Applicants for permanent residency in the United States will no longer have to provide proof of vaccination against covid-19.
On Wednesday, two days after Donald Trump took office as the country’s 47th president, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said in a statement: “Effective Jan. 22, 2025, USCIS is waiving any and all requirements that applicants for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident present documentation on their Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, that they received the COVID-19 vaccination.
“USCIS will not issue any Request for Evidence or Notice of Intent to Deny related to proving a COVID-19 vaccination. USCIS will not deny any adjustment of status application based on the applicant’s failure to present documentation that they received the COVID-19 vaccination.”
Effective today, Jan. 22, 2025, USCIS will not deny any adjustment of status application based on an applicant not presenting documentation that they received the COVID-19 vaccination. Learn more: https://t.co/YcOSsyRud7
— USCIS (@USCIS) January 22, 2025
“Hallelujah” – GOP lawmaker welcomes USCIS rule change
Applicants for permanent residency in the U.S., also commonly referred to as Green Card status, will still have to show that they have been vaccinated against other illnesses such as measles, hepatitis B, polio and tetanus.
The covid-19 vaccination requirement had been introduced by the administration of the former president, the Democrat Joe Biden, in October 2021.
Republican representative Thomas Massie, who had previously introduced a bill seeking to abolish the covid-19 vaccination requirement, welcomed the USCIS’s announcement on Wednesday.
On the social media platform X, Massie posted: “I have a bill to end the COVID jab mandate for legal immigrants, but Trump just suspended the mandate. Hallelujah!”
I have a bill to end the COVID jab mandate for legal immigrants, but Trump just suspended the mandate. Hallelujah! pic.twitter.com/bArvC0zfV6
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) January 22, 2025
Source| AS USA