U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that qualifying Forms I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, issued on or after Nov. 1, 2023, can be used indefinitely as proof of health.

Key Points:

  • New guidance states that any Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, properly completed and signed by a civil surgeon on or after Nov. 1, 2023, does not expire and retains its evidentiary value.
  • USCIS officers have discretion to request more evidence or a new or updated Form I-693 if they think the applicant’s medical condition has changed since the submission of the signed form and does not accurately reflect their current condition.
  • Those Forms I-693 completed and signed by a civil surgeon before Nov. 1, 2023, will retain evidentiary value for two years from the date of the civil surgeon’s signature.
  • The new guidance does not apply to Forms I-693 filed by Operation Allies Welcome parolees. These forms retain their evidentiary value for three years from the date of the civil surgeon signature.

Additional Information: The new guidance is a result of collaboration between USCIS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve the reporting of public health information collected on Form I-693.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

Copyright © 2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.