Applicants Must Submit I-693 Medical Examination Report with the I-485 Application

 

Today, USCIS announced that it now requires applicants filing Form I-485 (Application to Adjust Status) to submit Form I-693 (Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record) with their Form I-485.   The purpose is to reduce the number of Requests for Evidence (RFEs).  

USCIS is revising the form instructions to reflect this change.  Failure to submit the I-693 report may result in the rejection of the I-485.  

The policy regarding I-693 changes constantly. This announcement represents that latest policy of USCIS.

(Immigration laws and policies change regularly.  If you have any questions regarding this article, please visit www.1visa1.com to schedule a legal consultation.)  

Immigration Medical Exam Valid Indefinitely Under New Policy

 

Recently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released policy guidance that significantly alters the validity period of Form I-693, the Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.

New Policy: Effective April 4, 2024, USCIS has implemented a new policy regarding the validity period of Form I-693: Forms I-693 completed and signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, do not expire. This means that they retain their evidentiary value indefinitely, providing assurance to applicants and streamlining the immigration process.

USCIS collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to arrive at this decision.

Previous Policy: For forms completed before November 1, 2023, the prior policy remains in effect. These forms retain their evidentiary value for two years from the date of the civil surgeon's signature. However, certain exceptions apply, such as those for Operation Allies Welcome parolees.

USCIS Officer Discretion: Despite the validity of Form I-693, USCIS officers have the discretion to request additional evidence or a new medical examination if there are reasons to believe that the applicant's medical condition has changed or if the existing form does not accurately reflect their health status.

(Immigration laws and policies change regularly.  If you have any questions regarding this article, please visit www.1visa1.com to schedule a legal consultation.)  

60-Day Signing Window of Immigration Medical Report Eliminated

 

Doctors no longer have to sign the immigration medical exam report (Form I-693) within 60 days before the related immigration application is filed, according to a new USCIS policy update issued today.  Previously, USCIS required that civil surgeons sign Form I-693 no more than 60 days before the related immigration application or petition is submitted to USCIS. This requirement is eliminated for operational efficiencies and reduction of RFE issuance. 

(Immigration laws and policies change regularly.  If you have any questions regarding this article, please visit www.1visa1.com to schedule a legal consultation.)  

USCIS Temporarily Waives 60-Day Rule for Civil Surgeon Signatures

 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is temporarily waiving the requirement that the civil surgeon (a physician designated by USCIS) sign Form I-693 (“Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record’), within 60 days before submission of the application to register permanent residence or adjust status (Form I-485), until Sept. 30, 2022.

This temporary waiver will benefit many applicants who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and related processing delays, which have sometimes caused delays in completing the immigration medical examination. This temporary waiver allows applicants to submit their underlying applications with a completed Form I-693, even if the civil surgeon signed more than 60 days in advance.  

(Immigration laws and policies change regularly.  If you have any questions regarding this article, please visit www.1visa1.com to schedule legal consultation.) 

Immigration Medical Report Valid for 2 Years

On November 1st, USCIS will start implementing a new policy for Form I-693 with the goal of better aligning its period of validity with case processing times. The Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, is a required document for applying to become a lawful permanent resident. It is a medical report conducted by a civil surgeon (a physician designated by USCIS) and is used by USCIS to determine applicant admissibility on public health grounds.



The changes are as follows:
1) The Form I-693 will have a 2-year validity period instead of the current one-year period.
2) The form must also be signed within 60 days before submission of the application for lawful permanent residence.

USCIS is aiming to reduce the number of incidents where a I-693 medical report becomes outdated before adjudication of the underlying petition is complete. This results in them sending a Request for Evidence (RFE) to request for an updated form I-693, taking up more time and work. This also delays the results of the petition. The new policy targets this inefficiency.

USCIS officers still maintain their discretion to request an updated Form I-693 if they suspect inadmissibility based on health. Inadmissibility based on public health grounds includes not having vaccinations, drug use, disorders associated with harmful behavior, and having certain contagious diseases.