The Trump administration has
introduced an important update to green card applications, requiring applicants
to submit a renewed medical examination form for each permanent residency
request. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
announced on June 11, 2025, that the Report of Immigration Medical Examination
and Vaccination Record (Form I-693) will now be valid only while the associated
green card application is pending.
Previously, applicants could use
the same medical form indefinitely. However, the new rule states that Form
I-693, signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, is only valid
while the associated application is under review. If the application is
withdrawn or denied, the form becomes invalid. This change applies to applications
pending or submitted on or after June 11, 2025.
Reason for the Policy Change
The USCIS has cited public health concerns as the driving
force behind the revision. Initially, on April 4, 2024, the agency extended the
validity of Form I-693 indefinitely, allowing applicants to reuse the form to
prove they were not inadmissible on health-related grounds for future
immigration benefits.
Later, on December 2, 2024, the USCIS
mandated that applicants must submit Form I-693 alongside Form I-485
(Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status). However,
officials determined that the previous policy was “overly broad and could
potentially threaten public health in the United States.”
By limiting the validity of Form
I-693 to a single immigration benefit application, the USCIS aims to ensure
that all applicants receive timely medical evaluations and appropriate
treatment, reinforcing public health safeguards in the country.
These changes affect all new
green card applicants and those whose applications are currently under review.
Immigration attorneys and applicants must now ensure their medical examination
forms align with the latest guidelines to avoid complications in their
application process.
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