USCIS will Require Medical Exam and Immunization Record for Certain Applicants to be Submitted Along with Green Card Application
This change seeks to streamline the immigration process and reduce the amount of additional evidence requested before adjudicating Form I-485The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that, starting in December, certain applicants for a green card or permanent residence must include their medical exam and vaccination records along with Form I-485 for adjustment of status. Otherwise, the request will be denied.
“We now require certain applicants filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to file Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, or else we will reject Form I-485,” the agency warned. Applicants for adjustment of status generally must complete an immigration medical examination, receive all required vaccinations, and submit a duly completed Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon to demonstrate that they do not have medical conditions that would make them inadmissible under health-related grounds. “If you are required to file Form I-693 or a partial Form I-693 (such as the Immunization Record), you must file it with your Form I-485. Otherwise, we could reject your application. We have revised the Form I-485 instructions to make filing the two forms together mandatory,” USCIS noted. Why this change According to the agency, this change seeks to streamline the immigration process and reduce the amount of additional evidence requested before adjudicating a Form I-485. Previously, the USCIS sent Requests for Evidence, for people to complete essential documents for their immigration process, which generated a significant workload, so it has made adjustments in processes, extended the validity of some documents and now requires information to be completed from the beginning of any immigration process. Validity of the medical report The agency advised that, as of April 4, 2024, any Form I-693 that was properly completed and signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, will not expire. “You may use it indefinitely as evidence to show that you are not inadmissible on health-related grounds,” the agency said. How to avoid mistakes To avoid mistakes, experts recommend consulting with an immigration attorney, or an organization accredited by Immigration to provide immigration services, before submitting any application to USCIS. Who must submit the medical report According to the USCIS, medical examination and vaccination requirements vary depending on the immigration benefit the person is seeking. Most applicants subject to medical grounds of inadmissibility must undergo a medical examination to determine their admissibility. Some applicants, however, do not need to undergo a medical examination unless there is a specific concern. Nonimmigrants, for example, are in this category. Even if the applicant is not subject to health-related grounds of inadmissibility, the officer may order a medical examination as a matter of discretion if the evidence indicates that there may be a public health concern. This could apply, for example, when an officer adjudicates a request for parole. “In general, an immigration officer may order a medical examination of an applicant at any time, if the officer is concerned that the applicant may be medically inadmissible. This rule applies regardless of the type of immigration benefit sought, or whether the applicant is applying for a visa, seeking entry to a U.S. port of entry, or is already in the United States,” the agency explains. Categories of benefits that may require medical report and immunizations A table in the USCIS website highlights the immigration benefits that require a medical report and vaccinations, and whether a civil surgeon or panel doctor must perform it. Among the benefits required by both reports are: • Immigrant visa applicants who apply to the U.S. Department of State (DOS) for example: petition for an immediate relative, petition for a spouse, petition for a fiancé, work-based applications, adoption of an orphaned relative, religious workers, among others. • Applicants for adjustment of status such as: immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, through refugee or asylee status, victims of crimes or human trafficking with a U Visa or T Visa, among others. Where to Find a Civil Doctor You can find detailed information on the USCIS website about the civil surgeons designated to perform medical exams and vaccinations and where to find a civil surgeon in your area. |