If you are located in the United States of America and are in the process of securing a green card there you will in all probability be required to appear for the Green Card Medical. This exam is conducted by doctors who are approved, trained and appointed by the body governing the visa process in the United States – United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS. Certain doctors are appointed by USCIS specifically to conduct and report the results of the Immigration Exam Medical.
For those applicants who reside outside the country panel physicians can conduct the examination. The panel physicians are not the same as the Civil Surgeons inside the States; they are appointed by the Department of State – they can only conduct the immigration medical as a part of the visa process in a consulate or a U S Embassy abroad.
WHAT TO CARRY TO THE MEDICAL EXAM
The applicant will have to carry :
- The I-693 form, with the first part filled up
- Previous medical and vaccination records
- Government-approved photo identification – such as a passport and a driver’s licence.
- Payment for the exam – prices vary from doctor to doctor, so it is always a good idea to check out a few doctors before deciding on the suitable Civil Surgeon.
WHAT IS THE COST OF THE GREEN CARD MEDICAL?
There is no fixed rate but the tests include blood work, skin tests and vaccinations – so the usual cost is around $275 Other things are additional – a chest X-ray for example. If the blood test for syphilis is confirmed there will be an additional charge for the confirmation test.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR THE RESULTS?
The forms are usually ready in 2-3 days. The laboratory returns test reports within 24 to 48 hours and the tuberculosis test is usually read within 48 to 72 hours. If the tuberculosis test turns out to be positive then a chest x-ray is required, and one more day would then be added to the process.
WILL YOUR INSURANCE COVER THE COST OF THE IMMIGRATION MEDICAL?
No, insurance will not cover the costs – the amount will have to be paid upfront at the time of appearing for the examination.
WHERE CAN ONE FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THE NEW VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS?
Details about the vaccination can be found in the Technical Instructions to Civil Surgeons for Vaccination Requirements, a series of notes that contain information on what is necessary for the vaccination procedures.
When you have arranged for a scheduled appointment with the doctor or surgeon who is qualified and appointed by USCIS to conduct the Green Card Physical make sure to reach there on time!
Here are some things that you need to carry along:
- A complete report or list of all the vaccinations that have been received by you in the past.
- If a member of your immigrating family has or has had a mental condition in the past then this needs to be reported to the Civil Surgeon.
- If you have had a case of tuberculosis in the past or are going through treatment for the same now this too needs to be reported.
- If there has ever been a case of an abnormal X-ray in the past this too will have to be carried along. Do not just take the reports – the original films too are required to be taken.
- If you have had syphilis in the past the certification pertaining to this too needs to be shown to the Civil Surgeon.
- If treatment is going on for a chronic medical condition then all the relevant details too need to be furnished to the Civil Surgeon.
- Any psychiatric treatment or treatment for a mental condition too needs to be reported.
The immigration medical examination is used mainly to rule out any possibilities of health and safety issues that could crop up due to the presence of certain diseases or health conditions in the applicant who is on the immigration visa journey to the United States of America.
MENTAL CONDITIONS AND MENTAL HISTORY
If the visa applicant has any mental conditions or history a report of these should be outlined, which gives all the relevant details to the USCIS approved Civil Surgeon. Any harmful behavior, however small in nature should be reported. Any cases of attempted suicide or abuse to self or physical harm should be reported. Harmful behavior, however minute or seemingly trivial, should not be ignored.
If the applicant was being treated for any mental condition through psychiatry or has been hospitalized for any existing mental disease then this too should be reported.
Any case of drug abuse or alcohol abuse too needs to be reported – there should be a medical certification that involves the kind of diagnosis, the medical treatment prescribed and the prognosis rendered.
