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  • Navigating the Green Card Medical Exam: A Step-by-Step Guide to Form I-693 and What to Expect
  • Are you preparing to apply for a green card and wondering what to expect during the mandatory medical examination? If so, we’ve got you covered! The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Form I-693 is an important document that reports the results of your medical examination. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at what you need to know about the form and what to expect during the examination.

    First things first, let’s talk about the form itself. Only USCIS approved Civil Surgeons are authorized to submit information in Form I-693:

    1. The form must be completed in blue or black ink.
    2. The form must be signed and dated by the civil surgeon who performed the examination.
    3. The form must be sealed in an envelope and signed across the seal by the civil surgeon.
    4. The sealed envelope must be submitted where applicable, along with the appropriate immigration application and fee.

    Now, onto the physical examination part. Here is what to expect from the medical examination:

    1. The Civil Surgeon will review your medical history and perform a physical examination.
    2. The Civil Surgeon will test for certain communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis, syphilis, and gonorrhea.
    3. The civil surgeon may also administer vaccinations if needed.
    4. The civil surgeon will provide the results of the examination on Form I-693, as well as include information on vaccinations.

     The CDC publishes the vaccination requirements and immigration medical examination instructions (including a detailed table listing all required vaccines) at www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/civil/vaccination-civil-technical-instructions.html

    But here’s an interesting note: Form I-693 is currently valid for two years from the date of the examination. This allows you to be ready for submission to USCIS, when needed. Additionally, if you are found to have a communicable disease, you may be barred from receiving a green card unless you can demonstrate that you pose no risk to public health.

    Your first reaction may be, “That sounds like a lot of hassle.” However, trust us when we tell you that all medical examinations are necessary for the process of obtaining a green card. Who knows? You may even learn about a health issue that was previously unknown to you. In most cases, communicable diseases are curable, and you can re-appear for your medical exams.

    In conclusion, USCIS Form I-693 is a vital document that reports the results of your green card medical examination. The examination itself is a necessary step in the process and may even help you discover and address any health issues. Stay healthy, and good luck with your green card application!

    You can write to us (support@easyime.com) and check the easyIME website for all the necessary help in the matter.

  • What are the things that would make you fail a green card Medical exam?
  • As you plan to appear for a green card medical examination, there are certain requirements to full fill. The medical exam is a routine process ensuring the safety of the citizens. 

    Do you know, certain significant health diseases can make you inadmissible to the immigration medical examination? The search and reach platform of easyIME can help you through the entire medical examination process. 

    Why is a green card medical exam important? 

    The green card medical exam under the USCIS doctors is to determine if the person is healthy to meet the admissibility standards of the country. The doctor should be USCIS-approved to perform the examination. 

    You will be inadmissible if during the green card medical examination any of these 4 medical conditions are found – 

    • Communicable disease 
    • Irrelevant proof of required vaccinations 
    • Drug addiction or abuse 
    • Harmful behavior due to physical or mental disorder of any kind 

    In most of the cases, the Doctor may advise you to undergo an appropriate treatment. 

    This medical examination is not a full physical test but only those specific to the immigration purpose. For consular applicants, the right time to schedule the medical exam is communicated by the National Visa Center. 

    Besides, the CDC also requires the green card applicants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The updated Form i 693, effective from October 1, 2021, accommodates the record of Covid Vaccination. The person is considered inadmissible during the immigration medical examination, if not fully vaccinated. The examining physician may have facilities to give you the required vaccinations, else may advise you to get the required vaccinations 

    Reasons you could fail the green card medical exam – 

    Similar to criminal record verification, complete medical exam verification is a must. Any person failing the medical examination is denied. 

    The top reasons that can make a person inadmissible to a country based on the green card medical exam are as follow – 

    1. Vulnerability to public health

    The prime concern of any country is to ensure good health for its residents and permanent citizens. Thus, any possibility of danger to their health is one of the prime reasons for inadmissibility. 

    To ensure that health meets the minimum requirements of the country, the USCIS doctors examine you and prepare the i-693 form (record of medical examination and vaccination record). The result of the immigration medical exam is an important part of approving the Green Card decision. 

    1. Risk to public safety

    If at any point, you are observed to be a threat to the safety of the permanent citizens and residents of the country, you will be denied entry. The results mainly depend on your immigration medical examination and also include: 

    • Violent or unpredictable public behavior 
    • Sudden loss of physical and mental stability 
    1. Excessive social services or health demands

    You will be denied entry into the country if it is found that your health conditions or social services demand more than the average resident over a period of time. If you are under an excessive stress on health and social services, you may be inadmissible. 

    It is always recommended to appear for the medical exam after undergoing all required health treatments and vaccinations, to ensure your suitability to enter the country without any hassles, on a Residency card.

    Do you have any more doubts about why you can fail a green card medical examination? You can write to us (support@easyime.com) check the easyIME website for all the necessary help in the matter. 

    Top States & Cities To Find USCIS Authorised Civil Surgeon for Immigration Medical Exam

    California

    Florida

    Illinois

    New York

    Texas

    • Dallas
    • Houston
    • Austin
    • USCIS designated Immigration Medical Doctors are located across Texas and neighbourhood, such as in:

    Click here to Find Green Card Medical Exam Doctors Near you via Zipcode/City/Area

    What Information do I need to submit to see the location of the Doctors’ office? and why ?

    The Doctor office requires to know who is enquiring for an appointment. By submitting your Name, Contact info and Date of Birth, the Doctor office is able to better manage appointments, track bookings, provide necessary information to the doctors’ office and guide on the vaccinations that you need based on your age.

    By sharing this information, you gain knowledge of how to get your Immigration Medical Exam done in the shortest possible time and visits. It streamlines the process and ensures a smooth experience for both the user and the medical facility.

    If you have concerns about providing personal information, you can review the easyIME’s privacy policy to understand how your data is handled and protected.

  • Must Haves On COVID-19 Vaccination For Immigration Medical Examinations
  • Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s update on AUG 17, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a new directive in Form I-693. The instructions from the update are to be obeyed for COVID-19 vaccination among immigration applicants and are effective as of October 1, 2021. Where vaccination against hepatitis A, polio & chickenpox are already required, immigrants to the U.S. now should indicate they are immunized against COVID19 as part of a clinical test.

    For Immigration Applicants,

    People applying for permanent residency must go through an immigration medical examination to exhibit that they are free from any medical condition that may make them impermissible concerning their health. Hence, as an immigration applicant, you must undergo an immigration medical examination to meet the COVID-19 vaccine and provide vaccination documentation to the civil surgeon before completing the immigration medical examination.

    For Civil Surgeons,

    Civil Surgeons must use the new I-693 form which also provisions to record the results of the Covid-19 vaccination requirements along with the results of the immigration medical examination.

    Blanket Waivers

    However, immigration aspirants can apply for waivers if the Covid-19 vaccination is:

    • Not age-appropriate
    • Contradicting the medical conditions you suffer
    • Unavailable where the civil surgeon practices
    • Facing a scarcity causing the applicant to wait a long time to get vaccinated

    By submitting Form I-601, an individual can demand a waiver based on religious beliefs or moral beliefs.

    We always recommend that visa applicants schedule the medical examination close to the time of filing for immigration to ensure that their medical examination results are valid when the immigration department adjudicates their associated benefit application. Hence, they can have sufficient time for laboratory testing or any other testing needed under CDC’s technical guide.

    Note: USCIS is temporarily waiving the requirement for the civil surgeon to mark and acknowledge the Report of Medical Examination including Vaccination Record (Form I-693) no more than 60 days before the date the applicant files an Application for Permanent Residence. This temporary waiver is effective from December 9, 2021, until September 30, 2022.

    Do you need more information on how to get your medical examination form signed by a civil surgeon? Check out the easyIME website and find out your nearest immigration medical doctors.

  • CDC updated policy on TB test for Green Card Applicants
  • The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the policy by releasing an instruction about medical screen for tuberculosis (TB) for green card applicants. As per the new policy dated October 1, 2018, the TB blood test will be considered as the first TB screening method. Before this instruction, the tuberculin skin test (TST) was considered as primary tuberculosis (TB) method.

    USCIS conducts necessary medical examination for the applicants who are willing to get permanent citizenship or want to change their status of immigrants. For this, USCIS has appointed authorized doctors who can provide immigration medical exam service to almost all the green card applicants.

    TB is quite difficult to detect through skin testing. IGRA testing methods nowadays are considered more accurate and credible than the traditional skin test method. This is the prime reason for the CDC to update the testing methods for medical immigration.  Applicants may ask USCIS approved civil surgeon, whether they are familiar with the CDC TB test update requirement.

    Are you looking for immigration medical service and want to find out your nearest USCIS authorized civil surgeons? Check out the EasyIME website and find out your nearest and cheapest immigration medical doctors.