Green card applicants! Remember to take the immigration medical exam before your visa interview!

It is important to note that applicants who are in the process of applying for their green card must first plan to complete the immigration medical examination, conducted by USCIS-approved Civil Surgeons before attending the visa interview. If the immigration medical examination is not done before the visa interview processing of the applicant’s visa case will be delayed or held up until the immigration medical examination’s results are received by the U S Consulate or Embassy.

It is therefore, strongly advised to green card applicants that they first go in for their immigration medical examination and then appear for the visa interview.

USCIS – APPROVED CIVIL SURGEON: SCHEDULING THE IMMIGRATION MEDICAL EXAM

USCIS-approved Civil Surgeons are specially appointed by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the officiating body for processing all visas pertaining to immigration in the United States.

The medical examination involves a complete assessment of the green card applicant’s medical history, a physical examination, chest X-ray, vaccinations and blood tests. The physical examination includes the examination of the eyes, ears, nose and throat, extremities, skin, external organs, heart, lungs, stomach and lymph nodes.

The USCIS-approved Civil Surgeon will conduct the examination and then hand over the report to the applicant in a sealed cover, which will then have to be handed over to the authorities for further processing.