What Is a USCIS Civil Surgeon?

A USCIS civil surgeon is a licensed medical doctor (MD or DO) who has been specifically designated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to perform immigration medical examinations for applicants seeking lawful permanent residence in the United States.

The term "civil surgeon" is a formal USCIS designation — it does not mean the physician performs surgery. Rather, it refers to the physician's role in the civil (non-military) immigration process, as distinct from military physicians who examine service members.

How Does a Physician Become a USCIS Civil Surgeon?

To become a USCIS-designated civil surgeon, a physician must apply to USCIS and meet specific requirements. USCIS evaluates each applicant's medical license, malpractice history, and professional standing. Physicians must also demonstrate knowledge of USCIS Technical Instructions for the Medical Examination of Aliens and agree to follow USCIS protocols for completing Form I-693.

• Must hold a valid, unrestricted medical license (MD or DO)
• Must have at least 4 years of professional experience
• Must pass USCIS review of professional and malpractice history
• Must agree to follow USCIS Technical Instructions
• Must maintain designation through ongoing compliance

What Does a Civil Surgeon Do?

During the immigration medical examination, the civil surgeon performs a comprehensive physical examination, reviews your complete medical history, orders and interprets required laboratory tests, reviews your vaccination records, administers any missing required vaccines, and completes Form I-693.

The civil surgeon is responsible for determining whether you have any health conditions that constitute grounds of inadmissibility under the Immigration and Nationality Act. This includes communicable diseases of public health significance, lack of required vaccinations, physical or mental disorders with associated harmful behavior, and drug abuse or addiction.

Why Can't My Personal Doctor Complete Form I-693?

Your personal physician — no matter how qualified — cannot complete Form I-693 unless they are specifically designated by USCIS as a civil surgeon. USCIS requires the civil surgeon designation to ensure that all immigration medical examinations are performed according to standardized federal protocols. A form completed by a non-designated physician will be rejected by USCIS, and you will be required to repeat the examination with a designated civil surgeon.

How Do I Find a USCIS Civil Surgeon?

You can find a USCIS-designated civil surgeon using the Civil Surgeon Locator tool on the USCIS website (uscis.gov). You can also schedule directly with ImmigrationMedicalExams.com — all of our examining physicians are USCIS-designated civil surgeons. When choosing a civil surgeon, consider location, appointment availability, turnaround time, and whether the office handles all required laboratory testing on-site.