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Overview
To ensure that immigrants coming to the United States are not inadmissible due to health reasons, applicants are required to submit a report of an immigration medical examination to USCIS. More specifically, it is aimed at anyone applying for adjustment of status, Immigrant visa, K and V non-immigrant (temporary) visa, Refugee adjustment, or asylee adjustment. To meet this requirement, applicants must fill out form I-693 by completing a medical exam. However, there has been some recent changes with respect to the requirements. Since May 6st 2024, USCIS now requires that all applicants over the age of two months show proof of polio vaccination for I-693 exams completed on or after March 1st, 2024. As for COVID vaccines, applicants who have received a full primary vaccines series before their I-693 exam are not required to receive additional doses as long as the vaccines were FDA approved or authorized for emergency use. However, if an applicant has not been vaccinated yet, they must do so in order to fully complete their exam. Once applicants complete their exams, and if it was completed on or after November 1st, 2023, it will never expire and can be used indefinitely as evidence of not being inadmissible on health-related grounds. However, if an applicant has completed their exam prior to November 1st, 2023, the two year-validity period will be enforced. More details on the validity policy can be found on the USCIS website. Exams must be completed and signed by a civil surgeon, as exams cannot be completed by other healthcare professionals and doctors that have not been certified by the U.S. government as a civil surgeon. To find a list of civil surgeons, the Recharge Medical Clinic has provided a helpful guide on their website.
Prepping for the I-693 Exam
Before completing the I-693 exam, applicants are advised to bring some records with them to ensure a smooth appointment. First, applicants should bring a hard copy of their vaccination records from an official clinic or from a government health authority. Records must include name and date of birth on each page, as well as the name and dates of the required vaccines. If the records are from another country, USCIS will still accept those as long as they are translated if they are not originally in English (translations do not have to be certified). If an applicant does not have some/any of their vaccinations records on hand, they can receive booster vaccines for any vaccines that they cannot provide written proof of. Blood tests are also a good option to show for immunity from previous vaccines. Lab test results may also be provided to demonstrate immunity for some vaccines that an applicant might not have records for (i.e. MMR, varicella, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B) provided that they are official lab reports that clearly show the applicant’s name, test name, results, and the date of specimen collection. If an applicant has had a positive TB blood test in the past, they will have to provide documentation of this test, as well as up to date chest X-rays and documentation of treatment. If an applicant has had a positive syphilis test in the past, they will need to bring documentation of their most recent rapid plasma reagin (aka RPR) tests and documentation of treatment. Lastly, applicants will need to bring a government-issued photo ID showing their legal names. If an applicant has changed their name, they will need to bring documentation for this as well.
Finally, for information on what to expect on the day of the exam, the Recharge Medical Clinic has a quick guide on their website that provides additional preparations steps applicants should follow to ensure a smooth appointment.
What to expect after the exam
After their exams, applicants should be on the lookout for any follow up emails from their civil surgeons in case they may be missing a vaccine or other tests/treatments, or if they need to follow any other additional steps based on their exams and results. Both the applicant and the civil surgeons (as well as translators and preparers that have assisted in providing documentation) need to include wet signatures before the I-693 documents are sealed and sent off to USCIS, and applicants will also have the option to receive a copy of their I-693 to see what has been reported. After the envelope has been sealed, it should not be opened or tempered with as USCIS will not accept the documents otherwise. Applicants will then either mail the I-693 directly to USCIS, or have their legal representatives do so.
Contact Wilson Immigration today for help with your immigration application: 415-527-5886.