IR-5 Medical Exam + Jan 2025 Change to COVID Vaccine Requirements

[SMK 89 70]

I've read what I can but wanted to put a fresh ask out to the community .... As of January 22, 2025 USCIS is no longer requiring immigrants to have the COVID Vaccine count towards the required vaccinations to immigrate. But in looking at the DHS website/required vaccines listed on consulate pages (and their identified panel physicians) the COVID-19 vaccine (and boosters every 12 months) is still listed on there. 

 

My parents have their medical appointment coming up Ontario, Canada on March 17th. They both got COVID vaccines ... Round 1 and 2, and then boosters because of how strict Canada was...they got their last booster January 2024 (just over a year ago) to ensure they didnt have issues at the border visiting. But that last booster made them both feel not ok in various ways. They are not willing to do it again. Wondering if anyone has any insight on when we can expect consulates/panel physicians to adopt the CURRENT requirement aka no more COVID vaccine requirement as part of the necessary vaccinations for immigration. 

 

Has anyone done a recent medical where they brought this up? What did the doctor say? If the doctor said they still don't have a memo and the intending immigrant refuses to take the shot or 12-month booster at the appointment, what happens? do they still get to go to the interview and hopefully by then the consulate can say well they are ok because now the vaccine isn't required anymore? Or...what happens? 

 

I don't understand how USCIS can push this through in January 2025 and post it online as the new rule and it not trickle through to the other entities that are actually processing immigration applications to be inline with that new order...

 

Maybe someone in the visa journey community has some real recent experience with this dilemma or any further insight... 

[jan22 3,069]

The announcement of the USCIS change you are referring to was in regard to adjustment of status cases.  It said nothing about a change to the immigrant visa vaccination requirements, which are set by the CDC.