Medical Exam

Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record

If you’re applying for a green card in the United States, you have to submit Form I-693, which is a medical exam and vaccination record completed by a specific doctor. This form shows that you are not inadmissible to the United States based on health reasons.

A Form I-693 that is signed by the civil surgeon on November 1, 2023, or later does not expire and can be used for any immigration benefit application at any time in the future.

Note: if a USCIS officer has reason to believe that the applicant’s medical condition has changed since the civil surgeon signed the Form I-693 or that the Form I-693 does not accurately reflect the applicant’s medical condition, then the officer has the discretion to request further evidence or a new or updated Form I-693.

If I am applying for an immigrant visa outside the United States, do I need a Form I-693?

No. If you apply at a consular post, you will have a medical examination conducted by a DOS panel physician.

Can anyone complete the Form I-693?

Only a doctor listed on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/tools/find-a-civil-surgeon may perform the exam.

How much does it cost to have the Form I-693 completed?

Rates vary by physician. Do your research to compare what different offices charge. When scheduling the
appointment, tell the office that it is for an immigration medical examination.

What should I bring to my medical examination appointment?

  • Government-issued photo identification;
  • List of medications you are currently taking;
  • Vaccination records;
  • Proof of COVID-19 vaccination, if applicable;
  • Any other medical records, if available;
  • A current edition of Form I-693, available at https://www.uscis.gov/i-693

What happens at the appointment?

You’ll sign the certification at the start of the immigration medical exam to confirm that you agree to the exam and that all the information you provide about the exam is true. During the medical examination, the civil surgeon will perform tests for communicable diseases of public health significance and screen for certain physical or mental disorders, as well as for drug addiction and abuse. The civil surgeon will also make sure that you have all required vaccinations. Additional testing may be necessary.

When all testing has been completed, the civil surgeon will sign Form I-693 and put it in a sealed envelope.

IMPORTANT: Do not break the seal or open this envelope. USCIS will not accept Form I-693 if it is not in a sealed envelope or if the envelope is altered in any way. The civil surgeon should provide you with an additional copy of the signed Form I-693 for your records.

When will the Form I-693 medical exam be submitted to USCIS?

You may submit the completed medical exam with your green card application or later, in response to a Request for Evidence.

NOTE: Always check with your attorney before mailing anything to USCIS.

How long is Form I-693 valid?

A Form I-693 that was properly completed and signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023 does not expire. A Form I-693 completed prior to that time is valid for two years from the date that the civil surgeon signed it.

Form I-693 Questions?

The information in this post is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not act or rely on any information in this post without seeking the advice of a competent, licensed immigration attorney.

For more information on how this might apply to your case, please contact immigration attorney Jessie M. Thomas at www.staylegally.com/free-case-evaulation/.

Young Immigration Couple

Spouse Green Card: Non U.S. Citizen Petitioner

Green Card holders (permanent residents) may petition for their Spouse (husband or wife).

First let’s look at the rules for the spouse of U.S. citizens. They are pretty straight forward.

Petitioner is a U.S. Citizen

A U.S. citizen (petitioner) files the I-130 petition and the spouse (beneficiary) can can file the I-485 at the same time. In other words the U.S citizen files the petition to prove that their alien relative is in a real marriage and the beneficary, the foreign national, applies for adjustment of status at the same time. They want to adjust their status from whatever non-immigrant visa they entered on into that of Lawful Permanment Resident.

Petitioner Is A Green Card Holder (Non U.S. Citizen)

Now, when the petitioner is only a green card holder things are more complicated because there is a backlog right now. Congress has limited the number of visas for the spouses and under-aged children of Lawful Permanment Residents. So in this situation under current processing times and guidelines you have to file the I-130 petition first.  The beneficiary is given a priority date when the I-130 petition is filed. This is the receipt date. The priority date is the beneficiary’s place in line. The beneficiary then must wait for that date to become current. Each month they have to check the visa bulletin to see when that priority date is going to become current. Once it becomes current then they can apply for the I-485 Adjustment of Status. This is called a “2 Step” process.

1 Step vs 2 Step Process

When a U.S. citizen files this is called a “1 Step” process because it is all done in one step. However, when the petitioner is a Green Card holder it is called a “2 Step” because it takes two steps. First the petitioner files the I-130 and the beneficiary is provided with a priority date. Once the priority date is current the beneficiary can file for Adjustment of Status.

Now given the fact that right now we are looking at 4 years plus for the processing of the spouses and under-aged children of Green Card holders to get a final decision it is most likely that the prority date will not become current until after the petitioner, the Green Card holder’s spouse, becomes a U.S. citizen and then upgrades their case. Now the petitioner is a U.S. Citizen and the USCIS is going to go ahead and process their petition and hopefully approve it and the beneficiary, the children or the spouse, can apply for the I-485 Adjustment of Status and get their Green Card. So it is a little bit trickier when the petitioner is only a Green Card holder.

Spouse Green Card Questions?

Questions about the spouse green card immigration process? Looking for help to make sure your petition or application can be processed as quickly as possible? Please contact immigration attorney Jessie M. Thomas. Call (214) 838-0045, Text (214) 838-0045 or Email contactus@staylegally.com today.

USCIS Dallas Field Office

Why Is My Immigration Case Taking So Long?

Why Hasn’t My Immigration Case Been Decided Yet?

Why Is My Immigration Case Taking So Long. Nationwide, you and millions of families, businesses, and
individuals applying for immigration benefits are waiting longer for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process and approve applications and petitions.

Based on previously available USCIS data, in Fiscal Year (FY)2017, an average case took about 6.4 months to process. In FY2022, an average case took more than twelve months. Those extra months of waiting halt business operations, keep families separated, and jeopardize lives.

Where Can I Find The Processing Time For My Immigration Case?

USCIS processing times are available on its website: https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/. To find your case’s processing time, you must select the form type, category, and field office or processing center from the drop-down menus. You will then see the processing time it takes for approximately 80% of that case type. Below that, there is a space to add the receipt date for your case and find out when you may make an inquiry in your case.

Who Is Affected by the Long Processing Times?

Anyone who files applications or petitions with USCIS is affected. You and other people applying for family-based benefits, employment-based benefits, naturalization, travel documents, and employment authorization are all experiencing delays.

Processing times for common form types show just how dire the situation is:

From FY2017 to FY2023

  • Processing times for all I-539 applications to change or extend status rose from about 2.8 months to 6.2 months.
  • Processing times for family-based adjustment of status (I485) applications rose from 7.8 months to 12.5 months.
  • Processing times for employment authorization (Form I-765) applications based on an adjustment of status application rose from 2.6 months to 5.5 months.

Note: there were slight decreases in processing times from FY2021 to FY2023.

Why Are Cases Taking Longer?

Many factors can slow down your case, including inefficient processing and understaffing. During the last administration, USCIS implemented many new policies designed to restrict legal immigration and delay processing. While the current administration has made some helpful changes, the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to continued slowdowns.

What Steps Is the Government Taking Now to Speed Processing Times?

In March 2022, USCIS set new processing time goals and has committed to hiring more adjudicators and improving technology. They have also begun re-using previously captured fingerprints when possible. However, it will take time for the agency to catch up with the tremendous backlog.

What Can You Do?

Make sure your lawyer has your current contact information.

Work with your lawyer to file applications and petitions as early as allowed under the law, especially for cases where premium processing is not available. Many application renewals may be submitted up to 180 days prior to expiration.

Expect USCIS processing to take longer than desired, no matter what type of application you are filing. Your lawyer can guide you and help plan for delays. Sometimes, the only option is to await government action. In other cases, some tactics to address delays could include:

  • File a petition or application to safeguard your status in the U.S.
  • Ask USCIS to expedite your case if you qualify or if applicable, to premium process your case;
  • Talk to your congressman’s office for assistance; or
  • File a lawsuit to force USCIS to act on your case.

Immigration Processing Time Questions

Questions about your family-based immigration process times? Looking for help to make sure your petition or application can be be processed as quickly as possible? Please contact immigration attorney Jessie M. Thomas. Call (214) 838-0045, Text (214) 838-0045 or Email contactus@staylegally.com today.

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