IMMIGRATION MEDICAL EXAMS

What does a medical examination entail?

The medical examination procedure consists of a physical examination, an evaluation (blood test/chest x-ray examination) for tuberculosis, a urine test for gonorrhea, and a blood test for syphilis. The vaccination requirements include vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

What vaccines are required for immigrants and those applying for adjustment of status in the United States?

As part of the medical examination for immigration, all immigrants, depending on their age, are required to be vaccinated against the following vaccine-preventable diseases: COVID-19, mumps, measles, rubella, polio, tetanus, and diphtheria toxoids, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type B, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease, varicella, influenza, and pneumococcal pneumonia. Persons already in the United States applying for adjustment of status for permanent residency, including refugees, are also required to be vaccinated against these vaccine-preventable diseases.

Do all vaccine series have to be completed before vaccination requirements are fulfilled?

For vaccines requiring a series, only a single dose is required for immigration purposes, except for the COVID-19 vaccine series.  For most vaccines, if the administration of a single dose of a vaccine at the time of the medical examination does not complete the series for that vaccine, the “Insufficient time interval to complete series” reason should be documented to indicate that additional doses will be needed to complete the series for that vaccine.  The applicant should also be counseled to complete the series in the future. For COVID-19, applicants are required to complete the primary vaccine series (1 or 2 doses depending on the vaccine) before the medical examination can be considered complete.