- March 5, 2026
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. If you or someone you love is experiencing a mental health emergency, call 988 (Crisis Lifeline) or 911 immediately.
Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, is the official USCIS document completed by a designated civil surgeon after your immigration medical exam. It records your physical exam results, lab tests, and vaccination history. As of December 2, 2024, it must be submitted simultaneously with Form I-485 – your green card application. Only a USCIS-certified civil surgeon can complete it, and the sealed envelope must never be opened before submission.
What Is Form I-693?
If you’ve started researching the green card process, you’ve likely come across Form I-693 – and wondered exactly what it is, why it exists, and what happens if something goes wrong with it.
Here’s the straightforward answer: Form I-693 is the official record of your immigration medical exam. It’s the document your civil surgeon completes, seals, and hands to you for submission to USCIS alongside your green card application (Form I-485). Without it, your application is incomplete.
The form captures everything USCIS needs to evaluate whether you are admissible to the United States from a public health standpoint:
- Results of your physical examination
- Required laboratory test findings
- Tuberculosis screening classification
- Complete vaccination history and any vaccines administered during the exam
- Civil surgeon’s medical assessment and signature
It is not a form you fill out yourself. It is not something your personal physician completes. It exists in a very specific legal and medical context – and only a USCIS-designated civil surgeon has the authority to complete it.
Why Does USCIS Require Form I-693?
The United States immigration system includes health-related grounds of inadmissibility – meaning certain medical conditions or vaccination deficiencies can affect an applicant’s eligibility for a green card. Form I-693 is USCIS’s mechanism for evaluating these grounds in a standardized, verified way.
Specifically, the exam and the form are designed to identify:
| Ground of Inadmissibility | What It Covers |
| Communicable diseases of public health significance | TB, syphilis, gonorrhea, Hansen’s disease, and others |
| Vaccine-preventable diseases | Missing required immunizations per CDC schedule |
| Physical or mental disorders with harmful behavior | Conditions that may pose a safety concern |
| Substance abuse or addiction | Current or prior drug abuse history |
The requirement isn’t punitive – it’s a public health safeguard that has been part of U.S. immigration law for decades. In most cases, applicants complete the exam without any issues. When a condition is identified, USCIS works with medical professionals to determine the appropriate path forward, which may include treatment or waivers.
Who Must Submit Form I-693?
Most applicants filing Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) inside the United States are required to submit Form I-693. This includes:
- Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (spouses, children, parents)
- Family preference category applicants
- Employment-based green card applicants
- Diversity Visa (DV Lottery) winners adjusting status
- Special immigrant category applicants
Refugees and asylees adjusting status may only need a partial Form I-693, as some components of the exam may have been completed during their initial entry or resettlement processing.
Applicants undergoing consular processing outside the United States do not use Form I-693; they complete a separate medical exam with a designated panel physician overseas.
Key 2024–2025 Updates to Form I-693
USCIS has made several significant changes to Form I-693 requirements in recent months. If you’re in the middle of the application process – or planning to apply – these updates directly affect you.
December 2, 2024 – Simultaneous Filing Required: Prior to this date, applicants could submit Form I-693 separately from their Form I-485, either at a later date or in response to an RFE. That flexibility is gone. As of December 2, 2024, Form I-693 must be submitted at the same time as your I-485. Filing without it means your application may be rejected outright.
January 22, 2025 – COVID-19 Vaccine No Longer Required: USCIS removed the COVID-19 vaccination from the list of required immunizations for immigration medical exams. Applicants no longer need proof of COVID-19 vaccination or need to receive it during the exam.
June 11, 2025 – Updated Validity Rules: Form I-693 is now valid only for the duration of the pending Form I-485. If your application is denied or withdrawn, the I-693 is no longer valid – you would need a new exam if you reapply. This replaces the previous rolling two-year validity window.
Current accepted edition: 01/20/25: For any Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon on or after July 3, 2025, USCIS will only accept the 01/20/25 edition of the form. Using an outdated edition is grounds for rejection.
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Who Can Complete Form I-693?
This is one of the most important things to understand: not just any doctor can complete Form I-693.
USCIS maintains a list of designated civil surgeons – physicians who have been specifically authorized to conduct immigration medical exams and complete Form I-693. Civil surgeons must:
- Hold an unrestricted medical license in the state where they practice
- Have at least 4 years of professional experience
- Complete USCIS training on immigration medical exam requirements
- Agree to comply with all USCIS policies and CDC vaccination guidelines
If your exam is completed by a physician who is not on the USCIS civil surgeon list – even a highly qualified doctor – your Form I-693 will not be accepted.
Windermere Medical Group’s civil surgeons are USCIS-designated and actively certified at all six North Georgia locations: Cumming, Canton, Alpharetta, Gainesville, Baldwin, and Lawrenceville.
What Does a Completed Form I-693 Include?
Once your civil surgeon completes your immigration medical exam, they will fill out Form I-693 in its entirety. The completed form includes the following sections:
Part 1 – Applicant Information: Your full legal name, date of birth, and identifying details.
Part 2 – Civil Surgeon Certification: The civil surgeon’s USCIS designation number, contact information, and signature confirming the exam was conducted in compliance with USCIS requirements.
Part 3 – Medical Examination: Results of the physical exam, including any findings that may be relevant to inadmissibility grounds.
Part 4 – Tuberculosis (TB) Testing: Documentation of TB skin test or blood test results, and chest X-ray findings if applicable.
Part 5 – Syphilis Serology: Required for applicants 18 and older.
Part 6 – Vaccination Record: A complete accounting of your vaccination history and any vaccines administered during the exam, verified against the CDC schedule for immigration.
Part 7 – Civil Surgeon’s Findings: The civil surgeon’s overall assessment, including any recommended follow-up or Class A/B designations if applicable.
What Happens After the Form Is Completed?
- The civil surgeon places the completed form in an envelope and seals it
- The envelope is marked “DO NOT OPEN – FOR USCIS USE ONLY.”
- You receive the sealed envelope along with a personal copy of the form
- You submit the sealed envelope to USCIS with your Form I-485 – unopened
Common Reasons Form I-693 Gets Rejected or Triggers an RFE
- Using an outdated edition of the form
- Missing the civil surgeon’s or applicant’s signature
- Incomplete vaccination record
- Illegible lab results or missing test documentation
- Damaged, opened, or unsealed envelope
- TB classification left incomplete
- Civil surgeon’s USCIS designation expired at the time of signing
Common Mistakes That Delay Immigration Applications
- Incomplete vaccination records
- Incorrect form completion
- Visiting a non-authorized physician
- Missing required tests
Benefits of Choosing an Experienced Immigration Exam Clinic
- 15+ years of immigration exam experience
- Thousands of completed immigration exams
- Dedicated immigration exam team
- On-site vaccines and lab testing
- Competitive and transparent pricing
- Multiple convenient Georgia locations
Where to Get Form I-693 Completed in North Georgia
Windermere Medical Group offers immigration medical exams and Form I-693 completion at six locations across North Georgia. Their USCIS-certified civil surgeons handle the entire process – physical exam, lab work, vaccinations, and documentation – with appointments available Monday through Saturday.
As a full-service practice offering primary care, acute care, and urgent care in addition to immigration medical exams, WMG is built to support your health needs at every stage – not just during the application process.
Schedule your immigration medical exam and Form I-693 completion at Windermere Medical Group. Contact your nearest location today.
Conclusion
Form I-693 is a critical part of the immigration process. Accurate completion by an experienced Civil Surgeon helps ensure your application moves forward without unnecessary delays.
If you are preparing for your immigration medical exam, scheduling your appointment with an authorized provider and bringing the required documents can help make the process smooth and efficient. Completing Form I-693 accurately is a key step toward successfully progressing through your immigration journey.
FAQs:
1. What is Form I-693 used for?
It’s the official USCIS document that records your immigration medical exam results and is submitted with your green card application (Form I-485).
2. Can I fill out Form I-693 myself?
No. Only a USCIS-designated civil surgeon can complete and sign Form I-693. It cannot be self-reported.
3. How long does Form I-693 stay valid?
As of June 11, 2025, it remains valid only while your Form I-485 is actively pending with USCIS.
4. What happens if I open the sealed Form I-693 envelope?
USCIS will reject it. You’ll need to repeat the full immigration medical exam with a civil surgeon.
5. Is the COVID-19 vaccine still required on Form I-693?
No. As of January 22, 2025, COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required for immigration medical exams.
About the Author
Priya Bayyapureddy
Dr. Priya Bayyapureddy, MD is a board certified Internal Medicine doctor with over 20 years of experience in primary care Internal Medicine. Dr. Bayyapureddy completed her Internal Medicine residency at Emory University School of Medicine and internship at University of Tennessee College of Medicine at Chattanooga.
