U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced Thursday that it would extend the temporary waiver of a requirement that civil surgeons sign required medical reports no more than 60 days before applicants submit adjustment of status applications.

Key Points:

  • The waiver had been set to expire tomorrow, Sept. 30, but will now remain in place through March 31, 2023.
  • Until then, USCIS will accept applications for an underlying immigration benefit (including the Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) even if the civil surgeon signed the Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination, Record more than 60 days earlier.
  • USCIS said the waiver would help applicants who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and related processing delays. The agency also said the waiver would benefit Afghan nationals evacuated under Operation Allies Welcome, who completed immigration medical examinations but could not apply for adjustment of status within 60 days of a civil surgeon signing their Form I-693.

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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