USCIS Announces New Policy Guidance for Validity Period of Medical Examination

USCIS has announced a revision to the policy guidance for the validity period of Form I-693 Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, effective November 1, 2018. The revised policy will require applicants to submit a Form I-693 with a civil surgeon signature and date that is no more than 60 days before the filing date of the underlying application. The Form I-693 will remain valid for two years from the date of signature. Form I-693 can continue to be completed after filing of the immigration application and submitted to USCIS at the time of the applicant’s interview.

USCIS officers use Form I-693 to determine whether an applicant for an immigration benefit in the United States is inadmissible under health-related grounds. By requiring that the Form I-693 be signed no more than 60 days before filing date of the underlying application, the validity period of the form is closer to typical processing times of the immigration application.

USCIS also announced that a Form I-693 submitted to USCIS prior to November 1, 2018 may be subject to the previous validity period policy.

Clients who now have a medical report and have been waiting to submit it at their interview are advised to check the signature date on their copy of the form (do not open the sealed envelope!) to make sure that the form is still and will remain valid.

Clients also are advised that civil surgeons now are required to perform an IGRA (interferon gamma release assay) instead of the tuberculin skin test when testing for TB, for which the results take longer (4-5 days). Plan your medical exam accordingly.