The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has removed the requirement that civilian physicians sign Form I-693, Medical Report and Immunization Record, no more than 60 days before an individual applies for an underlying immigration benefit, including Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. The requirement had been subject to a temporary waiver since December 9, 2021. 

This policy update will allow USCIS to adjudicate cases with immigration medical exams that previously would have been considered invalid. Instead of issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) for Form I-693 signed more than 60 days before the filing of the Form I-485, but otherwise valid, we may accept such Forms I-693 for adjudication purposes up to two years after the date the civil doctor signed the form.    

Concerns have been consistently raised by applicants, civilian physicians, USCIS officers, federal collaborators, and other interested individuals that this requirement is confusing and requires that RFEs be issued for otherwise valid Forms I-693. While the 60-day rule was intended to improve operational efficiencies and reduce the need to require applicants to submit updated Forms I-693, in practice, these efficiencies have yet to be realized.

Civilian physicians are no longer required to sign Form I-693 no more than 60 days before the underlying application for an immigration benefit is filed.  

USCIS publishes this policy change in the Policy Manual in accordance with the updated Form I-693 approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).