Tag: I-693

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USCIS Removes 60-Day Rule for Medical Exam Form I-693

Recently, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has removed the 60-day rule for civil surgeon signatures on Form I-693 Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, also known as the immigration medical exam.

Green card applicants can now submit their medical exam results form up to two years after the civil surgeon signed it. Previously, green card applicants were required to have a civil surgeon sign Form I-693 within 60 days of submitting their green card application or risk its rejection with USCIS. This requirement placed an additional burden on immigrants and raised their risk of receiving a Request for Evidence (RFE).

The removal of the 60-day deadline will give applicants more time and flexibility when searching for a qualified physician who can sign off on their medical examinations. It could also reduce delays caused by having to resubmit documents if they submitted their form more than 60 days from when the civil surgeon signed it.

“While the 60-day rule was intended to enhance operational efficiency and reduce the need to request updated Forms I-693 from applicants, in practice these efficiencies have not been realized,” USCIS said in a press release.

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USCIS Encourages Employment–Based Green Card Applicants to Submit I-693 (Medical Exams) before Sept 30, 2022

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is encouraging certain employment-based adjustment of status (green card) applicants with approved I-140 petitions to complete their medical examinations (I-693 Form) before the end of the fiscal year (FY) on September 30, 2022. Consular closures during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a surplus of unused employment-based immigrant visas. According to USCIS, there are approximately double the usual number of immigrant visas available for FY 2022. USCIS stated that it remained committed to using “as many available employment-based visas as possible” before the end of FY 2022, though the agency indicated that its efforts had been stymied by missing or invalid medical exam filings.

Green card applicants must submit a valid Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, to establish that they are not inadmissible to the United States on public health grounds.

USCIS recommends the following:

  • For eligible employment-based applicants within the United States who have yet to file their green card applications, USCIS recommends including a valid Form I-693 at the time of filing.
  • For applicants in the United States with approved I-140 petitions and current priority dates, but who filed their green card applications without including a valid Form I-693, USCIS recommends visiting a civil surgeon to get a valid Form I-693 before USCIS sends the request. According to USCIS, applicants should not send their medical examinations to the agency until formally requested to do so. Form I-693 is valid for two years from the date that the civil surgeon signs the form.

USCIS is also working closely with the U.S. Department of State to process employment-based immigrant visas for applicants living outside the United States.