A Complete Guide to Immigration Medical Exam

The immigration medical exam can be annoying when applying for a green card in the US. Additionally, it's unavoidable. As per the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), all immigrants are required to go through a medical exam to make their case.

The process for becoming a green card holder in the US is usually hectic and time taking. So, one can quickly get confused regarding the immigration medical exam. But don't worry; here's all the relevant information you'll need regarding the mentioned topic.

We have scraped thousands of information pieces for your guidance. So, without further due, let's dive right into the topic. So, here starts our complete guide to immigration medical exam encounters.

The Immigration Medical Exam

The immigration medical exam ensures that you don't have any threatening medical condition that deems you inadmissible to the United States of America. It is mandatory to take this exam when applying for permanent residence. A government-designated doctor administers the immigration medical exam:

Usually, the immigration medical exam consists of the following tests:

• A physical evaluation.
• A mental evaluation.
• Immigration medical exam drug test and Alcohol screening.
• Medical history review.
• Immunisation records review.
• Tests for several other diseases.
• X-Ray Tests and Blood Tests.
• Checking for required immigration medical exam vaccination, as stipulated by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)

In short, all the required tests are done to identify applicants who may have prohibited health conditions as specified by the USCIS.

Does Everyone Need to Take the Medical Exam for Immigration USCIS?

If you're wondering whether you need to take the immigration medical exam, here's your answer. Yes, you need to take this exam if you fall in the following domains:

Immigrants: If you're moving permanently to the United States of America.

Refugees: If you have been forced to leave your country to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.

Status Adjusters: If you currently live in the US and wish to apply for permanent residence without having to move back to your home country, complete the procedure.

If you lack in the area, whether you're eligible to apply for a green card, then don't worry, as we've got you covered. You can apply for lawful permanent residency in the US based on the following:

• Blood relationships or family relationships.
• Diversity lottery.
• Humanitarian reasons.
• Investment reasons.
• Employment.

No matter your reason, if you're applying for a green card, you must take the immigration medical exam.

Is The Immigration Medical Exam Same as A Regular One?

An important thing to note here is that the immigration physical exam is not like a regular one. In a regular one, you are subjected to a thorough scan. A registered physician performs a detailed check-up on you, looking for any symptoms of any diseases.

On the other hand, the immigration medical exam is a specified one. The concerned civil surgeon only performs specific tests that are in the equation. In other words, the doctor will only perform examinations related to US immigration laws. So, you can't treat the immigration physical exam as a substitution for your daily medical check-up.

What is Form i693?

Form i693 is a documented result of the immigration medical exam. It is submitted to USCIS as proof and a result of the immigration medical exam. The civil surgeon fills up the medical exam for the immigration form (i693), so you don't need to worry about what will be on the form.

In some countries, the registered physician sends Form i693 directly to the USCIS. If that's the case, ensure that your physician fills out the form accurately. Another option is that the panel physician will give the results to you in a sealed envelope.

Ensure you don't open or tamper with the envelope at any cost. The USCIS will not accept such documents, and you'll undoubtedly be rejected. If you're going with the second option, a helpful tip is to secure a copy of the completed Form i693 as a future reference. That way, the sealed envelope won't be your only source of verification.

Which Vaccines Are Required for the Immigration Medical Exam?

If you are learning from scratch, it's essential to know the vaccinations checked during the medical exam for immigration USCIS. Many different vaccines might need. However, if you are just wondering, "What vaccines do I need for immigration medical exam?". So, for your ease, there is a list of vaccines against vaccine-preventable diseases.

This list doesn't depend on factors like age, gender, or applicant type. Every green card applicant must be vaccinated against the following list of diseases:

• Measles
• Mumps
• Polio
• COVID-19
• Pertussis
• Rubella
• Tetanus
• Diphtheria Toxoids
• Haemophilus Influenza Type B
• Rotavirus
• Meningococcal disease
• Pneumococcal pneumonia
• Influenza

Due to the global stigma regarding COVID-19, the USCIS may reject you if there's any issue with your COVID vaccination. The problems include wrong vaccination, vaccine availability, and vaccination delay due to scarcity.

A valuable point to note here is that only one vaccination dose is required for most vaccinations containing multiple dosages. However, COVID-19 vaccination needs to be entirely administered and verified by the concerned physician.

Who Conducts an Immigration Physical Exam?

Any ordinary doctor can't approve you for an immigration medical exam. Therefore, USCIS authorizes specific immigration medical exam doctors who can only be consulted while applying.

For the immigration medical examination being conducted off the US radar, DOS approves a panel of physicians authorized to approve or disapprove an applicant. For your ease, USCIS provides an option to search for any approved physician near you.

Overall Requirements for the Immigration Physical Exam

We've only discussed the medical immigration exam and the medical exam for the immigration form (i693). But what about the other requirements needed to clear the exam? Don't worry; we've all the relevant information you'll need.

Remember that the required documents may vary depending on your country and the necessary level of authentication. That's why this list is not final and can be dynamic. However, here are the general requirements for this exam.

Form i693: Form i693, as explained earlier, is a result card of your medical report in the context of immigration needs. It's a crucial part of the approval of the immigration medical exam.

ID: A government-issued ID picture for applicants more than 14 years of age. A government-issued document with their full name and relevant details is required for teens and kids under the mentioned age mark.

Immunization Record: An immunization record, also known as a vaccination record, shows all vaccination records in a single file. The type of document may change depending on your country and region.

Medical Insurance Card: This card will be provided once you get accepted by the selected doctor.

How Can You Fail an Immigration Medical Exam?

For some countries, especially the United States of America, an immigration physical exam is rather sensitive. Depending on the credibility of your report, it can be dismissed for several reasons. So, what do they check in an immigration medical exam that can fail you?

• Infectious Diseases
• Physical or mental disorders that may harm US society.
• Substance abuse or Drug test for immigration medical exam.
• Vaccination authenticity.

In other words, any disease needing a quarantine can fail your medical exam for immigration USCIS. Also, the disorders that fall in the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) category, as per the World Health Organization (WHO), can be the reason for your disapproval.

Here are several well-known diseases from that list to take a quick look at:

• Smallpox
• Pandemic Influenza
• SARS
• Polio
• COVID-19

All the conditions mentioned above are classified as tier-A medical conditions. There's more to the story.

Tier-B medical conditions are ones with little harm chances. These include light mental or physical conditions and other disabilities. An applicant is not dismissed based on these, but it can weaken your case and be the grounds for further reasons of inadmissibility.

Preventive Preparation for Your USCIS Medical Examination

Considering its delicacy, it is best to be prepared beforehand regarding your immigration physical exam. Like any other examination, this one also needs your focus and attention. So, gather yourself and start checking off the following list of tasks for the best preparation possible.

• Prepare a fully documented copy of your medical history.
• Organize and document your vaccination and immunization records.
• Collect your latest copy of chest X-ray scans or other scans.
• Consult your daily doctor for a regular medical check-up.
• If you have a medical condition, start on a treatment plan ASAP.
• Government-issued verified ID that has a clear and latest picture of you.
• Keep funds for your USCIS medical exam.

How much does an immigration medical exam cost? There's no justified amount for immigration medical exam cost. The fees may vary depending on your region and currency. So, it's best to keep some extra cash on you.

However, different certified physicians offer these check-ups, and their fees may also vary. For example, the physicians at the Aziz Medical Center give a $20 discount on their price-matching policy.

There's much more to know if you're wondering, "Does insurance cover immigration medical exams?". Here's your answer; Health insurance cards may be applied to monetarily protect your wallet from damages. So, check for such cards or vouchers beforehand.

Further Referrals by Your Physician

It's common in the medical exam for immigration USCIS for your physician to refer you to further tests through assessment. That's why you should mentally be ready to tackle such a situation. Don't worry, as the doctor will guide you on which test you should undergo.

It won't affect your US immigration medical exam. Instead, it'll just take up your time. So, it is nothing major to worry about.

How Long Will an Immigration Medical Exam Stay Valid?

One of the most commonly asked questions is how long will your immigration medical exam clearance stay valid. If you have just come to the US and have cleared your immigration medical exam in your home country, then there won't be any need to redo the examination.

Also, you can apply for i485 (green card application) within one year of your immigration medical exam.

In another case, if a panel physician hasn't found any tier-A health risks in your examination, you're good to go, and you won't need to retake the exam in the US. On the other hand, if you have the symptoms of any severe disease, you may be subjected to retake the US immigration medical exam.

An important point to note here is that compliance with vaccination requirements is a must when applying for a green card in the US.

Is There a Best Time to Complete the Immigration Medical Exam USCIS?

If you're just reading about it, you may wonder if there's a strategy to apply at the right time of the year to land i485 approval easily. The answer is Yes; like everything, there's an appropriate time window to apply for the immigration medical exam.

It is known that submitting the medical exam for immigration form (i693) is necessary to approve your green card application. But the interesting fact here is that the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) won't reject your application if it doesn't receive your US immigration medical exam report.

So, you can use the time window between both of your application filings to make the best use of your available time. Here's how you can do it.

Best Way to Complete the USCIS Medical Exam

An immigration medical exam form (i693) will stay valid for nearly two years once the civil surgeon signs it. So, there are two main options. You can clear your exam at the initial phase of your green card application or anytime within a 2-year window.

Please note that USCIS handles a wide range of cases throughout the year. So, it'll be good if you move both applications simultaneously. However, it'll be best to consult your lawyer regarding the most suitable action for your case.

Aziz Medical Center | The Best Solution for Your Immigration Medical Exam

As mentioned above, getting your immigration medical exam cleared can be a hectic and time-taking process. It can cost many person-hours and cause disastrous problems in becoming a permanent residence (PR) holder. But don’t worry! We have the best solution for you.

Aziz Medical Center is the best option in this regard, as it offers complete verification of the USCIS form and quick completion of Form i693 without causing any trouble in your PR application. In addition, with experienced, well-trained staff, Aziz Medical Center (AMC) will ensure that you get the most-appropriate immunization to receive your immigration medical exam clearance quickly.

Aziz Medical Center has over thirteen years of experience in immigration medical examinations. It offers relevant medical test services like Syphilis Blood Tests and TB skin tests necessary for clearing the immigration medical. So, what’re you waiting for? Schedule an appointment with Aziz Medical Center, and let us take care of all your immigration medical exam problems.