The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reversed a recent policy regarding medical examination forms required for green card applicants.
What does the new policy say? Effective 11 June 2025, all new green card applications must include a fresh medical examination form, regardless of whether the applicant had submitted one previously.
The agency's latest update replaces a policy introduced just over a year ago, which had allowed applicants to reuse Form I-693—the ‘Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record’—indefinitely, as long as it was properly filled out and signed by a certified civil surgeon.
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“Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, signed by a civil surgeon on or after Nov. 1, 2023, is only valid while the application the Form I-693 was submitted with is pending,” the USCIS said in its statement.
“If the application a Form I-693 was submitted with is withdrawn or denied, that Form I-693 is no longer valid. This guidance is effective immediately and applies to applications pending or filed on or after June 11, 2025.”
So what does USCIS's updated policy details?
{{/usCountry}}“If the application a Form I-693 was submitted with is withdrawn or denied, that Form I-693 is no longer valid. This guidance is effective immediately and applies to applications pending or filed on or after June 11, 2025.”
So what does USCIS's updated policy details?
{{/usCountry}}It details that if a green card application is denied or withdrawn, the accompanying medical form cannot be reused. Any subsequent application will now require a new medical examination and an updated I-693 form.
“Most aliens subject to health-related grounds of inadmissibility must have an immigration medical examination to demonstrate they are not inadmissible,” USCIS added.
“In general, aliens applying to adjust status must submit Form I-693 to show they are free from any conditions that would render them inadmissible under the health-related grounds of inadmissibility. We may require an alien who would otherwise not be required to undergo an immigration medical examination to submit a Form I-693 as a matter of discretion, if the evidence indicates that there may be a public health concern.”
The now-revoked April 2024 guidance had made the validity of Form I-693 indefinite. “We have since determined that the April 4, 2024, policy is overly broad and could potentially threaten public health in the United States,” USCIS said.
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“By limiting the validity period to only the current immigration benefit application or request, we ensure that aliens get timely and proper medical examinations and treatment, which safeguards public health.”