USCIS to Hold Certain Cases Pending Changes to Vaccination Requirements

A new criterion was issued by the Center forimmigration. Vaccinations for applicants in the United
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regardingStates are typically administered by a civil surgeon. If
vaccination requirements for applicants who wish tothe applicant is outside the United States, then the
immigrate to the USA. These new vaccinationvaccination is done by a panel physician.
requirements come into effect on December 14,Applicants who wish to immigrate to the United
2009. So, the U.S. Citizenship and ImmigrationStates are required to take certain vaccinations.
Services (USCIS) has been holding some immigrationVaccines that have to be taken by applicants who
applications temporarily from November 13, 2009.wish to immigrate to the United States are: measles,
The United States Department of Health and Humanrubella, pertusis, polio, mumps, tetanus diphtheria,
Services (HHS) and the Center for Disease Controlhepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, zoster,
and Prevention (CDC) regulations require all immigrantmeningococcal disease, pneumococcal disease, human
visa applicants to attend a medical exam. Applicantspapilloma virus (HPV), Haemophilus influenzae type B,
should have taken the required vaccinations beforevaricella, and seasonal influenza. The new criteria
attending the medical exam. All applicants should havestate that vaccination for herpes zoster and human
their vaccination records with them when they comepapilloma virus (HPV) are no longer mandatory for
for physician’s review at the time of medicalUSA immigration.
examination. This will surely speed up the process of