The main objective of the medical examination is to make sure that a green card visa aspirant does not have any major diseases, serious or communicable. The Immigration Medical examination also checks for mental disorders, drug problems or any other serious problems that could render the applicant inadmissible to the USA, making the person ineligible for a visa or a green card.

The Civil Surgeon will also make sure that you have received all the required vaccinations. What the doctor will not do however, is to give you a general physical, or tell you about your inherent health conditions that fall beyond the areas of interest to the US Immigration authorities.

 IS THERE ANY OFFICIAL LIST OF DISEASES OR DISORDERS FOR THE VISA APPLICANT?

There is no official list of diseases or disorders that determine the visa applicant’s admissibility. However, what is usually done is that the examining doctor will determine whether the applicant’s condition or overall behaviour is “likely to pose a threat or danger to the property, safety or welfare of the alien or to other people.” At present, the top diseases on the hit list of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention are infectious tuberculosis, untreated venereal and other sexually transmitted diseases, apart from Hansen’s disease (leprosy). HIV was taken away from the list in January, 2010.

 WHAT ARE NOT INADMISSIBLE ON MEDICAL GROUNDS

Diseases like heart disease, cancer or certain mental conditions and illnesses will not render the applicant inadmissible on medical grounds. But there is a possibility that the applicant could be found inadmissible on a public charge.

VACCINATIONS ON ENTERING THE COUNTRY ON A FIANCE VISA

If the applicant enters the US on a fiancé visa then he or she has a choice of either getting the vaccines as part of the immigration medical exam, or as a part of the medical exam that one has to take when the applicant applies for the green card later on.