K-2 I-693: When One Year Can Spare You a Full Exam
Short answer: usually not a full one. If you file Form I-485 within one year of your overseas panel-physician exam and no Class A condition was found, USCIS says you generally do not repeat the whole exam. You still need to prove your vaccinations and submit the right I-693 parts with your I-485. We are ImmigrationMedicalExams.com, a civil-surgeon practice that completes these filings.
TL;DR:
- Eligible applicants may submit Parts 1 through 5, Part 7, and Part 10 of Form I-693 for vaccination review instead of repeating the full examination.
- A completed DS-3025 may meet the vaccination requirement; if it is missing or incomplete, a U.S. civil surgeon must complete Part 10.
- Since June 11, 2025, USCIS requires the I-693, or an applicable partial vaccination record, to accompany the I-485 or the filing may be rejected.
- Have the form completed near filing: forms signed on or after November 1, 2023, generally retain evidentiary value only for the application submitted with them.
Table of Contents
- Who the one-year rule covers and the terms you will see
- Which I-693 parts you submit when you skip the full exam
- Vaccination evidence, titers and the mistakes that trigger RFEs
- Timing and validity: what changed for Form I-693
- How the civil surgeon visit and sealed envelope work
- Why a specialist clinic lowers your RFE risk
- Our recommendations for K-2 filers
- How we help K-2 applicants file a compliant I-693 fast
- FAQ
- Sources
Who the one-year rule covers and the terms you will see
A K-2 visa holder is the child of a K-1 fiancé(e) petitioner’s beneficiary. The child enters the U.S. on the K-1 petition and later files an I-485 to adjust status. Three terms show up repeatedly in USCIS and CDC guidance:
- Panel physician: the doctor approved to perform your overseas immigration exam before you traveled.
- Civil surgeon: the USCIS-designated doctor who performs the exam and signs Form I-693 inside the United States.
- Class A condition: a serious health finding that makes an applicant inadmissible until it is resolved.
The rule itself is simple. File your I-485 within one year of the overseas exam, with no Class A condition on record, and a full repeat exam is generally unnecessary. You can confirm your own situation in the USCIS Policy Manual chapter on reviewing medical documentation and in the Form I-693 instructions. Form I-693 is otherwise required for most adjustment applicants who have no overseas exam in their file, as the USCIS Policy Manual explains.
Which I-693 parts you submit when you skip the full exam
Many K-2 applicants assume they must start over. When your overseas exam falls inside the one-year window and showed no Class A condition, you may only need a vaccination assessment. In that case you submit Parts 1 through 5, Part 7 and Part 10 of Form I-693, per the USCIS policy guidance.
DS-3025 is the panel physician’s vaccination record. If it was completed properly and is included, it may satisfy the vaccination requirement. If it is missing or incomplete, a U.S. civil surgeon must complete Part 10.
- Locate your DS-3025, or ask your overseas panel physician for a copy.
- Gather every written vaccine record you have.
- Book a U.S. civil surgeon to complete Part 10 if the DS-3025 is missing or incomplete.
- Submit the I-693, or the partial I-693, together with your I-485.
Pro Tip: Scan your DS-3025 and vaccine records the day you receive them, and keep the originals so the civil surgeon can review them at your visit.
Vaccination evidence, titers and the mistakes that trigger RFEs
Civil surgeons follow the CDC Technical Instructions. We review your records, order lab confirmation of immunity when appropriate, give vaccines if indicated, and record everything on Form I-693. Records must be written and dated. A verbal vaccine history does not count.
When paperwork is missing, a titer (a blood test showing immunity) can document protection instead. Our guide to accepted vaccine titers explains when they work, and our MMR walkthrough shows how one visit can clear that requirement.
The pitfalls we see most often, with their fixes:
- Missing DS-3025: contact the overseas panel physician, or have Part 10 completed here.
- Altered or unclear dates: request a clean copy from the original provider.
- Incomplete vaccine series: get titers or receive the remaining doses in the U.S.
- Verbal history only: obtain written records or titers.
USCIS reviews vaccination documentation closely, and a missing or improperly completed DS-3025 means a civil surgeon must complete Part 10. Fixing that before you file is far easier than answering a request for evidence later.
Timing and validity: what changed for Form I-693
USCIS now treats the timing of your I-693 as part of the filing. Two changes matter most:
- A properly completed I-693 signed on or after November 1, 2023 generally keeps its evidentiary value only for the application it is submitted with.
- Under USCIS guidance effective June 11, 2025, you must submit the I-693, or the partial vaccination record if that applies, together with your I-485 to avoid rejection.
The practical lesson: have your I-693 completed close to your I-485 filing date, and do not count on reusing an older form unless it meets the policy criteria. Our edition and sealing checklist is a useful last check before you file.
How the civil surgeon visit and sealed envelope work
A typical visit follows a predictable path:
- Schedule the appointment, ideally near your planned filing date.
- Bring your passport or other ID (our ID checklist lists what is accepted), your DS-3025 and prior vaccine records.
- The civil surgeon reviews your medical history and performs the exam components in the CDC medical history and physical exam instructions.
- Any needed lab tests or titers are ordered, and vaccines are given if indicated.
- The civil surgeon completes and signs the I-693 and hands it to you in a sealed envelope.
Per the Form I-693 instructions, that sealed envelope is what goes to USCIS. Do not open it if you are filing on paper. Online filers should follow USCIS upload instructions and keep the original until a final decision. If your timeline is tight, a faster processing option helps, and our step-by-step exam guide shows what to expect.
Pro Tip: Check the name, date of birth and A-number on the sealed envelope paperwork before you leave the clinic.
Why a specialist clinic lowers your RFE risk
We have specialized in immigration medical exams since 2007, and we do nothing else: no primary care, urgent care or sick visits. On-site labs for titers, careful vaccination review, correct form completion and sealed-envelope handling all reduce avoidable errors. We offer standard 3-day processing, a 2-day expedited option, family exams, 24/7 online scheduling and a flat-package approach.
Our recommendations for K-2 filers
Three habits prevent most problems we see. First, confirm and scan your DS-3025 or vaccine records before you file anything. Second, if the DS-3025 is missing or incomplete, have a U.S. civil surgeon complete Part 10 close to your I-485 date. Third, when time is short, use a specialist clinic that can run titers on site and hand over the sealed envelope quickly. We frequently help applicants who have experienced trouble elsewhere; these steps can help prevent problems.
— ImmigrationMedicalExams Medical Team
How we help K-2 applicants file a compliant I-693 fast
If you want a managed, low-risk path, here is what we handle for K-2 applicants:
- Your USCIS I-693 exam completed by a designated civil surgeon
- On-site lab testing and vaccine titers
- Vaccine administration and completion of Part 10
- Sealed-envelope delivery, ready for USCIS submission
- Family and child exams, with 24/7 online scheduling
Choose standard 3-day processing or the 2-day expedited option, and book close to your planned I-485 filing date. Our pricing page lists vaccination titers, additional vaccinations and replacement sealed envelopes. Pick your appointment time online today.
FAQ
Do K-2 visa holders need a new medical exam?
Usually not a full one. If you file your I-485 within one year of your overseas exam and no Class A condition was found, you generally only need the vaccination portion, as USCIS explains. A civil surgeon completes Part 10 if your DS-3025 is missing or incomplete.
What are the new rules for Form I-693?
A form signed on or after November 1, 2023 generally stays valid only for the application it is submitted with. Since June 11, 2025, USCIS has required the I-693, or the partial form where it applies, to be submitted with the I-485.
How much does an I-693 cost?
Fees vary by provider and by which vaccines or tests you need. Our flat-package approach is designed to limit surprises, and current details are on our pricing page.
What if my overseas exam is more than a year old?
The one-year exemption would no longer apply, so a U.S. civil surgeon would need to perform the examination. Contact us before you file so we can review your records and timeline.
Sources
- Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record | USCIS
- Vaccination | Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons | Immigrant and Refugee Health | CDC