Medical Examinations Now Required with Initial Adjustment of Status Filings

When you apply for adjustment of status (i.e., apply for a green card), you are required to prove that you do not pose a health risk to the United States. As part of that requirement, you must submit a certification from a designated civil surgeon that you have received vaccinations against communicable diseases. The civil surgeon completes the certification on Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.

Background on Form I-693

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we recommended that our clients bring their completed Form I-693 to their adjustment of status interview. At that time, a completed Form I-693 was valid for one year. Therefore, if submitted with the initial application, there was a strong possibility that it would expire before the application was approved. During the pandemic, USCIS extended the validity of a completed Form I-693 to two years, then to four years. In April 2024, USCIS announced that any Form I-693 completed on or after November 1, 2023 does not expire.

How We Have Advised Our Clients

Since USCIS first extended the validity of Form I-693, we recommended that our clients undergo the medical examination before we filed the adjustment application so that we could include Form I-693 with the initial filing. As a result, many of our clients’ applications were approved without an interview.

New USCIS Policy

Today, USCIS has made that procedure mandatory. All applicants for adjustment of status must now submit a completed Form I-693 along with their applications.

CLICK HERE to read the full USCIS policy announcement.