USCIS Changes Policy on the Validity of I-693 Medical Exams

USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) has updated its rules about the medical exam form used in immigration applications – Form I-693 (Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record).

What is changing?

Starting June 11, 2025, if a civil surgeon signs Form I-693 on or after November 1, 2023, the form is only valid as long as the immigration application it was submitted with is still active and being processed by USCIS. 

Under what circumstances will the I-693 be invalidated?

• If the application is withdrawn or denied, the Form I-693 linked to it is no longer valid.
• If the person later files a new immigration application, they must submit a new Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon.

Why is Form I-693 important?

Most applicants for adjustment of status (Form I-485) must prove they are not a public health risk to show that they are admissible to the United States. This is done by having a medical exam performed by a USCIS designated doctor who will prepare a Form I-693 containing the results of the exam, to be submitted to USCIS. Even people who are not normally required to do a medical exam might still be asked to submit the I-693 if USCIS believes there could be a public health concern.

What was the old policy?

In April 2024, USCIS had said that a Form I-693 signed on or after November 1, 2023, would be valid forever. That meant people could use the same form for any future immigration application.

What changed and why?

In December 2024, USCIS started requiring Form I-693 to be submitted at the same time as the green card application (Form I-485). After reviewing the policy, USCIS decided the April 2024 rule was too broad and could pose a potential health risk to the public.

Thus, by making the form valid only for the current application under consideration, USCIS wants to ensure that all medical exams are recent and up-to-date, which should help protect the health of the U.S. public.

If you have questions about this blog post or would like to discuss your immigration case, call U.S. Immigration Lawyer Sean D. Hummel to schedule a consultation.