A medical examination, performed by a designated “civil surgeon” is one of the requirements for obtaining a green card or adjusting your immigrant status. The immigration medical exam can only be performed in a practice that has been certified by the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), by a “civil surgeon” – a designation given by the USCIS.
The immigration exam usually takes 10-14 days from your first appointment for all components of the medical exam to be completed. The typical tests include:
During your medical exam, you can expect:
A standard physical exam
- Blood tests to assess your immunity for the specific disease
- Vaccinations – if need be
- A tuberculin test (TST)
- Blood test for syphilis
- Urine test for gonorrhea
In some cases, you may need to visit your civil surgeon for subsequent tests before the final results are out. For instance, the results for tuberculosis (TST) test usually take 2-3 days. But if you test positive, a CXR (chest x-ray) is necessary.
After completing your medical exam, and administering the necessary vaccinations, the physician will then complete Form I-693 and put it in a sealed envelope that you will submit to the USCIS along with your green card application. You will also be given a copy of the results for your personal records.
Preparing for your exam
When going for your exam, you will need to provide the civil surgeon with:
- A government-issued photo ID or valid passport
- Form I-693, Vaccination Record, and Report of Medical Examination
- Your vaccination record
- A list of your regular medications
- A written certificate indicating medications/results for the treatment of TB (tuberculosis), gonorrhea, or syphilis – if it applies to you
- A written certificate listing the diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis for the treatment of mental illness or drug/alcohol abuse – if it applies to you
- Some money – civil surgeons are not allowed to submit claims to any health insurance providers for immigration exams and related services
Please keep in mind that the results of immigration medical tests take a bit of time. So beware of anyone asking for more money in exchange for expedited services.