Oakton Health Center

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced changes to the validity period of the immigration medical exam report (Form I-693). As of November 1, 2023, any Form I-693 filled out and signed by an approved civil surgeon will remain valid indefinitely and will be accepted as proof of the applicant’s health status, regardless of the time limit. However, immigration officials may request updated medical exams if they believe the applicant’s health condition has changed, or the old report doesn’t accurately reflect their current health status. For forms completed before November 1, 2023, the previous validity rules apply whereby the forms are valid for two years from the date of signing by the civil surgeon. Exceptions are made for certain Afghan parolees, whose forms remain valid for three years from the date signed.

The Trump administration has also introduced changes to green card applications, demanding that every new permanent residency application should require a renewed medical examination form. This policy change, effective June 11, 2025, invalidates the I-693 form if the green card application is withdrawn, necessitating a retake of the exam. This move could affect thousands of applicants who are currently looking to file their adjustment of status application, known as Form I-485. Before December 2024, only individuals required to prove their non-inadmissibility on medical grounds needed to file a medical examination form. Now, every green card applicant is required to file one. This change adds to an increasing scrutiny of immigrants applying for temporary and permanent visas in the U.S., as part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on those violating immigration laws.

Furthermore, a new policy update from USCIS regarding Form I-693, stipulates that any form signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, will only remain valid while the associated application is pending. If the application is denied or withdrawn, the form becomes invalid, and applicants must submit a new form with any subsequent application. This new policy, effective immediately, applies to all applications pending or filed on or after June 11, 2025. Previously, applicants could reuse a valid Form I-693 for future applications if their original application was denied or withdrawn. Experts caution applicants to avoid mistakes that could lead to denial and potentially trigger additional costs. They suggest having a qualified agency or experienced attorney review their application before submission.

Certain applicants seeking to adjust their status to permanent residency in the US will now have to submit Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, with Form I-485. The requirement aims to streamline the application process, reduces delays, and ensures health-related admissibility. The measure is effective from December 2, 2024, and noncompliance may lead to the rejection of Form I-485. To be eligible, applicants must undergo a medical examination and have all necessary vaccinations received confirmed by a civil surgeon.

The Trump administration reversed a green card policy put in place last year, declaring all new permanent residency applications now require a renewed medical examination form. The rule applies to all applications for permanent residency filed starting June 11, 2025. This means all I-485 forms filed must have an accompanying Form I-693. Medical examinations are performed by a civil surgeon and can cost hundreds of dollars. This may necessitate applicants needing to finance an exam more than once if their application is withdrawn or denied.

USCIS announced that, commencing in December, Form I-485 must include an applicant’s medical and vaccination report. This measure is aimed at streamlining the immigration process and reducing the amount of additional evidence requested before adjudicating a Form I-485. As of April 4, 2024, a properly completed and signed Form I-693 will not expire, and it can be used indefinitely as evidence to show that the applicant is not inadmissible based on health-related grounds. To avoid errors, experts recommend consulting with an immigration attorney or an organization accredited by Immigration to provide immigration services.

As part of his plan to replace EB-5 visa programs, President Donald Trump announced a “gold card” program, enabling successful applicants to purchase a green card for $5 million. He claimed sales from this program could raise up to $50 trillion, enough to retire the national debt. However, legal experts contend that the existing data suggests the initiative would raise approximately $25 billion to $40 billion, and Trump cannot amend or abolish the EB-5 visa programs without congressional approval. A new “gold card” program could potentially coexist with the EB-5.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that medical examinations and vaccination records, completed and signed by a civil surgeon after November 1, 2023, can now be used indefinitely. The change relates to Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, that some foreign nationals need to complete to show they are not inadmissible to the U.S. on health grounds.

USCIS removed the validity period because civil surgeons can now share medical data with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) electronically due to technological advancements. These changes enable better reporting of the information collected by civil surgeons to local health departments as the CDC and USCIS improve their collaboration.

Previously, medical documents had to be signed by a civil surgeon no more than 60 days before the individual applied for immigration benefits. The policy changed on March 31, 2023, extending the validity of these forms up to two years. However, this still required individuals to carefully time their immigration applications and often necessitate multiple medical examinations. With the new indefinite validity policy, these issues should be resolved.

Although the Form I-693 has an indefinite validity, it is still up to the discretion of an officer whether to accept or reject it, based on the current state of health of the applicant or any doubts about the accuracy of the form’s content. Therefore, an officer may request further proof or a newer medical examination. The two-year validity policy still applies for forms signed on or before November 1, 2023. For any queries about the new policy, Jackson Lewis attorneys are available for consultations.