Emergency Approval Letter

United States Department of State
Washington, D. C. 20520

December 14,2021
Sharon Block, Acting Administrator
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Office of Management and Budget
Dear Administrator Block,
The Department of State requests OMB emergency processing of proposed revisions to the DS3025, Vaccine Documentation Worksheet, and DS-7794, Electronic Medical Examination for Visa
Applicant, pursuant to the process established in 5 CFR 1320.13.
Under Section 212(a)(1)(A)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), individuals are
ineligible for immigrant visas unless they have been inoculated for vaccine-preventable diseases
recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices. Refugees, immigrant
visa applicants and certain nonimmigrant visa applicants must complete a medical examination
before a panel physician before a consular officer may issue the visa. The Department of State
(the Department) implements this through various forms that make up two information
collections: DS-2054, DS-3030, DS-3025, DS-3026 (OMB Control No. 1405-0113) and DS7794 (OMB Control No. 1405-0230): Electronic Medical Examination for Visa Applicant.
On August 16,2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the
Technical Instructions for Panel Physicians (TIs) to include SARS-CoV-2 ("COVID-19") on the
list of vaccinations required for noncitizens subject to medical examinations effective October 1,
2021. During a medical examination, the panel physician verifies inoculation, provides
additional required vaccines at cost to the applicant, or may waive a vaccine for various reasons
including when the required vaccine is not routinely available in the country. In response to this
requirement, the Department is proposing amending the DS-3025, Vaccination Documentation
Worksheet and DS-7794, Electronic Medical Examination for Visa Applicant, to allow
implementation of these TIs by instructing panel physicians to ask whether an applicant has
received a COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with CDC guidelines. The applicant's vaccination
status will be recorded under a new "COVID-19" box on the respective forms. In the event that
the eMedical portal cannot be amended by December 23,2021, panel physicians will temporarily
record COVID-19 vaccine status in the existing "other" field on DS-7794.
Vaccination requirements for immigrant visa applicants is governed by INA 212(a)(1)(A)(ii).
Pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.13, the Department of State has determined that this collection is needed
prior to the expiration of periods normally associated with a routine submission for review under
the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, that this information collection is essential to the
mission of the Department of State, and that public harm is reasonably likely to result if normal
clearance procedures are followed. Revising the DS-3025 and DS-7794 to collect COVID-19
vaccine information is necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to the United States. The

UNCLASSIFIED
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current pandemic of Corona virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been determined by the World
Health Organization (WHO) to be a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)
under the International Health Regulations. COVID-19 meets the definition of a quarantinable
communicable disease under 42 USC 264 and Executive Order 13295, as amended by Executive
Order 13375 and 13674. Specifically, COVID-19 meets the definition of severe acute respiratory
syndromes as specified by Presidential Executive Order 13674 (issued July 31, 2014), thus
making it a Class A Inadmissible Condition.
Were the Department of not to collect this information, it could result in the granting of visas to
individuals who would be inadmissible under INA 212(a)(I)(A)(ii). By collecting COVID-19
vaccination information in accordance with the amended CDC TIs, and providing it where
available, the Department will be able to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission and this
harm will be minimized.
Therefore, the Department requests emergency OMB processing and approval for this revised
information collection as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

s,Ji)

ug
cting Assistant Secretary,
Bureau of Consular Affairs,
Department of State