Pregnancy Does Not Prevent the Exam

Being pregnant does not disqualify you from completing your immigration medical examination. You can and should schedule your exam even if you are pregnant. However, certain components of the examination will be modified to protect the health of you and your baby.

Chest X-Ray Deferral During Pregnancy

Chest X-rays are generally deferred during pregnancy unless medically necessary. If TB screening requires a chest X-ray and you are pregnant, the civil surgeon will discuss the risks and benefits with you and may defer the X-ray until after delivery. In some cases, an IGRA blood test alone may be sufficient for TB evaluation.

Vaccine Considerations During Pregnancy

Some vaccines are contraindicated during pregnancy, including live attenuated vaccines such as MMR and varicella. These vaccines will be deferred until after delivery. Other vaccines, such as Tdap and influenza, are recommended during pregnancy and may be administered.

The civil surgeon will review your vaccination history and determine which vaccines can be safely administered during pregnancy and which should be deferred. Deferred vaccines will need to be completed after delivery before your Form I-693 can be finalized.

What to Tell Our Civil Surgeon

Inform our civil surgeon of your pregnancy at the beginning of your appointment. Please also share your estimated due date and the name of your obstetrician. This information will help the civil surgeon make appropriate clinical decisions and document any deferrals correctly on Form I-693.