By: Jacqueline Valle

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a new edition of Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. Beginning on October 1, 2021, USCIS will only accept the September 13, 2021 (09/13/21) edition of Form-I-693. Forms and instructions are dated at the bottom of the page in mm/dd/yy format.

A complete Form I-693 may be considered valid if it meets the following conditions:

• It is the September 13, 2021 (09/13/21) edition of Form-I-693.
• All applicants taking an immigrant medical examination must complete the Covid-19 vaccine series as of October 1, 2021. Proof of vaccination must be provided in person prior to the examination.
• The Form I-693, if filed with the Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, must have a civil surgeon signature dated no more than 60 days before the I-485 filing date.
• It is signed by a civil surgeon fewer than two years ago. 

Background

Individuals applying to adjust status to a green card are required to undergo a medical exam to prove that they are not inadmissible to the United States on public health grounds. This is done with a completed Form I-693, signed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon. Normally, Form I-693 is valid for two years after the date the civil surgeon signed the form, if the dated signature was no more than 60 days before the applicant filed for adjustment of status.

Guidance for Green Card Applicants

Green Card applicants should file a completed Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record with their Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status with USCIS to avoid Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and unnecessary delays.

USCIS will continue to prioritize employment-based adjustment of status cases, work on improving the speed of adjudications, and reduce the number of green cards that go unused. The agency is on pace to approve more employment-based adjustment of status cases than it has since fiscal year 2005.

For additional information, applicants should refer to the USCIS Policy Manual.¹ 

Conclusion

The Chugh, LLP immigration team is closely monitoring updates related to COVID-19 policy changes. For case-specific questions please contact your trusted Chugh, LLP immigration professional.

¹ Volume 8, Admissibility, Part B, Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility, Chapter 4, Review of Medical Examination Documentation.