Vaccination Requirements

3 December 2021

These Questions and Answers provide basic information about the general vaccination requirements for immigrants (including individuals seeking adjustment of status), and specifically about the assessment made by the civil surgeon to determine whether an applicant meets the vaccination requirements. These Questions and Answers do not address the vaccination assessments conducted by panel physicians overseas.


For refugees only, health departments may be considered a civil surgeon for purposes of completing the vaccination record.


Background


Under the immigration laws of the United States, a foreign national who applies for an immigrant visa abroad, or who seeks to adjust status to a permanent resident while in the United States, is required to receive vaccinations to prevent the following diseases:


  • Mumps
  • Measles
  • Rubella
  • Polio
  • Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids
  • Pertussis
  • Haemophilus influenzae type B
  • Hepatitis B
  • COVID-19
  • Any other vaccine-preventable diseases recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices


The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) is an advisory committee to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that recommends immunizations for the general U.S. population. Starting Dec.14, 2009, when the ACIP recommends new vaccines for the general U.S. population, CDC will assess whether these vaccines should be required for immigration purposes on a regular and on an as-needed basis according to specific criteria set by CDC.


CDC is responsible for publishing the Technical Instructions for the Medical Examination of Aliens in the United States. These documents set the requirements for the immigrant medical examination and are binding on civil surgeons. The Technical Instructions include a vaccination component, specifying how the civil surgeon has to conduct the vaccination assessment. The civil surgeon records the results of the medical examination, including the results of the vaccination assessment, on USCIS Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.


If a foreign national applies for an immigrant visa abroad, that individual has to receive the medical examination by a panel physician designated by the U.S. Department of State (DOS). CDC issues separate instructions to panel physicians designated by DOS to conduct medical examinations abroad. For more information about panel physicians, please consult DOS' website at http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3739.html.

Questions and Answers

  • Where can I find information about vaccinations in general?

    CDC publishes information about vaccinations in general and information about the vaccine requirements for immigration purposes at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/.

  • Why do immigrants and adjustment of status applicants have to show proof they have received certain vaccinations?

    In 1996, Congress provided in legislation that every immigrant entering the United States, or every individual seeking adjustment of status to that of a legal permanent resident, show proof that he or she was vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases. The text for this requirement is in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), section 212(a)(1)(A)(ii).

  • How does the CDC decide which vaccines are required for immigration purposes?

    Some of the vaccines that are required are specifically listed in the INA. In addition to these, the statute also requires that an individual receive any other vaccinations recommended by the ACIP. CDC uses the following criteria in determining which of these recommended vaccines should be required for immigration purposes:


    • The vaccine must be an age-appropriate vaccine as recommended by the ACIP for the general U.S. population, and
    • At least one of the following:
    •           The vaccine must protect against a disease that has the potential to cause an outbreak; or
    •           The vaccine must protect against a disease eliminated in the United States, or is in the process of being eliminated in the United States.
  • I am seeking immigrant status in the United States but had a medical examination abroad by a panel physician; I also received some vaccines. Do I have to repeat the medical examination and get the vaccines again?

    Please read the instructions to Form I-693 to determine if you must repeat the medical examination, including the vaccination assessment, based on your current status in the United States.

  • How do I know which vaccines are required for immigration purposes?

    A civil surgeon is required to follow the Technical Instructions for the Examination of Aliens in the United States, including the 2009 Technical Instructions to Civil Surgeons for Vaccinations, and any updates published online. CDC publishes the vaccination requirements and medical examination instructions (including a detailed table listing all required vaccines) at http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/civil/vaccination-civil-technical-instructions.html

  • Do I have to receive all the required vaccines, even though I have been vaccinated before?

    No. The civil surgeon will review your vaccination records at the time of your medical examination to see whether you have proof of earlier vaccinations against vaccine-preventable diseases that are appropriate for your age category. It is important that you take any written vaccination documentation you may have to the civil surgeon when you have your immigration medical examination.


    If you lack any vaccinations required for your age category, the civil surgeon will administer the vaccines as needed. In the alternative, you can also choose to obtain the required vaccines from your private healthcare provider. However, because only a civil surgeon is authorized to complete the vaccination assessment on the Form I-693, you must return to the civil surgeon with the proof that you have received the missing vaccines.


    In addition, some individuals are immune to vaccine-preventable diseases, and they know of the immunity because their private healthcare provider has tested them. If you have any written evidence of immunity, you should take this documentation to your civil surgeon. This will enable the civil surgeon to determine which vaccines you need to receive.

  • Do I have to receive all the vaccines on CDC's vaccination list for the immigrant population, or only the ones that are age appropriate?

    You are required to document receipt of vaccines that are age appropriate for you. The civil surgeon will annotate Form I-693 to indicate that you were not required to receive a particular vaccine because it was not age appropriate at the time of the medical examination.

  • Do I have to receive all the vaccines that are on CDC's list and that are age appropriate, although I may have a medical condition that prevents me from receiving the required vaccines?

    If you have a medical condition that prevents you from receiving a vaccine that is appropriate for your age, the civil surgeon will annotate the Form I-693 accordingly and mark the vaccine as contraindicated. A contraindication is a condition that prevents you from receiving a particular vaccine. CDC lists in its Technical Instructions what is considered a contraindication. It is up to the civil surgeon to determine whether you have such a condition that prevents you from receiving a particular vaccine at the time of the immigration medical examination.

  • Certain vaccine series can only be completed with multiple visits to the civil surgeon. Am I required to complete the entire series before the civil surgeon can sign the Form I-693?

    You are only required to receive a single dose of each vaccine when you visit the civil surgeon. You are encouraged to follow up with your private health care provider to complete the series. Once you have received the single dose appropriate at the time, the civil surgeon can sign and certify the Form I-693.

  • I am pregnant and do not wish to receive any vaccinations. Do I still have to get them to be able to obtain permanent resident status in the United States?

    If you are pregnant, the CDC's Technical Instructions direct the civil surgeon how to evaluate the vaccines you are able to receive during pregnancy. If the civil surgeon cannot safely administer a required vaccine, he/she will annotate the Form I-693 by marking the vaccine as contraindicated. See the CDC "Guidelines for Vaccinating Pregnant Women" page for information on pregnancy and vaccinations in general.

  • Can the civil surgeon safely administer all vaccines that are required all at once?

    The civil surgeon will let you know if you can receive all the vaccines at once, or if there is a concern based on your particular medical condition that will not allow you to receive all required vaccines at once.

  • When does the flu season start for purposes of the seasonal flu vaccine requirement? Since the seasonal flu vaccine is required, do I have to get the seasonal flu vaccine if it is not the flu season?

    For purposes of the immigration medical examination, the flu season starts on October 1 and ends on March 31 each year. If your immigration medical examination is during this period, you are required to have the seasonal flu vaccine. If you have an immigration medical examination completed between April 1 and September 30, when it is not the flu season for immigration purposes, you are not required to document that you have received the seasonal flu vaccine.

  • I heard that the vaccine against herpes zoster (zoster) and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) are required vaccines. Is this true?

    From Aug. 1, 2008, until Dec. 13, 2009, the zoster and the HPV were required vaccines for immigration purposes. However, the zoster vaccine was not available from Aug. 1, 2008, through Dec. 13, 2009, and USCIS posted a message on the Web to inform civil surgeons they could annotate the vaccination record with "not available" if they were not able to obtain the vaccine. In 2009, CDC changed the vaccination requirements based on ACIP's recommendations. As of Dec. 14, 2009, the zoster and the HPV vaccine were no longer required.

  • I had my immigration medical examination before Dec. 14, 2009, before the zoster and HPV vaccines were eliminated. I was required to have one of them, but did not receive it. My Form I-693 says that I refused to have the HPV or zoster vaccine. Will my I-693 be returned or my application denied?

    On Dec. 14, 2009, vaccines against herpes zoster (zoster) and HPV are no longer required. It is irrelevant that you did not receive either the zoster or the HPV because beginning on Dec. 14, 2009; you are no longer inadmissible solely because you did not have the vaccine. USCIS will not return your Form I-693, nor will it deny your application because you did not receive the vaccine.

  • Who pays for the vaccinations?

    The applicant is responsible for paying the appropriate fee for all vaccinations directly to the civil surgeon, as agreed upon with the civil surgeon. You should ask about the price of the vaccinations before the medical examination or the administration of the vaccinations.

  • Can I be forced to be vaccinated for immigration purposes?

    If you refuse to receive the vaccines required for immigration purposes, as mandated by the immigration laws of the United States, your application for legal permanent resident status may be denied.

  • What will happen if I refuse to receive one or all of the required vaccines?

    Tell the civil surgeon if you do not wish to receive the required vaccines or a particular vaccine. You should also tell the civil surgeon the reason you do not wish to receive the vaccine(s). In this case, a waiver may be available to you, but only under the following circumstances:


    • You are opposed to vaccinations in any form– that is, you cannot obtain a waiver based on an objection only as to one vaccination
    • Your objection must be based on religious beliefs or moral convictions; and
    • The religious or moral beliefs must be sincere.

    The form used to apply for a waiver depends on the adjustment category under which you are seeking legal permanent residence status. For example, refugees and asylees seeking adjustment of status should file Form I-602, Application by Refugee for Waiver of Grounds of Excludability. Individuals seeking adjustment of status as a result of an approved Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, or Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, would file Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility.

  • My civil surgeon says that a vaccine is currently not available. What should I do?

    Ask the civil surgeon whether another health care provider may have the vaccine. If another physician or department or pharmacy carries the vaccine and can administer the vaccine, you should get the vaccine and request documentation that you have received the vaccine. Bring the written record back to the civil surgeon so that s/he can complete the Form I-693.

    HHS/CDC monitors which vaccines are not available in the United States, or which vaccines may experience a shortage. If CDC determines there is a nation-wide shortage of a vaccine, it will recommend to USCIS to post a message on www.uscis.gov to explain to applicants and civil surgeons whether the vaccine is required and under what circumstances. The information is available on USCIS’ Form I-693 page, the Immigration Medical Examination page, or the Designated Civil Surgeon page.

  • Will USCIS accept a Form I-693 if the vaccination chart is incomplete?

    No. The vaccination chart should have at least one entry in each row for each vaccine. If the vaccination chart is not properly completed at the time of the medical examination, USCIS may return the Form I-693 to you with instructions on how to correct it.


    If you refuse a vaccine because of religious or moral reasons, the civil surgeon will mark this on the Form I-693. In this case, you will have to apply for a waiver.

  • Where can I find more information about the vaccination requirements for immigration purposes and how these requirements affect the completion of Form I-693?

    CDC publishes the Technical Instructions including the vaccination component http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/civil/technical-instructions-civil-surgeons.html

    For more information about the civil surgeon program, the completion of Form I-693, or the adjustment of status application, please visit www.uscis.gov, or call USCIS’ Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833).

DHS Ends the Abuse of the Humanitarian Parole Process and Terminates Family Reunification Parole Programs

12 December 2025
Release Date 12/12/2025 The Department of Homeland Security is terminating all categorical family reunification parole (FRP) programs for aliens from Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras, and their immediate family members. This administration is ending the abuse of humanitarian parole which allowed poorly vetted aliens to circumvent the traditional parole process. Parole was never intended to be used in this way, and DHS is returning parole to a case-by-case basis as intended by Congress. Ending the FRP programs is a necessary return to common-sense policies and a return to America First. The desire to reunite families does not overcome the government’s responsibility to prevent fraud and abuse and to uphold national security and public safety. The FRP programs had security gaps caused by insufficient vetting that malicious and fraudulent actors could exploit to enter the United States, which posed an unacceptable level of risk to the United States. DHS is prioritizing the safety, security, and financial and economic well-being of Americans. A Federal Register notice explains how the termination of the FRP programs will be administered. If an alien was paroled in the United States under the FRP programs and their parole has not yet expired on Jan. 14, 2026, it will terminate on that date unless the alien has a pending Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status , that is postmarked or electronically filed on or before Dec. 15, 2025, and is still pending on Jan. 14, 2026. If the alien has a pending Form I-485, their parole will remain valid until either their period of parole expires or we make a final decision on their pending Form I-485, whichever is sooner. If we deny their Form I-485, their period of parole will be terminated, and they should depart the United States immediately. When we terminate an alien’s period of parole under the FRP programs, we also will revoke their employment authorization based on that parole. We will notify each alien individually that DHS is terminating their parole period and revoking their employment authorization. Aliens who do not have a lawful basis to stay in the United States after termination of the FRP programs must depart the United States before their parole termination date. These aliens should use the CBP Home app to report their intent to depart the United States. Incentives such as an exit bonus, financial and travel document assistance, and forgiveness of civil fines are available to qualifying aliens. See DHS’s CBP Home webpage for more information. Last Reviewed/Updated: 12/12/2025 https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/dhs-ends-the-abuse-of-the-humanitarian-parole-process-and-terminates-family-reunification-parole

I-140G, Immigrant Petition for the Gold Card Program

10 December 2025
Use this form to petition for an immigrant visa under the Gold Card program established by Executive Order 14351, The Gold Card . Forms and Document Downloads Form I-140G (PDF, 958.27 KB) Instructions for Form I-140G (PDF, 295.78 KB) Last Reviewed/Updated: 12/10/2025 https://www.uscis.gov/i-140g

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Establishes New Center to Strengthen Immigration Screening and Target Bad Actors

5 December 2025
Release Date 12/05/2025 New vetting center will focus on powerful screening resources to keep America safe WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the establishment of a specialized unit to strengthen the ability of America’s immigration system to screen out terrorists, criminal aliens, and other foreign nationals who pose potential threats to public safety or who have committed fraud or other crimes. Once fully operationalized, the USCIS Vetting Center, headquartered in Atlanta, will centralize the enhanced vetting of aliens and allow the agency to respond more nimbly to changes in a shifting threat landscape. “USCIS’ role in the nation’s immigration system has never been more critical. In the wake of several recent incidents of violence, including a foreign national attacking National Guard service members on U.S. soil, establishing this vetting center will give us more enhanced capabilities to safeguard national security and ensure public safety,” said USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow. “Under the Biden administration, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services was pushed to expedite the immigration and naturalization processes with little regard for how that affected national security and the safety of our communities,” said Edlow. “We changed that approach on day one of the Trump administration. Under President Trump, we are building more protective measures that ensure fraud, deception, and threats do not breach the integrity of our immigration system.” Once the new vetting center is fully operational, it will draw on the full spectrum of classified and nonclassified screening and vetting capabilities and provide a more thorough supplemental review of immigration applications and petitions. These reviews will leverage state-of-the-art technologies, including artificial intelligence. The center will utilize Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement and intelligence community screening resources to conduct this critical work and will be tasked with conducting reviews of pending applications as well as a more holistic review of already-approved applications for aliens. Reviews will prioritize applications from presidentially designated countries of concern. This announcement adds to a series of recent efforts that align with presidential Executive Order 14161, Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats . These include the recent implementation of national security measures allowing for immigration officers to consider negative, country-specific factors (such as a nation’s lack of government-issued identity documents and inability to conduct criminal background checks) when vetting aliens from 19 high-risk countries; the recent pause on affirmative asylum application decisions; record-breaking hiring numbers for new USCIS homeland defenders ; a proposed rule to ensure more robust screening and vetting of certain aliens before extending their employment authorizations; and the establishment of USCIS special agents with law enforcement authority to investigate, arrest, and prosecute immigration violations. For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram , YouTube , Facebook and LinkedIn . https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/us-citizenship-and-immigration-services-establishes-new-center-to-strengthen-immigration-screening Last Reviewed/Updated: 12/05/2025

USCIS Increases Screening, Vetting of Aliens Working in U.S.

4 December 2025
Release Date 12/04/2025 Maximum validity periods of some Employment Authorization Documents will be reduced WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its Policy Manual to reduce the maximum validity period for Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) for certain categories of aliens. This update also incorporates changes to EAD validity periods made by recent legislation to ensure proper vetting and screening of aliens. The reduced maximum validity periods for certain categories will result in more frequent vetting of aliens who apply for authorization to work in the United States. Vetting an alien more often will enable USCIS to deter fraud and detect aliens with potentially harmful intent so they can be processed for removal from the United States. “Reducing the maximum validity period for employment authorization will ensure that those seeking to work in the United States do not threaten public safety or promote harmful anti-American ideologies. After the attack on National Guard service members in our nation’s capital by an alien who was admitted into this country by the previous administration, it’s even more clear that USCIS must conduct frequent vetting of aliens.” said Director Joseph Edlow. The maximum validity period for initial and renewal EADs will be changed from 5 years back to 18 months for several categories of aliens: Aliens admitted as refugees; Aliens granted asylum; Aliens granted withholding of deportation or removal; Aliens with pending applications for asylum or withholding of removal; Aliens with pending applications for adjustment of status under INA 245; and Aliens with pending applications for suspension of deportation, cancellation of removal, or relief under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act. This change affects aliens with applications for employment authorization that are pending or filed on or after Dec. 5, 2025, and based on any of the above categories. As required by H.R. 1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Public Law 119-21, 139 Stat. 72, (H.R. 1), signed into law on July 4, 2025, the validity period for initial and renewal employment authorization documents will be one year or the end date of the authorized parole period or duration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), whichever is shorter for the following categories: Aliens paroled as refugees; Aliens granted TPS; Aliens granted parole; Aliens with a pending TPS application; and Alien spouse of entrepreneur parole. On July 22, 2025, USCIS published a Federal Register notice and issued an announced implementation of H.R. 1 . These validity period requirements apply to any Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, pending or filed on or after July 22, 2025. For more information on applications for employment authorization, visit our Employment Authorization Document page . For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram , YouTube , Facebook and LinkedIn . https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-increases-screening-vetting-of-aliens-working-in-us  Last Reviewed/Updated: 12/04/2025

USCIS Implements Additional National Security Measures in the Wake of National Guard Shooting by Afghan National

27 November 2025
Release Date 11/27/2025 USCIS will consider relevant country-specific factors when using its broad discretionary authorities regarding aliens from 19 high-risk countries after halting refugee resettlement from Afghanistan and the entry of Afghan nationals in the first year of the Trump administration. WASHINGTON — In the wake of the shooting of two National Guard service members in Washington, D.C., Wednesday by an Afghan national, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued new guidance allowing for negative, country-specific factors to be considered when vetting aliens from 19 high-risk countries . This guidance comes after the Trump administration halted refugee resettlement from Afghanistan and the entry of Afghan nationals in its first year of office. “My primary responsibility is to ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible,” said USCIS Director Joseph Edlow. “This includes an assessment of where they are coming from and why. Yesterday’s horrific events make it abundantly clear the Biden administration spent the last four years dismantling basic vetting and screening standards, prioritizing the rapid resettlement of aliens from high-risk countries over the safety of American citizens. The Trump administration takes the opposite approach. Effective immediately, I am issuing new policy guidance that authorizes USCIS officers to consider country-specific factors as significant negative factors when reviewing immigration requests. American lives come first.” The updated guidance, including consideration of country-specific factors such as a country’s ability to issue secure identity documents, will further strengthen USCIS’ implementation of President Trump’s Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10949, Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats . It will allow USCIS officers to more meaningfully assess whether an alien is a threat to public safety and national security. This policy guidance is effective immediately and applies to requests pending or filed on or after Nov. 27, 2025. For more information, see the USCIS Policy Alert . For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram , YouTube , Facebook and LinkedIn . https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-implements-additional-national-security-measures-in-the-wake-of-national-guard-shooting-by  Last Reviewed/Updated: 11/27/2025

DHS Terminates Temporary Protected Status for Haiti

26 November 2025
Release Date 11/26/2025 The Department of Homeland Security today posted a Federal Register notice on the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti. After consulting with interagency partners, Secretary Noem concluded that Haiti no longer meets the statutory requirements for TPS. This decision was based on a review conducted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, input from relevant U.S. government agencies, and an analysis indicating that allowing Haitian nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is inconsistent with U.S. national interests. The termination of the Haiti Temporary Protected Status designation is effective February 3, 2026. If you are an alien who is currently a beneficiary of TPS for Haiti, you should prepare to depart if you have no other lawful basis for remaining in the United States. You can use the CBP Home mobile application to report your departure from the United States. This secure and convenient self-deportation process includes a complimentary plane ticket, a $1,000 exit bonus, and potential future opportunities for legal immigration to the United States.  Find more information about TPS at uscis.gov/tps . For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram , YouTube , Facebook and LinkedIn . Last Reviewed/Updated: 11/26/2025 https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/dhs-terminates-temporary-protected-status-for-haiti

Prepare for the Naturalization Interview and Test

26 November 2025
https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/resources-for-educational-programs/prepare-for-the-naturalization-interview-and-test

Upcoming Teacher Trainings

26 November 2025
USCIS offers free training seminars designed to enhance the skills needed to teach U.S. history, civics, and the naturalization process to immigrant students. These skills will help educators, volunteers, and organizations offer a comprehensive adult citizenship program. USCIS does not certify teachers or adult citizenship programs. What Will I Learn? Learn more about what USCIS offers at training events. Frequently Asked Questions Find answers to commonly-asked questions about the training seminars. How Do I Register for a Webinar Training? Use our online registration portal . If you do not receive a confirmation email from us within 5-7 business days of registering, or are unable to submit your registration, please email the Office of Citizenship . To request special accommodations, email the Office of Citizenship 45 days before the training event. Be sure to also check out our past training events . Sign up to receive Citizenship Resource Center email updates. https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/resources-for-educational-programs/register-for-training

USCIS Announces FY 2026 Inflation Increase for Certain Immigration-Related Fees

20 November 2025
Release Date 11/20/2025 We have issued a Federal Register notice that will increase certain H.R. 1 immigration-related fees for fiscal year (FY) 2026. These fee adjustments reflect the amount of inflation from July 2024 through July 2025. On July 22, we published a Federal Register notice announcing the implementation of these H.R. 1 immigration-related fees. Beginning in FY 2026, and continuing for each subsequent fiscal year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will adjust some of these fees for inflation, as specified in H.R. 1. The new inflationary-adjusted fees are effective on Jan. 1, 2026. If you submit a benefit request postmarked on or after Jan. 1, 2026, that requires one of these HR-1 fees, you must include the new fee for the specific benefit you are requesting. The fees that are increasing due to this Federal Register notice are listed in the table below.

DHS Terminating Temporary Protected Status for Burma

14 November 2025
Release Date 11/24/2025 Burma has made notable progress in governance and stability WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burma (Myanmar). The termination will be effective on Jan 26, 2026. At least 60 days before a TPS designation expires, the secretary, after consultation with appropriate U.S. government agencies, is required to review the conditions in a country designated for TPS to determine whether the conditions supporting the designation continue to be met, and, if so, how long to extend the designation. If the Secretary determines that the conditions in the foreign state continue to meet the specific statutory criteria for Temporary Protected Status designation, Temporary Protected Status will be extended for an additional period of 6 months or, in the Secretary’s discretion, 12 or 18 months. If the Secretary determines that the foreign state no longer meets the conditions for Temporary Protected Status designation, the Secretary must terminate the designation. “This decision restores TPS to its original status as temporary,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “The situation in Burma has improved enough that it is safe for Burmese citizens to return home, so we are terminating the Temporary Protected Status. Burma has made notable progress in governance and stability, including the end of its state of emergency, plans for free and fair elections, successful ceasefire agreements, and improved local governance contributing to enhanced public service delivery and national reconciliation.” After conferring with interagency partners, Secretary Noem determined that conditions in Burma no longer meet the TPS statutory requirements. The Secretary’s decision was based on a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services review of the conditions in Burma and in consultation with the Department of State. The Secretary determined that, overall, country conditions have improved to the point where Burmese citizens can return home in safety. She further determined that permitting Burmese nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the national interest of the United States. Burmese nationals returning home are encouraged to use the U.S. Customs and Border Protection CBP Home app to report their departure from the United States. https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-terminating-temporary-protected-status-for-burma Last Reviewed/Updated: 11/24/2025