All Immigrant Visa applicants will be required to undergo a medical examination by one of the panel physicians. You must consult with one of the panel physicians, and other doctors’ medical reports will not be accepted.
A physical and mental health assessment, a chest x-ray, blood tests, and the application of any necessary immunizations will be part of the medical evaluation. The exam should be conducted one week before the interview to guarantee that the results are ready in time for the interview.
What Exactly Is The Purpose Of The Medical Exam?
The medical examination determines applicants with unacceptable health conditions for the Department of State (DOS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Infection with a contagious disease of public health significance, failure to show vaccination documentation against vaccine-preventable diseases, a medical or mental disorder with associated dangerous conduct, or substance misuse is all grounds for ineligibility.
Who Is The Doctor?
There are only two sorts of doctors that can provide the medical exam, and the one you need depends on where you’re applying from:
If you apply from within the United States, you will be referred to a civil surgeon chosen by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
If you are applying from outside the United States, you will be seen by a panel physician authorized by the United States Department of State.
When selecting a doctor, it is important to inquire about pricing, availability, and whether they accept your health insurance.
What Happens During The Immigration Medical Exam?
Your medical history will be requested by the doctor or a member of the doctor’s professional team. The doctor will go over every time you’ve been in the hospital, every time you’ve had to be institutionalized for a chronic physical or mental condition, and every time you’ve been sick or disabled seriously enough to result in a “substantial departure from a stable level of well-being or level of ability.”
The doctor will ask you specific questions about your use of psychoactive drugs and alcohol.
Furthermore, the doctor will inquire about any history of dangerous behavior or psychiatric disease that is not noted in the medical records. In addition, the doctor will look over your chest X-rays and treatment records to check if you have or have previously had tuberculosis.
The doctor will specifically inquire about symptoms that reflect cardiovascular, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, and neuropsychiatric illnesses, as well as indications that indicate infection with any of the diseases that would render you unacceptable.
The doctor will then examine your eyes, ears, nose, and throat, as well as your limbs, heart, lungs, belly, lymph nodes, skin, and external genitalia. The doctor will also perform a mental status examination, which will examine your I.Q., thought, comprehension, reasoning, affect, attitude, and behaviors.
The doctor will perform any tests needed to diagnose or confirm a suspected diagnosis of diseases that could affect you ineligible for admission. Typically, the examination includes a blood draw and chest X-rays, and you do not need to fast before the blood draw.
If you are too sick at the time of the medical exam for the doctor to perform all of the required tests, you will be referred to your doctor for treatment and told to return for the immigration medical exam later.
If your case is exceptional and the doctor is unsure if you will pass the medical exam, they may send you to another doctor for additional testing.
What Should I Bring With Me To My Immigration Medical Examination?
It is critical to prepare paperwork to bring to your medical exam for the procedure to run well. You should carry the following goods with you:
- Your vaccination records
- A duplicate of your medical records
- Copies of past chest x-rays, if applicable
- A letter from your regular doctor outlining your treatment plan for any health issues.
- A government-issued photo I.D.
- Payment for the medical exam fee — Before your appointment, inquire with the doctor’s office about payment methods.
- If applicable, your health insurance card – Before the appointment, check with the doctor’s office to see if they accept your insurance.
The final documents you must produce will differ depending on applying for a green card from within or outside the United States.
What Vaccinations Are Required For Immigrants And Those Seeking To Change Their Status In The United States?
All immigrants, regardless of age, must be vaccinated against the following vaccine-preventable diseases as part of their immigration medical examination: COVID-19, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, polio, and diphtheria toxoids, pertussis, Haemophilus influenza type B, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, meningococcal disease, influenza Persons already in the United States who petition for adjustment of status for permanent residency, including refugees, must also be immunized against these vaccine-preventable diseases.
What Is The Cost Of The USCIS Medical Exam?
The cost of your immigration medical exam will depend on the authorized doctor and the location of the exam. The charge is not standardized in the United States, and rates can range from $100 to $400. You can check with various doctors to see how much they charge and then make the best selection for you. Other indirect costs, such as transportation, should also be considered.
What Happens After The Exam?
The civil surgeon will ask you to sign the paperwork when the test is finished. Do not forget to sign the form; USCIS will not accept forms that are not signed. Unless you are instructed to return to the doctor’s office, your medical exam results will be given to you in a sealed envelope at the end of your appointment. Breaking the seal or opening the envelope is not permitted.
Doctors will usually give you a copy of the results for your records, and you are only permitted to open this copy. If they don’t deliver you a copy automatically, it’s usually a good idea to ask for one before they seal the envelope.
Suppose you are applying inside the U.S., Depending on whether you schedule your medical exam before or after filing your green card application package. In that case, you must mail the sealed, unopened envelope (containing your completed Form I-693) to USCIS or bring it to your interview.
If you’re applying outside, The doctor will either give you the sealed, unopened envelope (together with your X-ray) to bring to your interview, or they will send it directly to your U.S. embassy or consulate, depending on your home country’s specific medical exam procedures.
