COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has updated the COVID-19 vaccination requirements for beneficiaries paroled into the United States under Uniting for Ukraine. 

Effective immediately, all beneficiaries aged 6 months and older must have an attestation submitted attesting that they received COVID-19 vaccinations both before traveling to the United States and after arrival in the United States, unless they are eligible for an exception.

Before Traveling to the United States

All beneficiaries aged 6 months and older must submit a signed attestation that they received at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration or a COVID-19 vaccine listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization, unless they are eligible for an exception.

After Arrival in the United States

All beneficiaries aged 6 months and older must submit a signed attestation that they completed or will complete their COVID-19 vaccination series (in other words, they will be fully vaccinated) within 90 days of arrival or within 90 days of reaching the eligible age for vaccination according to the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, unless they are eligible for an exception.

The attestation must be completed in the beneficiary’s USCIS online account. See our Uniting for Ukraine Vaccine Attestation webpage for more information. Beneficiaries are responsible for arranging their vaccinations. Additional information is available on the USCIS Uniting for Ukraine webpage and the DHS Uniting for Ukraine webpage.

Exceptions

Vaccination exceptions are authorized based on sincerely held religious or moral beliefs. It is not enough to simply object to the vaccination requirement based on a personal belief. That belief must be based in established religious precepts that can be justified in detail or based on moral considerations that are provable as longstanding with conviction. The US deems vaccinations to be not only helpful to the individual, but also protective of the US community at large. Vaccination waivers are not granted easily.

Contact us in writing if you have an interest working with our law offices on a vaccination waiver or other immigration matter. Immigration is too important to leave to chance.