U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) is removing the requirement that civil surgeons sign Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, no more than 60 days prior to an individual’s application for an underlying immigration benefit such as the I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Civil surgeons are designated doctors authorized to perform the immigration medical examination required for most green card applicants.
USCIS states that this policy update will allow the entity to adjudicate cases with immigration medical examinations that would have been considered invalid under the previous requirement. USCIS will accept Forms I-693 for up to 2 years after the date the civil surgeon signed the form. Under the prior requirement, USCIS would have issued Requests for Evidence (RFEs) for a Form I-693 signed more than 60 days before filing the I-485.
This change comes after applicants, civil surgeons, USCIS officers, federal partners, and other stakeholders have expressed concerns that this requirement is confusing and causes RFEs to be issued for otherwise valid I-693 forms. Though the 60-day rule was intended to enhance efficiency and reduce the need to request updated I-693 forms from applicants, these efficiencies have not been realized in practice.
If you are interested in applying for a green card or have questions about the process, be sure to contact our firm to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys today!
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