USCIS ISSUES NEW GUIDANCE ON THE VALIDITY PERIOD OF MEDICAL EXAMS

On April 04, 2024, The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy alert announcing official guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual clarifying the validity period of Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, also known as the medical exam. Generally, all green card applicants are required to submit a valid medical exam to prove to the USCIS that the applicant’s green card application cannot be denied for health-related reasons. According to the USCIS, all medical examinations signed by a Civil Surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, will remain valid indefinitely.

The welcomed change in policy is due to technological advances in public health which allow civil surgeons to share some of the applicant’s medical data directly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local U.S. health departments. Subsequently, a medical exam signed by a civil surgeon on or after Nov. 1, 2023, will never expire. Prior to this change, all properly completed medical exams were valid for only two years from the date of the civil surgeon’s signature.

However, the USCIS reminds applicants, that even in cases where an applicant’s medical exam is facially valid, USCIS officers do have the authority to request a new or updated medical exam if the reviewing officer has reason to believe the applicant’s medical condition has changed or if the reviewing officer has reason to believe the medical exam does not accurately reflect the applicant’s medical condition.  If you have any questions about how this guidance may impact your application, please contact Musillo Unkenholt.