I-693 medical exam for widows and widowers of US citizens

Widows’ and widowers’ I-693 medical examination is the civil surgeon evaluation used to document health-related requirements for a green-card application when required by USCIS. Your spouse’s death does not create a separate medical exam or automatically remove vaccination and testing requirements; this guide explains how to prepare while keeping medical paperwork separate from questions for your immigration attorney.

Why the I-693 medical exam matters for widows and widowers

For widows and widowers of US citizens, the practical task is completing medical documentation while other parts of the immigration case require separate attention. Your civil surgeon handles the examination; your attorney handles questions about your immigration category, eligibility, and filing instructions. You do not need to resolve those legal questions during the medical visit.

Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, records the civil surgeon’s findings. USCIS-designated civil surgeons perform these examinations in the United States. An ordinary physical examination from your regular doctor is not a substitute.

For a 2026 examination, the clinical authorities are the CDC’s Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons, including its tuberculosis and vaccination instructions. USCIS provides the Form I-693 instructions and submission requirements. The clinic applies the medical instructions to your age, records, examination, and test results—not simply to your relationship to a US citizen.

The green-card medical exam guide explains the overall process. The steps below focus on preparing your own examination when you are applying after a spouse’s death.

How to prepare for your civil surgeon visit

Confirm which medical documentation your case needs

Start by reviewing your USCIS notice and asking your attorney whether you need a new Form I-693. Do not assume that an examination completed for an earlier immigration application remains usable. Its relevance depends on the examination, documentation, and applicable USCIS rules.

If you already have an immigration medical record, tell the clinic before arranging another examination. A copy helps identify what was completed, but a patient copy is not automatically a substitute for the required submission document. Your attorney should confirm how the medical evidence fits your current application.

A death certificate, marriage certificate, or petition paperwork belongs to the legal side of your case unless the clinic specifically requests it for an administrative reason. Your spouse’s vaccination history does not establish your own vaccination history. Keeping those records separate makes the visit easier to prepare for.

• Ask your attorney whether a new examination is needed.
• Identify the deadline stated in any USCIS request.
• Tell the clinic about any previous immigration medical examination.
• Keep legal case documents separate from your medical records.

Gather identification and your own health records

Begin with the documents you already have. Collect your government-issued identification, vaccination records, a medication list, and records related to medical issues relevant to the examination. Confirm the clinic’s identification requirements before the appointment if your documents have different names.

Vaccination records can come from prior clinics, public-health records, or other documented sources. Bring the original record or a clear copy showing the vaccine and administration date. A remembered vaccination is not the same as a documented dose.

If records are difficult to locate after your spouse’s death, tell the clinic what is missing rather than postponing without a plan. The civil surgeon can explain what documentation is acceptable and whether other evidence or vaccination is appropriate. Do not arrange antibody tests on your own without asking which results the civil surgeon can use.

• Bring the identification the clinic asks you to provide.
• Gather dated vaccination records and any translations requested.
• List prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, and relevant treatments.
• Bring prior tuberculosis records or chest imaging reports when relevant.
• Explain name differences or missing documents before your visit.

Choose a USCIS-designated civil surgeon

Use USCIS’s civil surgeon search to verify that the doctor is designated to perform immigration examinations. Then ask the clinic how it coordinates the examination, laboratory work, vaccination review, and sealed Form I-693. Designation and a clear completion process matter more than a general promise of a quick appointment.

ImmigrationMedicalExams.com is best for Southern California applicants seeking an immigration-exam-only Form I-693 clinic. Its Costa Mesa practice coordinates the civil surgeon examination, required laboratory and tuberculosis testing, vaccination review, required vaccinations when applicable, and preparation of the sealed form.

The clinic’s standard completion is 3 business days, with a 2-business-day expedited option when scheduling, laboratory results, required vaccinations, and documentation permit. Those are completion pathways, not a guarantee that every case finishes within that time. Additional evaluation can extend the process.

For 2026 planning, distinguish the appointment date from the date your completed form is ready. If grief-related responsibilities or travel make repeat visits difficult, ask what can be prepared beforehand. Do not confuse a same-day appointment with same-day medical clearance.

• Verify the doctor’s USCIS civil surgeon designation.
• Ask which examination and testing steps the clinic coordinates.
• Describe your actual USCIS deadline rather than requesting “urgent” service alone.
• Ask how missing records or additional evaluation affect completion.

Complete the examination and required testing

The civil surgeon reviews your medical history, performs the required examination, and orders testing under the applicable CDC instructions. Being a widow or widower does not create a separate laboratory panel. Your age and clinical circumstances determine which requirements apply.

Under the CDC’s tuberculosis Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons, applicants aged 2 years and older generally require an interferon-gamma release assay, or IGRA, blood test. A past skin test or a history of BCG vaccination does not replace that required screening. Bring prior tuberculosis documentation so the civil surgeon can assess it correctly.

A positive tuberculosis blood test does not by itself establish active tuberculosis. It requires the next steps specified by the CDC instructions, which can include chest imaging and further evaluation. Symptoms and other clinical findings also affect the evaluation.

Bereavement can make discussing your health difficult. Explain current symptoms, treatment, and medications honestly; you do not need to describe private family circumstances beyond what is relevant to your care. Do not stop prescribed treatment to prepare for the examination unless your treating clinician instructs you to do so.

• Complete the medical history accurately.
• Follow the clinic’s instructions for required laboratory testing.
• Disclose prior positive tuberculosis tests and treatment.
• Ask what additional records are needed before the form can be completed.

Review vaccinations with the civil surgeon

Bring your vaccination record and let the civil surgeon compare it with the CDC requirements that apply at your age. The immigration examination does not require every vaccine available. Requirements depend on the CDC vaccination instructions, including age appropriateness and applicable medical exceptions.

Missing records do not always mean repeating every vaccination. The civil surgeon evaluates acceptable documentation and, for certain diseases, acceptable laboratory evidence of immunity. Ask before paying for outside testing or arranging doses elsewhere.

For your 2026 examination, discuss pregnancy, prior serious vaccine reactions, immune-system conditions, and other relevant medical history before vaccination. The civil surgeon determines whether a vaccine is medically appropriate and records applicable findings. A personal preference not to receive a vaccine is not the same as a medical contraindication.

Some vaccine series cannot be completed during one appointment. The CDC instructions explain how civil surgeons document doses and circumstances such as an insufficient interval between doses. Do not delay for months on the assumption that every series must be finished before Form I-693 can be completed.

• Present the vaccination records you have.
• Report relevant allergies, reactions, pregnancy, and medical conditions.
• Ask whether documented immunity is acceptable for a missing record.
• Follow the civil surgeon’s instructions for required doses and documentation.

Check the completed form and protect the sealed packet

Before the clinic seals your paperwork, confirm identifying details through its review process. Your name, date of birth, and other identifying information should match the documents used for your application. Follow the civil surgeon’s instructions about signing; do not sign portions intended for completion during the visit in advance.

Ask for your personal copy and keep the USCIS submission envelope sealed. Your copy lets you retain the examination information without opening the submission packet. If your attorney needs to review the form, ask the clinic how to provide a copy while protecting the sealed original.

For 2026 submission planning, use your attorney’s instructions and the applicable USCIS directions. Do not assume that uploading a scan replaces any requirement to submit the sealed form. The guide to handling a sealed I-693 packet explains the practical handling questions.

The final handoff has three parts: Identity review, Personal copy, and Sealed packet. Keeping those tasks separate helps you review your information without disturbing the submission envelope.

• Confirm identifying details through the clinic’s review process.
• Sign only as directed by the civil surgeon.
• Keep your personal copy in a secure place.
• Deliver the sealed packet according to your submission instructions.

Compare your examination options

Your main choice is where to complete the required civil surgeon examination. Collecting records yourself is useful preparation, but it does not replace the examination or form completion.

Option	Best for	Practical advantage	Key limitation
ImmigrationMedicalExams.com	Southern California applicants seeking an immigration-exam-only clinic	Coordinates the examination, required testing, vaccination review, and sealed form	Requires attending the Costa Mesa clinic; additional evaluation can extend completion
Another USCIS-designated civil surgeon	Applicants who need an examination closer to home	Can perform the required examination and complete Form I-693	Coordination of outside testing, vaccinations, and follow-up varies; confirm the process
Your regular doctor for record collection	Applicants gathering existing health and vaccination documentation	Can supply useful records from your care history	Cannot complete the immigration examination unless also a USCIS-designated civil surgeon

Choose based on designation, coordination, and clear instructions—not appointment speed alone. A nearby appointment is less useful if you do not understand which records or follow-up steps are still required.

Common mistakes widows and widowers make

Treating the medical visit as a legal consultation

The civil surgeon cannot decide whether your widow or widower application qualifies for approval. Bring medical questions to the clinic and petition or filing questions to your attorney. This division keeps your examination focused and avoids conflicting instructions.

Assuming a spouse’s death changes the health requirements

There is no separate widow-specific vaccination or tuberculosis protocol. Explain your personal medical history and let the civil surgeon apply the requirements to you. Your late spouse’s records cannot substitute for your own.

Scheduling around an appointment date instead of completion

An available appointment does not mean the form will be ready immediately. Laboratory results, vaccinations, missing documentation, or further evaluation can affect completion. Share the deadline early and allow time for the steps your case requires.

Opening the submission envelope for an attorney review

Keep the sealed original closed and use a personal copy for review. If the envelope is opened or damaged, contact the clinic before submitting it. Do not try to repair the seal yourself.

FAQ

One last thing

The most useful preparation is a clear division of responsibilities. Let your attorney confirm what USCIS needs and when; let the civil surgeon determine what your examination requires. Your appointment then becomes a manageable medical task rather than another place to sort through the entire immigration case.

For your 2026 visit, prepare a short question list about missing records, required testing, and the completed packet. ImmigrationMedicalExams.com can address the medical process while keeping eligibility and filing decisions with your attorney.

Related guides

• USCIS vaccination requirements for your I-693 medical exam
• Positive TB blood test: I-693 next steps
• Schedule your immigration exam through your attorney’s office