The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a significant policy change regarding medical documentation for certain immigration applicants. Effective from November 1, 2023, any Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination, and Vaccination Record, properly completed and signed by a civil surgeon will no longer have an expiration date. This means that such documentation can be indefinitely utilized to demonstrate that the applicant is not inadmissible on health-related grounds when applying for adjustment status to become a lawful permanent resident in the United States.
According to USCIS, this decision comes after consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and advancements in public health electronic notification systems. USCIS officers now have the authority to request additional evidence or a new Form I-693 if there are suspicions regarding changes in the applicant’s medical condition or doubts about the accuracy of the submitted documentation.
However, this policy change does not apply retroactively to medical examinations conducted before November 1, 2023. For such cases, the previous policy remains in effect, where Form I-693 retains evidentiary value for two years from the date of the civil surgeon’s signature. Notably, this exemption does not extend to Forms I-693 filed by Operation Allies Welcome parolees, whose documentation maintains evidentiary value for three years from the date of the civil surgeon’s signature, as per USCIS policy and CDC consultation.
Source: Economic Times
