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Common questions about medical examinations
Why are medical exams needed?
Medical examinations verify good health and admissibility to the United States on medical grounds.
The exam can identify medical conditions that require follow-up medical care after emigration to the U.S.
or adjustment of status to permanent residence.
All medical examinations include:
Who has to have a medical exam?
What if I am pregnant?
If you are pregnant, you are required to have a medical exam, but some parts of it may be postponed until after delivery of your baby, depending on the circumstances
of your case. If you have any concerns, you should discuss them with your family doctor before the medical exam, with the Civil Surgeon, or with the Panel Physician.
What are the vaccination requirements?
You should have vaccinations for:
What if vaccinations are contrary to my religious beliefs or moral convictions?
If you have firmly held religious or moral beliefs that do not permit vaccinations, you may still be eligible for adjustment of status. You will need to apply for a
waiver of vaccination requirements.
What happens after the medical exam?
After the medical exam is complete, the Panel Physician (if you are abroad) or the Civil Surgeon (if you are in the United States) will certify the results on the
appropriate forms and place them in a sealed envelope. DO NOT OPEN THE SEALED ENVELOPE. Turn in your envelope with your immigration application.
Who gives the medical exam?
Medical examinations are given by licensed and experienced doctors, called Civil Surgeons (in the U.S.A.) and Panel Physicians (outside of the U.S.A.). Doctors
who qualify as Civil Surgeons or Panel Physicians receive special and on-going immigration oriented medical training and policy updates.
Note: A medical exam performed by a doctor NOT approved by USCIS will not be recognized.
How do I find a designated Civil Surgeon in my area of the United States?
Using a telephone, you can receive the names of USCIS-designated Civil Surgeons in your area by calling the
USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1 (800) 375-5283.
You will need to provide your zip code so that they can give you the Civil Surgeons nearest to you. Be sure to have a pen or pencil ready to write down the names and
telephone numbers when you call. If you have online access to the world wide web, you can find a selection of qualified doctors on our Civil Surgeons database. At your local
USCIS office, a list of Civil Surgeons is also available. It will be sent to you
when you receive your appointment for an adjustment of status interview.
How do I find a Panel Physician if I am applying from overseas?
You can get the names of recognized Panel Physicians by contacting the Consular Office of your closest Consulate or Embassy of the United States Consular Office.
Who pays for the medical exam?
You do. You are responsible for paying all doctor and laboratory fees associated with your medical examination.
What form is needed for the medical exam?
If you are applying for adjustment of status in the United States, Form I-693, Medical Examination of Aliens Seeking Adjustment
of Status, is used to report the results of the medical exam to USCIS. If you are applying for a visa at a U.S. Consular post overseas, Form DS 2053 (Formerly Form OF 157)
will be given to you. The Consular officer will supply this form and the accompanying supplements, and will give you the names and telephone numbers of Panel Physicians in your area.
There is also a vaccination supplement which your Civil Surgeon or Panel Physician will provide. It is used to record the results of the vaccination assessment.
Is anything else needed?
Yes. When you come to your medical examination appointment, you need to bring your passport, or other form of government issued photo identification, and any written documentation
of your vaccination history. If you are applying for an immigrant visa from outside of the United States, you need to bring 3 current visa-sized photographs.
What happens after the medical exam?
After the medical exam is complete, the Panel Physician (if you are abroad) or the Civil Surgeon (if you are in the United States) will certify the results on the
appropriate forms and place them in a sealed envelope. DO NOT OPEN THE SEALED ENVELOPE. Turn in the envelope with your immigration application.
What is a “medical waiver” and what does it do?
A medical waiver permits an immigration applicant to be allowed into, or remain in the United States despite having a health condition identified as medical grounds of inadmissibility. Terms and
conditions can be applied to a medical waiver on a case by case basis.
You are eligible for a waiver if:
What are “medical grounds of inadmissibility”?
“Medical grounds of inadmissibility” is a term used when an applicant has a health condition which is a public health concern to the United States.
Under the U.S. immigration laws, the medical grounds of inadmissibility are divided into four categories:
Are all physical or mental disorders considered “medically-related grounds of ineligibility”?
No. The Civil Surgeon or Panel Physician must determine that there is no harmful behavior associated with the disorder in question. If you have a history of a physical or a mental disorder,
there must be a harmful behavior that is likely to recur in order for it to make you ineligible. If your condition has no associated harmful behavior, then you can proceed with your application process.
What happens if I have a physical or mental disorder with associated harmful behavior?
If you have a physical or mental condition with associated harmful behavior, you may still be eligible for adjustment of status. You may apply for a waiver according to the terms and conditions established
by USCIS, in consultation with the CDC. If you are applying for adjustment of status in the United States, you must file Form I-601, Application for Waiver of
Grounds of Excludability, including fee payment, with the USCIS office considering your adjustment of status application. If you are applying for an immigrant visa at a U.S. Consular post abroad, you must
submit your waiver application to the Consular post that is considering your immigrant visa application. The Consular post will send your waiver application to the overseas
USCIS office in that jurisdiction
for a decision. If you are applying for admission as a refugee, or for adjustment of status 1 year following your initial admission as a refugee or the grant of asylum, you may be granted a waiver for
humanitarian reasons, to assure family unity, or when it is otherwise in the public interest. You must file Form I-602, Application by Refugee for Waiver of
Ground of Excludability, but you are not required to pay a fee.
What happens if the Civil Surgeon or Panel Physician finds a health problem during the medical exam?
If a health condition is diagnosed which makes you inadmissible, you may still be eligible for immigration after completing treatment for the condition. In some cases, you may still be eligible for immigration
after applying for a waiver to overcome the medical ground of inadmissibility.
What is a communicable disease of public health significance?
A “communicable disease of public health significance” is defined in the HHS regulations that cover the required medical exam for immigration purposes and includes the following 9 infectious medical conditions:
What happens if I test positive for HIV?
In the case of testing positive for the HIV virus, you must file a waiver application according to the above instructions. You must also show that your admission to the U.S.:
How do Civil Surgeons and Panel Physicians determine drug abuse or addictions?
Using the CDC guidelines, Civil Surgeons and Panel Physicians review the applicant’s medical history during the medical exam and ask questions considered necessary to determine whether or not there is any current or past use
of any drugs or other psychoactive substances (other than strictly experimental). Applicants may also be required to undergo additional testing for substance abuse.
If the Panel Physician or Civil Surgeon finds that you have a history of drug use or drug addiction, he or she will discuss the medical treatment options.
There is no waiver available for this condition for most adjustment of status applicants. If you are applying for admission as a refugee from abroad or for adjustment of status 1 year following the initial refugee admission
or grant of asylum, you may be granted a waiver for humanitarian reasons, to assure family unity, or when it is otherwise in the public interest. In these cases Form I-602,
Application by Refugee for Waiver of Grounds of Excludability, is required, but there is no fee.
USCIS has a Designated Civil Surgeons page which can provide you with links to other helpful resources.
More information on Medical Examinations is available to you from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Last Modified 11/07/2003