Why Childhood Vaccination Records Matter

Most of the vaccines required for the immigration medical exam are given during childhood. If you received your childhood vaccines in another country, those vaccines can satisfy the USCIS requirements — provided you have documentation and the vaccines meet the dose and interval standards.

Adults who received all required childhood vaccines and have complete records may need only a few additional vaccines (such as annual influenza, Tdap booster, or COVID-19) at their civil surgeon appointment.

What Documentation Is Needed?

To credit childhood vaccines received abroad, the civil surgeon needs documentation that includes:

• The name of each vaccine (or the disease it protects against)
• The date(s) of each dose
• The number of doses received
• The name and credentials of the administering provider or facility
• An official signature, stamp, or certification

Common Childhood Vaccination Records From Abroad

Many countries issue official vaccination booklets or cards to children at birth. These records are maintained throughout childhood and typically document all vaccines received. Common examples include:

• WHO International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card)
• National vaccination booklets (carnet de vaccination, cartilla de vacunación, etc.)
• School health records
• Pediatric clinic records
• Government health authority records

What If Childhood Records Are Incomplete?

If your childhood vaccination records are incomplete or unavailable, the civil surgeon will evaluate your options. For vaccines where titer testing is available (MMR, varicella, hepatitis A, hepatitis B), a positive titer can demonstrate immunity acquired through childhood vaccination or natural infection.

For vaccines where titer testing is not available (Td/Tdap, meningococcal, pneumococcal), you may need to receive catch-up doses if your records do not document a complete series.

Vaccines Commonly Given in Childhood Abroad

Most countries include the following vaccines in their childhood immunization programs, which are equivalent to USCIS-required vaccines:

• BCG (TB) — not required for immigration; does not affect USCIS requirements
• DTP/DTPw/DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) — equivalent to U.S. DTaP/Tdap
• OPV/IPV (polio) — equivalent to U.S. IPV
• MMR or separate measles/mumps/rubella vaccines — equivalent to U.S. MMR
• Hepatitis B — equivalent to U.S. hepatitis B vaccine
• Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) — not required for adults