USCIS Outlines New Update on the Validity Period for Form I-693

On April 4, 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, that was properly completed and signed off by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, no longer has an expiration date and can be used indefinitely as evidence that an applicant is not inadmissible on health-related grounds. Form I-693 is the form that USCIS designated civil surgeons to fill out on behalf of the applicants who are applying for adjustment of status to become lawful permanent residents. This form is used to establish that an individual is not inadmissible to the United States on public health grounds.

USCIS, in consultation with the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), determined that Form I-693’s value as usage of evidence is not limited to a certain period if it is completed and signed off by a civil surgeon in a proper manner on or after November 1, 2023. If Form I-693 was signed before this date, then the prior policy applies. USCIS and the CDC have determined that a properly completed Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon before November 1st continues to retain its value as evidence for two years of the date of the surgeon’s signature.

It is important to note that regardless of the completion of Form I-693, USCIS officers have sole discretion to request more evidence or a new or updated Form I-693 if there is reason to believe that the applicant’s medical condition has changed since the original signing of Form I-693, or on the grounds that Form I-693 does not accurately reflect the applicant’s medical condition and, therefore, can be inadmissible on health-related grounds.

This move by USCIS simplifies the process for applicants to receive immigration benefits as the process to obtain these benefits become more streamlined. Moreover, we hope that the benefit of such a move by USCIS will result in positive change and faster turnaround time for processing of adjustment of status application for all applicants. As this matter is subject to change, we encourage readers to check our website regularly for updates on this and other topics relating to immigration law.