Will USCIS Accept My Foreign Vaccination Records? What Counts for the I-693

The single most common worry we hear before an immigration medical exam is some version of: “I was vaccinated as a child in my home country. Will I have to do all of it again?”

Usually, no. But the answer turns entirely on whether your records can be validated — and that is a documentation question, not a medical one.

The video above was recorded in July 2025. The COVID-19 point in it is still accurate. Vaccination requirements are set by the CDC Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons and do change, so the age-by-age specifics below link to our continuously updated table rather than being frozen here.

Why vaccination is part of the exam at all

This is not the clinic’s preference. Under INA 212(a)(1)(A)(ii), an applicant for adjustment of status who cannot show proof of vaccination against certain vaccine-preventable diseases is inadmissible. The statute itself names mumps, measles, rubella, polio, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type B, and hepatitis B — and it further requires any additional vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that CDC has adopted for immigration purposes.

CDC publishes the binding rules in the Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons. A civil surgeon has no discretion to depart from them.

Which vaccines apply to you depends on your age

This is the part that causes the most confusion, so it is worth stating plainly: the requirements are age-banded. A vaccine that is required for a child may not be required for an adult, and vice versa. What governs is your age on the day of the exam, applied against the current CDC Technical Instructions.

Because those bands move and because a general list invites the wrong conclusion, we maintain the current breakdown on a dedicated page rather than restating it here: Vaccine and immunization requirements for Form I-693. Check your own age band there before assuming a particular shot applies to you.

Two age-independent points from the video are worth keeping in mind:

• Seasonal influenza is required only if your exam falls during flu season — September 1 through March 31.
• COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required. USCIS waived it effective January 22, 2025, and CDC updated the Technical Instructions on March 11, 2025. If an older guide tells you otherwise, that guide is out of date.

How your existing records are actually validated

Bring everything — including records from outside the United States, with a certified English translation. During the exam the civil surgeon compares each documented dose against the age-specific requirement and identifies only what is genuinely missing.

Three things follow from that, and they save applicants real money:

A documented dose counts. You do not repeat a vaccine you can prove you received. The proof is the constraint, not the vaccine.

A blood titer can replace a shot. For MMR, varicella and hepatitis B, a titer demonstrating existing immunity is accepted instead of revaccination. This is the option most applicants do not know exists, and it is worth asking about when your childhood records are incomplete.

You only need one dose per vaccine at the exam. If a vaccine requires a multi-dose series, a single dose at the exam satisfies the I-693. You complete the remaining doses later with your own physician, on the normal schedule.

If you have no records at all, you are not turned away. The civil surgeon documents what is required, and you can complete those doses at our office or at a county health department — often the same week, and county health departments are frequently the lower-cost option.

“Not medically appropriate” is an acceptable answer

Applicants often assume a blank line means a rejected form. It does not. If a vaccine is medically contraindicated, if you are pregnant, or if it is simply out of season, the civil surgeon marks it not medically appropriate on Form I-693. That is a valid, expected entry — not a gap.

What does cause trouble is an undocumented vaccine: a dose you believe you received but cannot evidence. That is what generates Requests for Evidence and the delays that come with them.

What this means for your appointment

The vaccination component is the most controllable part of the I-693. Testing takes the time it takes; your paperwork is the variable you own. Applicants who arrive with translated records and any prior titer results routinely finish in one visit. Those who do not usually need a second — which is why a follow-up visit is a published, separate fee rather than a surprise.

For the broader picture of what else the exam covers and what recently changed, see what changed on the I-693 since 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I have to repeat vaccines I already received in my home country?

Generally no, provided the records can be validated. Bring the original documentation with a certified English translation; each documented dose is checked against the age-specific requirement and accepted if it qualifies. You only receive what is genuinely missing — check your age band on vaccine and immunization requirements.

Do I need a blood test instead of a vaccine?

Sometimes, and it can work in your favor. For MMR, varicella and hepatitis B, a titer proving immunity is accepted instead of revaccination. Ask about it if your childhood records are incomplete; the vaccine requirements page lists which vaccines accept a titer.

Is the COVID-19 vaccine still required for a green card?

No. USCIS waived the requirement effective January 22, 2025, and CDC updated the Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons on March 11, 2025. It has not been reinstated. Related: the #1 cause of I-693 delays is vaccination gaps.

What if a vaccine is unsafe for me, or I am pregnant?

The civil surgeon records it as not medically appropriate on the form, which is an accepted entry. Never start, stop, or change any medication or vaccine on your own — discuss it at the exam. More on how the exam works: Your USCIS Medical Exam Is Not a Physical.

Where do I go, and what does it cost?

ImmigrationExam.us is at 4477 Woodson Rd, Suite 102, St. Louis, MO 63134, minutes from St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The I-693 examination is $390 — $100 at booking plus $290 at the visit; a follow-up visit is $190. Individual vaccine doses are charged per dose. Laboratory testing and a chest X-ray are quoted at your visit, since which tests are required depends on your age and history. See fees and processing timeline.

Key takeaways

• Foreign vaccination records are accepted when they can be validated — bring originals plus a certified English translation.
• Requirements are age-banded; check your band on the vaccine requirements page rather than assuming.
• A titer can substitute for revaccination on MMR, varicella and hepatitis B.
• One dose per vaccine at the exam is enough; finish any series with your own doctor.
• COVID-19 vaccination has not been required since January 22, 2025.

Watch the full video above, and explore the rest of the series on our YouTube channel.

Medically reviewed by Gurpreet Singh Padda, MD, MBA, MHP — USCIS-designated civil surgeon (CSID 111051), board certified in Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine, Interventional Pain Management, Addiction Medicine, and Obesity Medicine. Last reviewed August 2026.

References

1. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Vaccination Requirements. https://www.uscis.gov/tools/designated-civil-surgeons/vaccination-requirements
2. Immigration and Nationality Act § 212(a)(1)(A)(ii); 42 C.F.R. § 34.3.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons, vaccination component, updated March 11, 2025.
4. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Waives COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Adjustment of Status Applicants, January 22, 2025.

This article is educational information about the immigration medical examination process. It is not legal advice and does not create a physician–patient relationship. For legal questions about your case, consult a licensed immigration attorney.