Positive Changes to Immigration Procedures?! Validity for Form I-693, Immigrant Medical Exam, Extend
In October 2018, USCIS announced the policy guidance in Volume 8, Part B of the USCIS Policy Manual would be updated to demonstrate the longer processing times for adjustment of status applications. This policy guidance directly affects the period of validity of Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, for forms submitted prior to November 1, 2018. A civil surgeon must sign the form at most, 60 days before the date that an applicant applies for benefit for the form to be valid. This change provides applicants with a longer evidentiary value past two years as long as their medical examination is completed closer to the date of filing.
A Form I-693 that was submitted prior to November 1, 2018 will continue to be valid if the civil surgeon signs the I-693 form at least 60 days before the applicant files the initial benefit application and if USCIS renders a decision within at least 2 years of that signature. If the civil surgeon signs the form more than 60 days prior to filing, the applicant must submit the form within a year of that singing and USCIS must submit a decision within a year of the applicant submitting the I-693. The form will also be valid if it is signed by the civil surgeon and submitted after the applicant files it with USCIS and a decision is rendered within at least two years from the civil surgeon’s signature. In any case, a form that is submitted to USCIS more than a year after the civil surgeon signs it, cannot be used for evidentiary purposes. The applicant’s medical examination report must be submitted with the immigration benefit application or any time after as long as it is before USCIS fully adjudicates the application. If applicants do not submit the report with the application, they may bring it to an interview or wait until USCIS requests it. The following requirements must be met when submitting Form I-693 Medical Examinations to USCIS:
The form must be complete, legible and valid;
Signed and dated by the civil surgeon who admitted the medical examination, the physician completing referral evaluations, and the individual who received the examination, regardless of age;
Applicants under the age of 14 or mentally incapable applicants may choose to sign the Form I-693, or a parent or legal guardian may choose to do so;
The form should be sealed in an envelope
The civil surgeon must verify the applicant's identity with a government-issued ID;
The applicant must sign the certification only when the civil surgeon instructs them to do so. The certification signatures serves as the applicant’s oath that all the information provided is correct;
There may be different rules to those who were examined overseas, non-immigrant fiancé(e)s or spouses of U.S. citizens (K visa), spouses of lawful permanent residents (V visa), refugees, and asylee dependents. It is often the case that these individuals do not have to repeat the immigration medical exams for adjustment of status, but this will be determined by a case-by-case basis.
If you have any questions regarding information on the validity of Form I-693, please contact Attorney Nicholas J. Mireles, Esq. at Attorney@loonjm.com.