Trump Slashes COVID Vax Requirement For Legal Immigrants

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Wednesday that it was rescinding the policy requiring legal immigrants to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in order to further the process.

On the agency’s official government website, an alert was issued detailing the policy change, dated January 22, 2025, and effective immediately.

“Effective January 22, 2025, USCIS waives 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,” the announcement read.

“USCIS will not issue any Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) 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,” it continued.

The policy change applies to immigrants who are in the United States legally and are attempting to change their immigration status.

Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines responded to the news, saying, “HUGE NEWS. Following the below tweet, USCIS has rescinded their Covid vax mandate for legal immigrants. I can’t even tell you the thousands of people in the same situation who have reached out over the past few years. Promises made, promises kept. Thank you, @realDonaldTrump.”

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HUGE NEWS. Following the below tweet, USCIS has rescinded their Covid vax mandate for legal immigrants.

I can't even tell you the thousands of people in the same situation who have reached out over the past few years.

Promises made, promises kept. Thank you, @realDonaldTrump. https://t.co/WBn47PgTQS pic.twitter.com/k5cBNnKrOt

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) January 22, 2025

Gaines included her previous post, dated just one day prior, in which she’d shared a letter her husband — a legal immigrant from the United Kingdom — had received from USCIS denying him just such a status change because he’d not had the COVID vaccine.

“Just got another letter from USCIS saying they won’t give my husband his green card until he gets the Covid jab. This is ridiculous. We’ve been married coming up on 3 years. We’ve spent thousands for the submitted forms to expire on their time. We’re hoping for change soon,” she said at the time.

Just got another letter from USCIS saying they won't give my husband his green card until he gets the Covid jab.

This is ridiculous. We've been married coming up on 3 years. We've spent thousands for the submitted forms to expire on their time.

We're hoping for change soon???????? pic.twitter.com/OMUDJzATGQ

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) January 21, 2025