U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated Volume 8 of its Policy Manual to clarify that Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, signed by an authorized civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, will only be valid while the immigration petition with which it was filed is pending.

This new policy takes effect immediately and applies to both pending applications and those submitted on or after June 11, 2025.

What changes with this new policy?

With this update, USCIS establishes that if a foreign national files a Form I-693 along with their Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), but that application is withdrawn or denied, the Form I-693 filed with it is automatically invalidated. If the individual later files a new I-485 application, they must file a new Form I-693, again signed by an authorized civil surgeon.

What is Form I-693 and who should file it?

Form I-693 is a document that proves a person is not inadmissible for health reasons under immigration law. It is generally required of applicants seeking adjustment of status (permanent residence) as part of their process.

In some cases, although a medical examination is not generally required, USCIS may request it at its discretion if there are indications of potential risks to public health.

April 2024 Policy Reversal

On April 4, 2024, USCIS issued a policy allowing Forms I-693 signed on or after November 1, 2023, to be valid indefinitely, facilitating their use in future immigration applications.

However, upon re-evaluation, USCIS concluded that this policy was overly broad and potentially endangered public health, as it did not ensure that medical examinations were kept up-to-date with the applicant's health status.

Important for applicants:
If you plan to file Form I-485 or have recently received a denial, make sure your Form I-693 is up to date. Remember that USCIS will no longer accept a previous I-693 if the original application was withdrawn or denied.