CBP Releases Update ending COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for International Travelers, New CDC Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance for Civil Surgeons Completing Form I-693 Immigration Medical Examination — Visa Lawyer Blog — May 12, 2023
CBP No Longer Requires Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers from Any Country starting today May 12, 2023
The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) now joins the State Department and Department of Homeland Security in announcing the end of the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for international travelers starting today Friday, May 12, 2023.
Noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers will no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States.
CDC’s Amended Order Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic is no longer in effect due to the President’s order revoking the Presidential Proclamation Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
In its press release, entitled “Rescinding Requirement for Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination for All Airline or Other Aircraft Passengers Arriving into the United States From any Foreign Country” CBP’s Carrier Liaison Program announced the following:
- On May 9, 2023, the President issued a Proclamation terminating the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for noncitizen nonimmigrant air travelers effective 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on May 12, 2023.
- Accordingly, by Presidential Proclamation, the previous regulations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) governing the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for noncitizen nonimmigrants will cease to be in effect.
- This rescission takes effect for flights departing to the United States from a foreign country on or after 12:01am EDT on May 12, 2023. Noncitizen, nonimmigrant air passengers will no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States.
- Those with questions concerning the scope or implementation of this new guidance, should be directed to the Regional Carrier Liaison Group or other designated CBP official for adjudication prior to aircraft departure.
CDC Updates COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance for Civil Surgeons Completing Form I-693 Immigration Medical Examination
The end of the COVID-19 public health emergency has also led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue new COVID-19 vaccine guidance for civil surgeons completing the Form I-693 Immigration Medical Examination on behalf of adjustment of status (green card) applicants.
The new guidance can be found on the CDC’s “Immigrant, Refugee, and Migrant Health” Technical Instructions for civil surgeons webpage which now provides the following:
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
- The applicant must receive one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine if a dose is due at the time of the exam according to current CDC guidance. Now, like other vaccine requirements, additional doses are no longer required, and applicants do not have to postpone completion of the exam to complete the primary series of the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Applicants who have completed any approved* primary COVID-19 series prior to the exam require no additional COVID-19 doses for immigration. Those who have not should receive a bivalent vaccine according to current CDC guidance.
- For applicants who have received one or more doses but have not completed the primary series and are not yet due for the next dose in the series at the time of the exam, use the “Insufficient time interval between doses” blanket waiver.
- As with other vaccinations, additional doses recommended for older age groups, health conditions or immunocompromise are not required for completion of this exam. Although booster doses are not currently required, please refer to this page frequently for future guidance regarding a COVID-19 boosting schedule.
We expect the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to update its policy guidance recognizing these changes in the weeks ahead.
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