The cost of immigration vaccines is one of the most unpredictable parts of the green card medical exam. The base exam fee is fixed, but the vaccine cost depends entirely on which vaccines you are missing when you arrive. Some applicants pay nothing extra. Others pay several hundred dollars on top of the exam. The difference comes down to preparation.
If you are in the Tampa Bay area, you can book your immigration exam appointment in Tampa at Medical Exams of Tampa. The base exam is $270 for adults and $220 for children and does not include vaccinations. Vaccines are administered at the clinic at an additional cost, or you can choose to get them at your preferred pharmacy before your appointment.
Why USCIS does not set vaccine prices
USCIS does not regulate what civil surgeons charge for vaccinations. Each office sets its own prices. This is why the total cost of an immigration medical exam varies so widely between providers. The only way to know the exact vaccine cost at a specific office is to call and ask before booking. USCIS explicitly recommends calling several civil surgeons to compare fees before scheduling.
One thing that does not vary is which vaccines are required. That list is set by the CDC and applies to every civil surgeon in the country.
Which vaccines are required for immigration
The required vaccines fall into two categories: those required by federal statute and those required by CDC recommendation.
Vaccines required by statute: mumps, measles, rubella (MMR), polio, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, pertussis (together with tetanus as Tdap), Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), and hepatitis B.
Vaccines required by CDC recommendation: varicella, hepatitis A, meningococcal, pneumococcal, rotavirus, and seasonal influenza. The flu vaccine is only required if your exam takes place between October 1 and March 31.
The COVID-19 vaccine was removed from the required list as of January 20, 2025. No documentation of COVID-19 vaccination is required for any adjustment of status application pending on or after that date.
Not all vaccines apply to all ages. The civil surgeon uses an age-based chart to determine which vaccines are appropriate for you. A healthy adult with complete vaccination records may only need one or two vaccines. A child or an applicant with no prior immunization history may need several.
What vaccines actually cost at a civil surgeon office
Individual vaccine prices at civil surgeon offices typically range from $20 to $150 per vaccine, depending on the type and the office. Some of the most commonly needed vaccines and their approximate market costs:
- Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis): $40 to $80
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella): $70 to $120
- Varicella: $120 to $150
- Hepatitis A (2-dose series): $60 to $90 per dose
- Hepatitis B (3-dose series): $30 to $60 per dose
- Meningococcal: $120 to $150
- Seasonal flu: $20 to $40
These are market ranges, not guaranteed prices. The actual amount you pay depends on the civil surgeon’s fees. Some offices include certain vaccines in their base exam price. Always ask for a complete price list before your appointment.
The single most effective way to reduce your vaccine cost
Bring your complete vaccination records to the appointment. If you have documented proof that you already received a required vaccine, the civil surgeon records it and you pay nothing for that vaccine. The exam fee covers the review of your records. You only pay for vaccines you actually need to receive.
This applies to vaccines received in another country. Foreign vaccination records are accepted as long as they are in hard copy and accompanied by a certified English translation if they are not already in English. The translator must sign a statement confirming the translation is complete and accurate.
If you have lost your vaccination records, contact your previous doctors, public health clinics, schools, or your state health department before your appointment. Many states maintain digital vaccination records that your provider can pull up. Recovering those records before the exam can save you hundreds of dollars.
Getting vaccines at a pharmacy before your exam
You are not required to receive missing vaccines at the civil surgeon’s office. You can get them at a pharmacy before your appointment and bring the documentation. Many applicants find that pharmacy prices for common vaccines (Tdap, flu, hepatitis A or B) are lower than civil surgeon office prices, and some pharmacies accept health insurance for routine immunizations.
One important rule: do not try to get all missing vaccines completed before the exam without checking with the civil surgeon first. Some vaccines require multiple doses in a series with a minimum interval between doses. If the timing is wrong, the doses may not count. Ask the civil surgeon at your appointment which vaccines you need, then complete any series doses at a pharmacy at the correct intervals.
When vaccines can be waived
Not every required vaccine has to be administered in every case. A civil surgeon can mark a vaccine as not medically appropriate if it is not age appropriate for the applicant, if there is a medical contraindication (such as a severe allergy or pregnancy), if there is not enough time to complete a multi-dose series before the application deadline, or if the influenza vaccine is not in season at the time of the exam.
In these cases, USCIS grants a blanket waiver automatically and no separate waiver application is needed. If you have a medical contraindication for a specific vaccine, inform the civil surgeon at your appointment and bring any relevant medical documentation.
Applicants who want to refuse a required vaccine for religious or moral reasons must file a separate waiver using Form I-601. As of March 2025, the filing fee for that form is $905.
What your immigration exam fee actually covers in Tampa
At Medical Exams of Tampa, the $270 adult exam and $220 children’s exam include the physical examination, QuantiFERON-TB Gold blood test, vaccination record review, and the completed, sealed Form I-693. Vaccines administered at the clinic are charged separately. The office stocks the most commonly required vaccines and can administer them at the same appointment. You can also choose to use your local pharmacy for any missing vaccines.
To get a complete price estimate before your visit, call 813-249-0001 or schedule your immigration exam appointment in Tampa and ask about current vaccine pricing when you book.
