As of October 1, the CDC is requiring that all nurses that are going to an embassy interview have the COVID-19 vaccine. All foreign nationals must submit proof of the COVID-19 vaccination prior to their embassy interview.
In addition, President Biden put out an executive order that requires all employers with over 100 employees to mandate the vaccine or require regular testing.
Wondering which vaccine to get? Here is a list of approved COVID-19 vaccines:
- Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines (e.g., COMIRNATY, Tozinameran)
- AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccines (e.g., Covishield, Vaxzevria)
- Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine
- Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
- Sinopharm BIBP COVID-19 vaccine
- Sinovac-CoronaVac COVID-19
From both an immigration and a hospital standpoint – vaccines will be required at some point in your immigration process.
If you are considering migrating to the U.S. or are already in the process, it’s time to schedule your vaccine or seek the necessary waiver.
If you are unable to get the vaccine in your country or do not want to get the vaccine for religious and/or moral reasons, you may apply for a waiver. However, we are still unsure how this waiver will be viewed by the USCIS , so we strongly encourage our nurses to consider getting vaccinated. If you are coming to the U.S. with your family, all dependents over the age of 12 must receive the vaccine.
Wondering why you should trust the vaccine?
While the vaccine was developed very quickly, that does not mean shortcuts were taken. Operation Warp Speed was a federal initiative that supported multiple COVID-19 vaccine candidates and helped shorten the time it took for approvals to occur. Each stage of the vaccine development took place quickly and people were working on weekends and after hours, but no stage was rushed or skipped.
Additionally, these efforts took place after scientists had been researching other similar coronaviruses for years. The rapid development of the vaccine is the result of a singular focus of time, energy, and money.
Additionally, the vaccine is very effective at preventing COVID-19 – more than the seasonal flu vaccine!
For more information on COVID-19 vaccine requirements, visit the USCIS website or reach out to our team.
