Do I have to belong to a religion to get a religious vaccine waiver?
No. You do not need to be a member of a recognized religion or attend a specific place of worship. You do need to show a sincere religious or moral objection to all vaccines.
Can proof of immunity replace a required vaccine?
Yes, for certain diseases (measles, mumps, rubella, polio, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and varicella), if you bring written evidence of immunity from your doctor.
If I choose to get vaccinated, do I need the full series before my green card?
No. For immigration purposes you generally only need to complete the first dose of a required vaccine, not the entire series.
What form is used for a religious or moral vaccine waiver?
Form I-601, the Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility, filed with USCIS.
Talk to an immigration lawyer about your vaccine waiver
If you are worried about the vaccination requirement, book a consultation and we will tell you which waiver fits and what your case needs. Book a consultation or contact our Windsor and Troy offices.