Form I-693, the Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, starts with Part 1 — the section where you write in your own biographic information before your civil surgeon ever opens the exam. Get these details right before your 2026 appointment, and your visit moves faster with fewer corrections.
- Part 1 of the medical form USCIS requires — Form I-693 — covers your name, A-Number, and address; complete it before your visit.
- Do not sign Part 1 early: USCIS requires your signature in front of the civil surgeon, not beforehand.
- Match every name and number in Part 1 exactly to your passport, green card, and prior USCIS filings.
- Bring a government photo ID and your A-Number documentation so your civil surgeon can verify Part 1 at check-in.
- Leave the USCIS Online Account Number blank if you don't have one — it's optional, not required.
Why This Matters
Part 1 is the only section of Form I-693 you fill out yourself. Everything after it — the exam findings, the tuberculosis test results, the vaccination record — is completed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon, not you.
A mistake in Part 1 is one of the most avoidable reasons a completed medical form gets flagged. If your name is spelled differently than it appears on your green card application, or your A-Number has a typo, USCIS can question whether the form belongs to you at all. Reviewing the vaccination requirements that apply to your case separately from Part 1 also helps, since that's a different section of the form entirely.
Getting Part 1 right before you sit down with your civil surgeon in 2026 means your appointment time goes toward the actual exam, not toward re-copying paperwork.
What You'll Need
- The current edition of Form I-693 (download it from the official USCIS website — older editions get rejected)
- A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID, such as a passport or driver's license
- Your Alien Registration Number (A-Number), if you have one
- Your USCIS Online Account Number, if you created one when filing electronically
- A copy of a recent USCIS notice or your I-485, I-130, or DS-260 filing for cross-checking spelling and numbers
- A black or blue ink pen, if you're completing a paper copy instead of typing
- About 15 to 20 minutes of quiet time to fill in the fields carefully
The Steps
1. Download the current version of Form I-693
USCIS updates this form periodically, and using an outdated edition is a common reason a completed form gets rejected. Check the edition date printed at the bottom of the form against what's currently listed on uscis.gov before you write anything in.
Common mistake: reusing a PDF a friend sent you from their own application months earlier. Always pull a fresh copy.
2. Gather your identifying numbers first
Before filling in a single field, have your A-Number and USCIS Online Account Number (if you have one) in front of you. Both appear on prior USCIS notices, your receipt notice, or your online account.
Not every applicant has an A-Number yet — some categories, including certain first-time filers, won't have one assigned. That's expected, not an error.
3. Match your legal name exactly
Write your name exactly as it appears on your passport, green card, or the immigration petition already filed on your behalf. If you go by a nickname or a shortened version of your name day-to-day, that's not what goes on Form I-693.
Expected outcome: the name in Part 1 matches every other document in your immigration file, letter for letter.
4. Fill in your date of birth and country of birth carefully
These fields sound simple, but transposed digits in a birth date are one of the more common data-entry errors civil surgeons catch during check-in. Double-check the day/month/year order — USCIS forms use the U.S. month-day-year format.
5. Enter your current mailing address
USCIS may use this address for correspondence related to your case, so it needs to be where you actually receive mail in 2026, not a former address or a P.O. box you no longer check. If you've moved recently, use your current address, not the one on file with USCIS from an earlier filing — you can update USCIS separately if needed.
6. Leave the signature line blank
This is the step most applicants get wrong. USCIS instructions are clear: you sign Part 1 in the presence of your civil surgeon, not before your appointment. A form pre-signed at home may need to be redone with a fresh copy, which costs you time on exam day.
Common mistake: signing the form the night before to "save time." It does the opposite.
7. Bring your supporting documents to the appointment
Bring your photo ID, your A-Number documentation, and any prior vaccination records to your visit so your civil surgeon can verify Part 1 against real documents before the medical exam begins. If you're arranging a same-day immigration medical exam because of a filing deadline, having Part 1 pre-filled and your documents organized matters even more, since there's less buffer time to fix errors.
Troubleshooting
I don't have an A-Number yet. Leave the field blank or write "N/A." Not every applicant has one at this stage, and your civil surgeon can confirm whether it's required for your specific filing.
My legal name doesn't match my current ID. Bring documentation that explains the discrepancy, such as a marriage certificate or court order for a legal name change. Your civil surgeon needs to see a paper trail, not just a verbal explanation.
I already signed Part 1 before my appointment. Tell the front desk when you check in. Most clinics will simply have you complete a fresh copy rather than accept a form signed outside the civil surgeon's presence.
I made an error and it's messy with cross-outs. Print a new copy rather than submitting a form with corrections. USCIS reviewers can question altered biographic fields, even when the correction is accurate.
I don't have a USCIS Online Account Number. Leave it blank. This field only applies to applicants who created an online account during electronic filing, and it's optional.
My address changed after I filed my petition. Use your current address on Form I-693. This form reflects your information at the time of the exam, not the address on file from an earlier filing.
Tools and Resources
- The current Form I-693 edition, downloaded directly from uscis.gov before your appointment
- A recent USCIS notice or receipt number for cross-checking your A-Number
- UUSCIS vaccination requirements for your I-693 medical exam, if you're unsure what immunizations your civil surgeon will review
- A same-day immigration medical exam option if your filing deadline is close and you need Part 1 and the full exam handled together quickly
What to Do Next
Once Part 1 is filled in — but not signed — bring it with your ID and supporting documents to your civil surgeon appointment. Standard completion of the full medical form and Form I-693 packet runs about three business days, with a two-business-day expedited option available when scheduling, lab results, and any required vaccinations allow it.
Schedule your immigration medical exam
Bring your completed Part 1 to your civil surgeon visit in Costa Mesa, CA.
FAQ
What is Part 1 of Form I-693?
Part 1 is the biographic information section of the medical form USCIS requires for immigration exams — your legal name, date of birth, A-Number, and mailing address. You complete it yourself, unlike later sections, which your civil surgeon fills in.
Can I sign Part 1 before my appointment?
No. USCIS requires you to sign Form I-693 in the presence of your civil surgeon, not beforehand. Signing early can mean redoing the form with a fresh copy at your appointment.
Do I need an A-Number to complete Form I-693?
Not always. Some applicants haven't been assigned an A-Number yet at the time of their exam, and the field can be left blank or marked N/A. Your civil surgeon can confirm what applies to your filing category.
What happens if my name on Form I-693 doesn't match my green card application?
A mismatch can raise questions during USCIS review. Bring supporting documents, such as a marriage certificate or legal name change order, so your civil surgeon can note the discrepancy accurately.
Is the USCIS Online Account Number required on Form I-693?
No, it's optional. It only applies if you created an account during electronic filing. Leave it blank if you don't have one.
How long does it take to complete Form I-693 in 2026?
Standard completion typically takes about three business days after your exam, with a two-business-day expedited option depending on scheduling, lab results, and any required vaccinations.
Where do I get the current version of Form I-693?
Download it directly from the official USCIS website before your appointment. Using an outdated edition is a common reason a submitted form gets rejected.
Does a civil surgeon check Part 1 before starting the exam?
Yes. Most civil surgeons verify your name, A-Number, and address against your photo ID and prior USCIS documents at check-in, before the physical exam and vaccination review begin.
One Last Thing
The single detail that trips up more applicants than any other in Part 1 isn't the A-Number or the address — it's the signature line. Applicants sign at home to feel prepared, then arrive at their 2026 appointment needing a fresh copy anyway. Fill in every field, leave your signature blank, and let your civil surgeon walk you through that last step in person.