Medical exams valid for shorter period

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has imposed a one-year validity period for medical examinations and vaccination records submitted in support of certain benefit applications, including applications for lawful permanent residence or adjustment of status.

Under the previous policy, the application needed to be filed within one year of completion of Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. However, the I-693 remained valid while the application was pending – even if more than a year had passed since filing.

As of June 1, however, USCIS has shortened the validity period of Form I-693 to only one year. The new policy applies to all applications adjudicated on or after June 1, even if they have already been filed.

Form I-693 contains results of medical examinations and vaccinations and is required to show that an applicant is not inadmissible on public health grounds.

USCIS has updated the Form I-693 information on its website and will hold a stakeholders conference on June 12, 2014 to answer questions and provide guidance.

BAL Comment: The change in policy will mean that applicants with long-pending I-485 applications for permanent residency or adjustment of status will have to update their Form I-693 by undergoing another medical exam before the Green Card application can be approved.

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