Do I Need a New Immigration Medical Exam When Removing Conditions from My Green Card?
Quick Answer
No — filing Form I-751 to remove conditions from a conditional green card does not require a new immigration medical exam. The medical exam was completed when you originally applied for your conditional green card. However, there are limited circumstances where a new exam may be needed.
What Is a Conditional Green Card?
A conditional green card (also called a conditional permanent resident card) is a two-year green card issued to certain immigrants who obtained their permanent residence based on a marriage that was less than two years old at the time of approval. Conditional green cards are also issued to certain EB-5 immigrant investors and their derivative family members.
Conditional permanent residents have the same rights and responsibilities as permanent residents with 10-year green cards, but their status is conditional — it expires after two years. To remove the conditions and obtain a 10-year permanent green card, the conditional resident must file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, within the 90-day window before the conditional green card expires.
Form I-751 Does Not Require a New Medical Exam
Filing Form I-751 to remove conditions on residence does not require a new immigration medical exam. The medical exam (Form I-693) was completed as part of your original green card application — either through Form I-485 (adjustment of status) or through consular processing. USCIS does not require you to repeat the medical exam when you file I-751.
This is because the purpose of the I-751 is to demonstrate that your marriage was entered into in good faith (or to establish another basis for removing conditions), not to re-evaluate your admissibility on health-related grounds. The medical exam is an admissibility requirement, and your admissibility was already established when your original green card was approved.
When a New Medical Exam Might Be Required
There are limited circumstances where USCIS might request a new medical exam in connection with a conditional green card case. If your original I-693 was never properly submitted or was rejected by USCIS, you may need to provide a new one. If USCIS issues a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) that specifically requests updated medical documentation, you would need to comply.
In rare cases, if a conditional resident's case is reopened or if there are questions about a health-related ground of inadmissibility that was not fully resolved during the original application, USCIS may request additional medical documentation. These situations are uncommon. If you receive an RFE or NOID related to your I-751, consult an immigration attorney before responding.
I-693 Validity and the Removal of Conditions Timeline
Form I-693 is valid for two years from the date the civil surgeon signs it, provided it is submitted to USCIS within that period. By the time you file Form I-751 — which is typically two years after your conditional green card was approved — your original I-693 will almost certainly have expired.
However, this does not matter for the I-751 process because a new I-693 is not required. The expiration of your original I-693 does not affect your I-751 filing or your ability to remove conditions on your residence. USCIS will not ask for a new I-693 simply because the original one has expired.
What If You Need to Adjust Status Again?
In some cases, a conditional resident may need to file a new Form I-485 — for example, if their conditional green card was terminated and they are seeking to re-adjust status through a different basis. In that situation, a new immigration medical exam would be required as part of the new I-485 filing.
Similarly, if a conditional resident's I-751 is denied and they are placed in removal proceedings, they may have the opportunity to apply for adjustment of status before an immigration judge. In that context, a new medical exam would be required. Consult an immigration attorney if you are in removal proceedings.
Practical Guidance for Conditional Residents
If you are a conditional resident approaching the two-year mark on your conditional green card, focus on gathering the evidence needed for your I-751 — joint financial records, lease agreements, joint tax returns, photos, and other evidence of a bona fide marriage. You do not need to schedule a new medical exam as part of this process.
If you have questions about whether your specific situation requires a new medical exam, consult an immigration attorney. If you do need a new medical exam for any reason, ImmigrationMedicalExams.com can schedule you quickly. Call 714-760-4538.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Schedule Your Immigration Medical Exam?
Our USCIS-designated civil surgeons are ready to help. Book your appointment online or call us today.