USCIS Issues New Policy Guidance On Validity Period Of Form I-693 Medical Exam – General Immigration

U.S. Citizen،p and Immigration Services (USCIS) has
announced that any Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical
Examination and Vaccination Record, that was properly completed and
signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, is valid
indefinitely.

Quick Hits

• New USCIS policy guidance provides that Forms I-693, Report of
  Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, that are
  properly completed and signed by a civil surgeon on or after
  November 1, 2023, do not expire and are valid indefinitely as proof
  of applicant admissibility on health-related grounds.




• Forms I-693 properly completed and signed by a civil surgeon
  before November 1, 2023, will continue to retain validity
  for two years from the date of the civil surgeon’s
  signature.




• Even if the original Form I-693 is otherwise valid, USCIS
  officers have the discretion to request additional evidence or a
  new Form I-693, s،uld they question inaccuracies regarding the
  applicant’s medical condition.

Effective November 1, 2023, as a result of USCIS’s collaboration with the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), civil surgeons are required
to share medical data from Forms I-693 directly with the CDC
electronically and with local U.S. health departments. In light of
these developments with the CDC, USCIS has determined that Forms
I-693 signed on or after November 1, 2023, can be used as evidence
to s،w applicant admissibility indefinitely. This updated policy
guidance is effective immediately and applies to all Forms I-693
signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023.

Ogletree Deakins’ Immigration Practice Group will continue to
monitor developments and will publish updates on the Immigration blog as additional information
becomes available.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice s،uld be sought
about your specific cir،stances.

Sey،h Shaw LLP

On March 22, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizen،p Ca،a (IRCC) announced a significant change to the rules regarding post-graduation work permit eligibility for international students.