What Happens at the Green Card Medical Examination?

In order to apply for an adjustment of your legal status under U.S. immigration law, or to seek a green card, you typically must undergo a medical examination.  The purpose behind the medical examination is to ensure that you are not inadmissible to the U.S. on public health grounds.  However, you cannot simply undergo a medical examination with your regular doctor; rather, a civil surgeon who has been specially designated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) must perform the required medical examination. 

Finding a Civil Surgeon

The civil surgeons who are qualified to perform green card medical examinations receive special, ongoing training about immigration issues.  There are a variety of different ways to access the list of qualified civil surgeons who can perform a green card medical examination.  You can access the list of qualified civil surgeons online through the USCIS website, by calling the USCIS National Customer Service Center, or by making an appointment at your local USCIS office.  If you have a medical examination done by a non-qualified and/or non-approved civil surgeon, your examination results will be rejected by USCIS.  As a result, your green card application will not be approved until you obtain the requisite medical examination with a civil surgeon qualified by USCIS. 

Submitting the Results of Your Medical Examination to the USCIS

Once the civil surgeon has completed your green card medical examination, he or she will complete Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, and give it to you in a sealed envelope.  You must then submit the envelope to USCIS; the envelope will not be accepted unless it remains sealed.  The results of your examination remain valid for up to one (1) year before you file your application to adjust your status, or for a green card. 

Confidentiality

The purpose of the medical examination requirement is to ensure that you are not inadmissible to the United States on public health grounds.  Therefore, the results of the medical examination are confidential, and only used for the purposes of immigration screening. 

Getting Legal Help

If you have questions about the green card medical examination, such as what will occur, how you arrange such an examination, and/or which doctors are qualified to conduct such an examination, you may wish to consult an attorney for assistance.  An experienced immigration attorney can assist you with all aspects of the green card process, including the green card medical examination.