COVID-19 Vaccines Mandatory for US Green Card Applicants: Immigration Officials

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services building is seen outside outside of Denver, Colo. on July 14, 2019. Chet Strange/AFP via Getty Images

All green card applicants subject to the immigration medical examination have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 starting next month, federal immigration officials announced Tuesday.

“In general,” said the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), “individuals applying to become a lawful permanent resident, and other applicants as deemed necessary, must undergo an immigration medical examination to show they are free from any conditions that would render them inadmissible under the health-related grounds.”