What You Need to Know Before Your I-693 Exam

Most people applying for lawful permanent residence (a green card) need to complete an immigration medical exam on Form I-693. This applies whether you are adjusting status from inside the United States or going through consular processing abroad. If you are filing Form I-485 to adjust your status, the exam must be completed by a USCIS-designated Civil Surgeon, not just any physician.

Certain applicants may be exempt, including some refugees and asylees who already completed a medical exam as part of their prior immigration process. If you're unsure whether you need the exam, the safest step is to confirm with your immigration attorney before your appointment.

The I-693 exam has two main components: a physical examination and a review of your vaccination history. The physical exam covers your general health, vision, hearing, and a check for certain medical conditions that USCIS requires to be documented, including communicable diseases and physical or mental conditions relevant to immigration law.

You will also be screened for tuberculosis. For most adults, this means a TB blood test (IGRA). If results require follow-up, we will walk you through next steps clearly. The exam is not a pass/fail health test. It documents your health status. Most applicants complete it without issue.

Once the exam is complete and all required vaccinations are documented, the Civil Surgeon signs and seals the I-693 form in an envelope. You submit that sealed envelope directly to USCIS. It should never be opened before submission.

• You will not automatically receive every vaccine on the list.
• If you have records showing prior vaccination, we document those.
• If your immunity can be confirmed through a blood test, we test first.
• You only receive vaccines you actually need based on your history and results.
• A foot check at visits and a yearly dilated eye exam, which we refer out for.

Bring your vaccination records to your appointment, even if they are incomplete or from another country. Any documentation helps reduce the number of vaccines required. If records are unavailable, immunity testing can sometimes substitute for re-vaccination. We go through this with you at your visit so there are no surprises.

Not every doctor can complete the I-693. USCIS maintains an official Civil Surgeon directory at uscis.gov, and only physicians listed there are authorized to sign and seal the form. Using a doctor who is not a designated Civil Surgeon means your form will be rejected, and you will need to start over.

When you search the USCIS directory, look for a physician who completes immigration medical exams regularly, not just occasionally. Experience matters. A Civil Surgeon who has completed thousands of I-693 exams is less likely to make documentation errors that delay your case. Pandora Family Medicine is listed on the USCIS Civil Surgeon directory and has completed thousands of immigration medical exams for applicants throughout the University Park and greater Maryland area.

We are located at 6300 Baltimore Ave, University Park, MD 20782, easily accessible from College Park, Hyattsville, Riverdale, and surrounding communities. Appointments are available, and we work to get you seen without a long wait, because we understand that USCIS filing deadlines are real.

The I-693 is generally valid for two years from the date the Civil Surgeon signs it, as long as it remains sealed. Once USCIS receives it, validity rules shift based on when USCIS adjudicates your case. If your filing deadline is approaching, schedule sooner rather than later to allow time for any follow-up lab results before we seal the form.