Adoptions

Vaccination Requirements

U.S. law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations (listed below) prior to the issuance of an immigrant visa.

Panel physicians who conduct medical examinations on behalf of immigrant visa applicants must verify that immigrant visa applicants have met the vaccination requirement, or that it is medically inappropriate for the visa applicant to receive one or more of these vaccinations:

Mumps, Measles, Rubella, Polio, Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids, Pertussis, Influenzae Type B (HIB), Hepatitis B, Varicella, Pneumococcal, and Influenza.

To assist the panel physician, and to avoid processing delays, immigrant visa applicants should have their vaccination records available for the panel physician's review during the medical exam. Visa applicants should consult with their regular health care provider to obtain a copy of their immunization record, if one is available. If you do not have a vaccination record for your newly adopted child, the panel physician will work with you to determine which vaccinations the child may need to meet the requirement. Certain waivers of the vaccination requirement are available upon the panel physician's recommendation. Only a physician can determine which of the listed vaccinations are medically appropriate, given the age, medical history and current medical condition of the visa applicant.

The vaccination requirement can be postponed for children 10 and younger if an adopting parent signs an affidavit prior to the child's arrival in the United States attesting that, within 30 days of the child's admission to the U.S., or at the earliest time that is medically appropriate, the child will receive the required vaccinations. This affidavit must be done on the attached Department of State form, and must be notarized. The consular officer can notarize the document during the visa interview.