USCIS to change validity period of green card medical exams

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has issued a policy memorandum that details changes in how it will calculate the validity period of the medical exam that green card applicants submit in support of their adjustment-of-status applications.

Key points:

• The medical exam (Form I-693) is valid only if a physician signs it within 60 days before the date an applicant files an adjustment-of-status application and USCIS adjudicates the application within two years from the date of the physician’s signature.
• The new policy is effective Nov. 1, although the policy memo says that some Form I-693s submitted before the effective date may be reviewed according to previous policy.
• The policy memo is available here.

Background: Green card applicants are required to undergo a medical exam and obtain a signed Form I-693 from a USCIS-certified physician (“civil surgeon”) to submit in support of their green card application. Under current policy, Form I-693 is valid for one year from the date of its filing with USCIS. The new policy effectively doubles the period of time that the medical exam will remain valid while USCIS adjudicates the green card application.

BAL Analysis: Applicants will be required to obtain their medical examinations no earlier than 60 days prior to the date of filing their adjustment-of-status applications, but should be less likely to need to update an expired medical exam.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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