What Is a USCIS Civil Surgeon?

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 current USCIS eligibility requirements as described on the official USCIS Civil Surgeon Designation page. Physicians must also agree to follow the applicable CDC Technical Instructions for the Medical Examination of Aliens and USCIS protocols for completing Form I-693.

• Must hold a valid, unrestricted medical license (MD or DO)
• Must meet current USCIS eligibility requirements
• Must apply for USCIS civil surgeon designation
• Must agree to follow CDC Technical Instructions and USCIS form requirements
• 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 an unauthorized provider may not be accepted by USCIS, and you may 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.