What Does a Immigration Medical Exam For Green Cards Consist Of?
In order to receive a green card for citizenship, part of the naturalization process is that you must get a USCIS I-693 Immigration Medical Exam. This examination determines if you are deemed qualified for citizenship here in the United States. Many people tend to get nervous during this critical part of the process because they don’t know what to expect. We wanted the opportunity to explain our process so we could hopefully ease some of your nerves.Thankfully, here at CareFirst we have all of our patients’ best interest at heart and we will go above and beyond to make sure the citizenship process is as smooth and comfortable as possible.
The USCIS I-693 Immigration Examination consists of a physical evaluation performed by our designated U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Civil Surgeon. There are several components to this exam which explained below. Applicants should be prepared to have tests done through the blood and urine which detects for communicable diseases. There are also lists of required vaccinations (more information is below). We can administer some vaccinations on-site if you have not already received them beforehand or confirm immunity through bloodwork if you have no vaccination records. We also provide you with the I-693 Immigration Application Form for you. We will have you complete your information then type it up for you and once confirmed to be accurate, have you sign it. After your examination, it takes approximately 3-7 business days to have your Immigration Packet ready for pickup. We provide you a copy as well as the confidententially sealed envelope for the Immigration Services or your USCIS immigration attorney.
How to be prepared before coming to your appointment?
- You will need to bring in a copy of your Vaccinations Records and Immunizations records. (If you do not have any, no worries. CareFirst can determine your immunization history through laboratory testing.
- Bring in a valid government issued Identification card such as a driver’s license, passport, employment card, etc.
- Payment for the USCIS Medical Examination Fee.
What to expect during your exam?
Our civil surgeon will review your medical history and vaccine record with you. He or she will ask you a variety of questions regarding your health history, so it’s pretty much like getting a physical or check-up.
- Common diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and tuberculosis
- Drug or alcohol abuse/addiction
- Any physical or mental conditions that is associated with harmful behavior
- Conditions that determine whether or not you are able to support yourself
Communicable Disease Tests Portion
Part of the requirement for USCIS I-693 Immigration medical exams is a blood test for syphilis and a urine test for gonorrhea. This is required for all green card applicants ages 15 and older.
Vaccination Portion
Our Civil Surgeon is required and will make sure that you receive all required vaccines to gain your citizenship. Our doctor will be able to provide the required vaccines on site during your medical exam.
Mandatory Vaccinations and Testing
We have included the mandatory vaccination requirements down below. These are a list of vaccinations:
- Tetanus (Required once every 10 years)
- Influenza (Required during flu season, October 1st – March 31st)
- Varicella [Chickenpox] – (if you have had chicken pox when you were younger than you would qualify for Varicella History which eliminates one extra vaccine)
- MMR [Measles/Mumps/ Rubella] (Required if born after 1957)
- Pneumococcal [PCV23]- (Required if over the age of 65)
- Tuberculosis Quantiferon (Blood Test as of 2018) – Use to be a skin test but the new regulations for USCIS I-693 Immigration requires it through the blood
- Syphilis and Gonorrhea screening
What to expect after completing the exam?
Once finished, it can take up to 3-7 business days to finish certifying to your examination. Once complete, we will provide you with a copy of immigration medical exam results for your own records as well as the finalized USCIS I-693 form in a sealed envelope with our civil surgeon’s signature. It is important to know that you should not open or break the seal of the envelope because it will not be accepted.
