The U S Immigration procedure stipulates that the applicant for the Green Card visa should go in for the Immigration Medical Examination. The Immigration Medical is one of the final steps in the entire process of availing of the Green Card. Here are some frequently asked questions that revolve around appearing for the exam…
Q: For how much time is the I-693 form valid after the Civil Surgeon certifies it?(The I-693 form is the Medical report to be filed for Adjustment of Status)
A: The Immigration Medical is valid for 1 year from the time it is taken.
It is advised by USCIS to all applicants taking the exam to keep it as close to filing the I-485 as possible. The same applies to the vaccinations too.
Q: What is included in the Immigration Medical?
A: It is up to the designated Civil Surgeon to complete all the required components of the Medical, if the entire exam is required.
The results will be recorded on the form that is called the I-693 form.
Q: What is generally required to be done in the Immigration Medical Exam?
A: 1. Physical Examination: Irrespective of age a physical examination and an evaluation of mental status is required.
2. TB Skin Test: All those applicants who are two years of age or older are required to take the TB skin test that is administered using the Mantoux technique.
After the skin test, the applicant will have to meet the Civil Surgeon within 48 to 72 hours to get the test results read.
For applicants required to have the entire medical exam, the following exams and testing is required. All adjustment of status applicants are required to comply with the vaccination requirements.
Physical Examination : A physical examination and mental status evaluation are required, regardless of age.
Tuberculin (TB) Skin Test: All applicants two years of age and older are required to have a tuberculin skin test (TST) given by the Mantoux technique. (Civil surgeons may require an applicant younger than two years to undergo a TST if there is evidence of contact with a person known to have tuberculosis or other reason to suspect tuberculosis.) After the skin test, the applicant will need to return to the civil surgeon within 48 to 72 hours to have the results read.
3. Vaccinations: The following vaccinations are mandatory to be taken for the Medical:
Mumps, measles, rubella, polio, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, pertussis, influenza, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae type B, varicella, pneumococcal, rotavirus, hepatitis A, meningococcal, human papillomavirus, zoster, and any other vaccinations recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP).
Q: Can the envelope with the I-693 form certified by the Surgeon be opened?
A: NO. Whenall tests and immunizations are completed, the USCIS Civil Surgeon will record the results in the I – 693 forms, certify it and hand it over to the applicant in a sealed envelope to be handed over to the USCIS authorities.
Funding for around 55 new Immigration judges has been approved in the United States, and a member said that places like San Antonio and Dilley would be getting many immigration judges. There was a backlog of around 77,000 illegal immigration cases that were pending for resolution in courts, according to the Representative.
“We should give these people their day in court, and let a judge decide whether that person gets deported,” he said.
The controversy over the holding of immigrant families, especially women and children at governmental family detention centers in places like Karnes City and San Antonio is growing, due to lack of immigration judges.
A group of Democratic Congressmen will tour the Karnes City facility in the coming week, as the case for releasing women and children from the detention centers will get stronger. The policy of the Obama government to intern women who arrived from Central America with the idea that having a child with them would be their ticket to gaining residence in the country has angered both parties. The Liberals do not entertain the thought of locking up people indefinitely, especially women who had committed no crime except for illegal entry and are no threat to U S security.
The main thing was to get the women into the process as soon as possible, the member said.
“That individual who has the claim will get deported, or will be told they get to stay in the United States,” he said. “But at least they will get their day in court.”
It has been seen that more Central American migrants are being deported by Mexico than by the United States, a big change ever since Mexico was asked by the United States to help in reducing illegal migration, especially amongst unaccompanied minors.
Between the months of October and April more than 90,000 Central Americans were apprehended by Mexico. During the same time period 70,000 “other than Mexican” migrants were detained by the United States, the vast majority being from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
Previously, migration officials belonging to Mexico looked the other way as thousands swam across the river at the border, while boarding freight trains north. In the year 2014, more than 46000 unaccompanied minors from Central America crossed over into the United States, forcing the U S government to turn to the governments of Mexico and Central America in trying to curb the flow.
Mexico holds migrants just long enough to get their nationalities verified and quickly sends them aboard buses to take them back to their home countries.
“The time that foreigners are in immigration (detention) centers depends only on the speed with which the authorities of their countries confirm their nationality,” a national institute from Mexico stated in response to questions.
FINDING A USCIS-approved Civil Surgeon near you
When an applicant is in the process for applying for a Green Card then the Immigration Medical too is a part of the process. In fact, the Green Card Medical Exam is one of the last stages of the Immigration Medical Exam.
The examination must be conducted by a doctor who is authorized by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or the USCIS. These approved doctors are called Civil Surgeons. As per the USCIS website, military physicians are authorized to perform immigration medical exams at a military treatment facility (MTF) within the United States for veterans, members of the military, and appropriate dependents. To locate the closest authorized doctor, enter your address or ZIP code on the USCIS website, or else, applicants can also log on to the www.easyIME.com website and fix up an appointment with a USCIS Civil Surgeon online.
WHAT TO CARRY TO THE IMMIGRATION MEDICAL
The following have to be brought to the medical exam:
- The report of the Medical Exam – the Form I-693, which also contains the Vaccination Record.
- A photo – identification, issued by the Government, such as a valid passport or driver’s license. If the applicant is 14 years old or younger, an identification that shows the child’s name, date and place of birth and parent’s full name will have to be carried. Possible forms of identification include a birth certificate translated in English) or an affidavit in its absence.
- Vaccination or immunization records.
- Medical insurance card (the applicant should check with the doctor’s office to make sure the applicant’s medical plan is accepted by the office).
- Payment (the applicant should check with the doctor’s office about what kind of payments are accepted by the doctor’s office. Prices could be compared by calling up a few doctors. There could be some price variances – by a few hundred dollars.
