Acceptance of Foreign Vaccination Records

USCIS and civil surgeons generally accept vaccination records from foreign countries as evidence of prior vaccination. The key requirement is that the records must be sufficiently detailed to allow the civil surgeon to verify the vaccines received. Foreign records are evaluated on the same basis as domestic records — the civil surgeon needs to confirm the vaccine name, date administered, and administering provider.

What Information Must Be on Foreign Records

To be accepted, foreign vaccination records should include the following information:

• Name of the vaccine (or disease protected against)
• Date each dose was administered
• Name and contact information of the administering healthcare provider or clinic
• Lot number (if available)
• Number of doses received (for multi-dose vaccines)

Translation Requirements

If your vaccination records are in a language other than English, they will generally need to be translated before the civil surgeon can evaluate them. A certified translation is preferred, though the civil surgeon may accept a competent translation in some circumstances.

Plan ahead for translation — obtaining a certified translation can take time and may involve cost. Contact our office before your appointment if you have foreign-language records so we can advise you on the translation process.

Evaluating Foreign Vaccine Equivalents

Some vaccines administered in other countries may have different names or formulations than their U.S. equivalents. The civil surgeon will evaluate whether a foreign vaccine is equivalent to the ACIP-recommended vaccine for immigration purposes. For example, combination vaccines that include MMR components, or polio vaccines administered as OPV rather than IPV, are generally accepted. If there is uncertainty about a foreign vaccine's equivalence, the civil surgeon may recommend titer testing or re-vaccination.

What to Do If Your Foreign Records Are Incomplete

If your foreign vaccination records are incomplete or missing, the same options available to all applicants apply: attempt to obtain replacement records from your country of origin, undergo titer testing to demonstrate immunity, or receive the missing vaccines. Our civil surgeon will work with you to determine the most efficient path forward based on your specific situation.