USCIS temporarily waives 60-day rule for physician signatures

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced Thursday that it would temporarily waive a requirement that civil surgeons sign a mandatory medical report no more than 60 days before applicants submit adjustment of status applications.

Key Points:

• USCIS will accept applications for an underlying immigration benefit even if the civil surgeon signed the Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record more than 60 days earlier, including the Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
• This waiver will remain in place until Sept. 30, 2022.
• USCIS said the waiver would help applicants who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and related processing delays. The agency said the waiver would benefit a number of applicants, including Afghan nationals who were evacuated from Afghanistan and completed medical examinations but were not able to apply for adjustment of status within 60 days.

Additional Information: USCIS’s policy alert on this change is available here.

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

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