New vaccine requirements will affect anyone who is applying for an immigrant visa for entry into the U.S. and anyone seeking adjustment of status for permanent residence.
Applicants must show proof of vaccinations against vaccine-preventable diseases, as recommended by the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Passport Health, a company that specializes in Travel Medicine and vaccinations, announced today that all 165 of it offices throughout the U.S. are fully stocked with all vaccines required for immigration and naturalization.
Current vaccine requirement includes: Influenza, Pneumococcal, Hepatitis A&B, TDaP, Polio, Varicella, and MMR. Zoster (Shingles) vaccine for anyone over age 60 and HPV/cervical cancer vaccine for women 11-26 are new requirements.
Since 9/11, enforcement of immigration laws has tightened. "After 9/11, there were dramatic changes in immigration law and its enforcement," said Sheela Murthy, president of Murthy Law Firm, one of the country's leading immigration law practices. "It is good that our country is protecting its residents against diseases that can be brought from foreign countries or that can easily spread through our population." Murthy attended Harvard Law School and has been practicing immigration law for over 20 years.
As an immigrant herself, Murthy has seen how the internet has revolutionized the way her clients search for information regarding legal requirements, including where to get the vaccines they need. "When I had to get my vaccinations you went blindfolded and there weren't many choices."