Immigration medical exam is a compulsory series of tests taken by green card applicants or those seeking adjustment of their status to permanent residence or certain non immigrant visas and asylees.
Civil surgeons conduct immigration medical exam. These Civil Surgeons must be approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS. In addition, they must comply with the instructions of the centre for disease control, CDC for conducting the medical examination.
The purpose of the examination is to know whether the applicant is admissible to the United States or not on the grounds of Public Health and Safety. The immigration medical exam clearance requirements include clearing a series of tests, mental evaluation and getting vaccinated. These results are recorded by the civil surgeon on the i693 form which is signed by the civil surgeon after you complete the examination and is sealed in an envelope along with other test reports. If the seal is broken, envelope appears to be tampered with or name and other contact details are misspelled, the results are instantly rejected. Make sure the sealed envelope is intact and delivered to the USCIS within a week’s time.
The first test that you need to clear is that of Tuberculosis. Tuberculin skin test is conducted. The results usually take 48-72 hours to display and the rest of the test is conducted after that. Chest X rays are not required if the applicant also done to determine as to what extent the TB has affected the applicant.
The TB tests are followed by Serologic test for Syphilis. This test is conducted for only those who are 15 years or older. Once the Serologic tests are done, Communicable diseases are checked for including Gonorrhea, Leprosy, Chancroid and others that are of Public Health Significance. A thorough examination of your body including eyes, ears, nose, throat, lymph nodes, lungs, heart and external genitals are checked.
After the serologic tests, drug abuse and drug addiction are checked for. The doctor asks a series of questions to check for this and carefully evaluates your medical history. It is also important to list down any chronic conditions that you may be suffering from including diabetes, hypertension etc.
The last stage is vaccination. According to the instructions issued by the CDC, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccinations are administered for diseases that can spread and create an epidemic including Mumps, Measles, Rubella, Polio, Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids, Pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type B, Hepatitis B and any other vaccine-preventable diseases recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, ACIP.
If you have been vaccinated before carry the proof of your vaccinations from your health care provider so you are not re-vaccinated. The vaccines are age appropriate and certain vaccines are not given to pregnant women. If you are allergic to a vaccine, it will be marked contraindicated in the form.
Once the tests are done, the doctor seals the results and you’re good to go and deliver the results to the USCIS. Then, start preparing for the next set of tests.
