Why Same-Day Pickup Is Not Typically Possible

Many applicants hope to walk out of their immigration medical examination with a completed Form I-693 in hand. Unfortunately, this is not how the process works. The civil surgeon is required to review all laboratory test results before completing and sealing the form, and those results are not available on the day of your appointment.

Required laboratory tests — including the TB/IGRA blood test, syphilis serology, and gonorrhea test — are sent to an outside laboratory for processing. Results are typically returned to our office within one business day. Until those results are in, the civil surgeon cannot finalize Form I-693, because the lab findings are a required part of the form.

This is not a policy unique to our clinic — it is a requirement of the USCIS immigration medical examination process. Any civil surgeon who claims to complete Form I-693 on the same day without waiting for lab results is not following USCIS Technical Instructions, which could put your application at risk.

Standard Processing: 3 Business Days

With Standard 3-Day Processing at ImmigrationMedicalExams.com, your completed sealed Form I-693 is ready within 3 business days of your appointment. This timeline accounts for the laboratory result turnaround time plus the civil surgeon's review and completion of the form.

Standard processing is the right choice for most applicants who have adequate time before their I-485 filing deadline or USCIS interview. If your appointment is on a Monday, for example, your form would typically be ready by Thursday under standard processing.

2-Day Expedited Processing: Our Fastest Standard Option

If you need your Form I-693 as quickly as possible, our 2-Day Expedited Processing option delivers your completed sealed form within 2 business days of your appointment. This is our fastest standard processing tier and is available to all applicants for an additional fee.

With 2-Day Expedited Processing, the civil surgeon prioritizes your file as soon as laboratory results are received. If your appointment is on a Monday, your form would typically be ready by Wednesday. This option is ideal for applicants with upcoming USCIS interviews, approaching RFE deadlines, or other time-sensitive situations.

What to Do If You Have an Urgent Deadline

If you have an extremely urgent deadline — for example, a USCIS interview scheduled in the next few days — contact our office immediately by phone. Explain your specific situation and the date by which you need your completed form. Our staff will work with you to find the earliest available appointment and discuss what processing options may be available.

In some cases, we may be able to accommodate requests that fall outside our standard processing tiers on a case-by-case basis. The sooner you contact us, the more flexibility we have to help you meet your deadline. Waiting until the last minute significantly limits your options.

• Call our office as soon as you know you have an urgent deadline
• Have your USCIS interview date or RFE response deadline ready when you call
• Ask about 2-Day Expedited Processing and any additional options
• Consider whether your USCIS interview can be rescheduled if needed — consult your attorney
• Do not assume same-day completion is possible without speaking to our staff first

Planning Your Timeline Around the Exam

The best way to avoid a same-day pickup situation is to schedule your immigration medical examination well in advance of any USCIS deadlines. As a general rule, schedule your exam at least one to two weeks before your I-485 filing date or USCIS interview to allow adequate time for processing.

If you are working with an immigration attorney, ask them to advise you on the ideal timing for your medical examination relative to your overall case timeline. Attorneys who regularly work with immigration medical exams understand the processing timelines and can help you plan accordingly.