USCIS Vaccination Requirements

CDC Removes HPV and Herpes Zoster from List of Required Vaccines for Immigration
Purposes

Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has, since Nov. 13, 2009, temporarily held certain applications to adjust status to lawful permanent residence until new CDC vaccination criteria become effective on Dec. 14, 2009. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Nov. 13, 2009 new criteria for determining which vaccinations will be required for applicants seeking to become lawful permanent residents. Based on these new criteria, and beginning on Dec. 14, 2009, the vaccines for herpes zoster (zoster) and human papillomavirus (HPV) will no longer be required for immigration purposes. As a result, since Nov. 13, 2009, USCIS has held any application that would have been denied solely based on the applicant’s failure to show proof of having received the HPV or zoster vaccine. USCIS will resume adjudicating these applications on Dec. 14, 2009, using the new vaccination criteria, which eliminate the need for the HPV and zoster vaccines. More information on the new criteria and changes to the vaccination requirements is available on CDC’s website at CDC Information on Vaccination Requirements.