Why Is the Medical Exam Required for Form I-485?

U.S. immigration law requires all applicants for lawful permanent residence (green card) to demonstrate that they are not inadmissible on medical grounds. The immigration medical exam is the mechanism by which this determination is made.

The civil surgeon — a USCIS-designated physician — conducts the exam, reviews your health history, performs required laboratory tests, and documents the findings on Form I-693. USCIS uses Form I-693 to determine whether you have any medical grounds of inadmissibility.

Who Must Complete the Exam?

All applicants for adjustment of status who are 15 years of age or older must complete the full immigration medical exam, including the physical examination, laboratory testing, and vaccination review.

Applicants under 15 must complete the physical examination and vaccination review, but some laboratory tests (syphilis, gonorrhea) are not required for applicants under 15.

The Exam Process for I-485 Applicants

The immigration medical exam for I-485 applicants includes:

• Complete physical examination by the civil surgeon
• Review of your medical history, including mental health and substance use history
• Tuberculosis testing (TST or IGRA blood test)
• Blood draw for syphilis and gonorrhea testing (ages 15+)
• Review of your vaccination records and administration of any missing vaccines
• Completion of Form I-693 by the civil surgeon

How Form I-693 Fits Into the I-485 Process

Form I-693 is one of the required documents for Form I-485. You can submit Form I-693 with your initial I-485 filing, or you can bring it to your USCIS interview. Many immigration attorneys recommend bringing it to the interview to ensure it is as fresh as possible.

USCIS will review Form I-693 as part of the adjudication of your I-485. If the civil surgeon identified any medical grounds of inadmissibility (Class A findings), USCIS will address those findings during the adjudication process.

Finding a Civil Surgeon

Only USCIS-designated civil surgeons can complete Form I-693. You can find a civil surgeon using the USCIS civil surgeon locator at uscis.gov. ImmigrationMedicalExams.com is a USCIS-designated civil surgeon practice in Orange County, California, serving applicants throughout Southern California.