Oakton Health Center

1. The Illinois Department of Human Services and Department of Healthcare and Family Services have both updated their policy about state-funded medical benefits for aliens. The updates come into effect on June 5, 2024. Single adults who have not filed for a T Visa, a U Visa, or asylum are no longer eligible for state-funded Victims of Trafficking, Torture, or Other Serious Crimes (VTTC) benefits. A family, or another derivative family member, is now needed to file for the benefits. Should a patient require extreme medical care, they might be able to apply for emergency medical treatment, a program which is state-funded.

2. Following a recent court order, the U.S. State Department has resumed visa processing for Harvard University’s international students and exchange visitors. However, this only applies to Harvard and not students of other universities. Proceedings in relation to the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan (CHNV) parole programs have resumed, which has led some to fear that work permissions granted under these programs may be revoked in the near future. New permanent residency application rules require recent medical forms. Finally, the Department of Homeland Security has announced that immigrants who self-deport using the CBP One app will not have to pay late voluntary departure nor final removal order fines.

3. Following administrative updates by the Trump administration, any Form I-693, or Medical Exam, signed after November 1, 2023, is only valid while its corresponding application remains valid. If it either gets withdrawn or denied, even within the two-year window, it will no longer be valid. If an immigrant is applying for a new visa, or for Green Card renewal, then another medical exam will be required. However, if the USCIS perceives a public health concern, they may request a medical exam at their discretion. This move affects thousands of immigrants who have backlogs in status adjustment applications, potentially costing up to $500 for a repeat medical exam. Furthermore, green cards can be revoked on national security grounds, immigration law violations, or criminal convictions.

1. Green card applicants now face new rules regarding form I-693, as announced by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-693, signed by a civil surgeon, only remains 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 If the application is denied or withdrawn the form becomes invalid and applicants must submit a new form with another application. In the past, applicants could reuse form I-693 for future applications. The change applies to all applications pending or filed as of June 11, 2025. The policy change aims to ensure timely medical examinations and treatments, thus safeguarding public health.

2. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that applicants for green cards must include their medical and vaccination report with Form I-485 for adjustment of status starting in December. This change is aimed at streamlining the immigration process and reducing additional evidence requests before adjudicating a Form I-485. The USCIS also reported the validity of the medical report will not expire if properly completed and signed by a civil surgeon.

3. Despite the uncertainty over the future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program due to pending litigation, potential policy changes are expected under the second Trump administration. The program protects certain undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children from removal proceedings and grants work authorization for renewable two-year periods. Elimination of the DACA program could lead to thousands of members losing protected status and coverage options. Changes to public charge policy and increased immigration enforcement actions are also anticipated.

4. Changes involving legal immigration pathways, increasing deportations, ending birthright citizenship, reviving the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and restricting humanitarian protections are also expected under the second Trump administration, posing considerable impact on the health, economic stability, and well-being of numerous immigrant families. Reports suggest such steps could lead to family separations, negative mental and physical health outcomes, and adverse consequences on the nation’s workforce and economy.

The Trump administration has reversed a recent policy regarding green cards, effective immediately. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that all new applications for permanent residency now need a renewed medical examination form. The policy applies to all residency applications filed since June 11, 2025, and those that are currently pending. The introduction of this requirement means that I-485 applications (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) must be accompanied by a Form I-693 (Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record). Prior to these changes, such forms remained valid indefinitely if completed properly. Now, they are invalid if a residency application is withdrawn or denied. All green card applicants must undergo a medical exam that includes checks for specific conditions or diseases that could render a person inadmissible to the U.S.

This change also means that applicants could have to pay for an examination more than once. If an application is withdrawn or denied, and the applicant wants to reapply, they must undergo another medical examination.

In other news, President Trump announced a new website aimed at registering interest in a “gold card” that allows successful applicants to purchase a green card for $5 million. Trump suggests this could raise $50 trillion, significant enough to retire the national debt, although existing data projects a more modest estimate of between $25 billion to $40 billion. This initiative appears to be part of Trump’s efforts to replace the EB-5 offers that currently grant green cards to individuals investing in the U.S. Despite the President’s desire for change, legal experts suggest that he cannot modify or eliminate the EB-5 visa program without congressional approval. The proposed “gold card” initiative could, however, theoretically coexist with the current EB-5 program.