How Deferrals Are Recorded on Form I-693

Form I-693 has specific sections for documenting vaccines and medical findings. When a component is deferred due to pregnancy, the civil surgeon records the deferral in the appropriate section of the form with a notation indicating that the deferral is due to pregnancy.

For vaccines, the civil surgeon will list each deferred vaccine by name (for example, MMR, varicella) and indicate that the vaccine was contraindicated due to pregnancy. The form includes space for the civil surgeon to note the reason for each vaccine deferral and the anticipated follow-up plan.

For the chest X-ray, if it is deferred, the civil surgeon will note in the TB evaluation section that the chest X-ray was deferred due to pregnancy and that a follow-up evaluation is required after delivery.

What the Civil Surgeon Notes About Your Pregnancy

In addition to documenting individual deferrals, the civil surgeon will note your pregnancy status in the medical history section of Form I-693. This provides context for USCIS reviewers and explains why certain components were not completed at the time of the exam.

The notation typically includes:

• Confirmation that the applicant is pregnant at the time of the exam
• Estimated gestational age or expected delivery date (if provided)
• List of each deferred component with pregnancy listed as the reason
• Statement that deferred components will be completed after delivery
• Instructions for the follow-up appointment

How USCIS Reviews Pregnancy-Related Deferrals

USCIS is familiar with pregnancy-related deferrals and does not treat them as deficiencies in the medical exam. The agency recognizes that certain components cannot be safely completed during pregnancy and that a follow-up appointment after delivery is the standard protocol.

When USCIS receives Form I-693 with documented pregnancy deferrals, the adjudicator will note the deferred components and may request updated documentation after delivery. In some cases, USCIS will issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) asking for the completed Form I-693 once the deferred components have been finished.

Your immigration attorney can advise on how to handle the submission of Form I-693 with pregnancy deferrals and how to respond if USCIS issues an RFE.

Your Copy of the Documentation

The civil surgeon will provide you with a copy of your vaccination record and any other relevant documentation from your visit. Keep these records in a safe place — you will need them for your follow-up appointment after delivery.

At the follow-up appointment, the civil surgeon will review your prior records, administer the deferred vaccines, perform the chest X-ray if it was deferred, and update Form I-693 to reflect the completed components. The form will then be re-sealed for submission to USCIS.

What to Bring to Your Follow-Up Appointment

When you return after delivery, bring your vaccination records from your initial exam visit, any documentation of vaccines you may have received elsewhere after delivery, and your postpartum discharge summary if it contains relevant medical information. The civil surgeon will review all of this documentation before completing Form I-693.