What is USCIS Medical Exam - Grants for Medical

What is the USCIS Medical Exam – Overview

U.S. immigration law requires all green card applicants to complete an immigration medical exam as part of the application process. This exam confirms that the applicant is in good health and fit to live in the United States as a permanent resident.

In this article, we shall explain the necessity of the USCIS medical exam, how it is performed, its cost, and the medical tests involved.

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What is the USCIS Medical Exam

A USCIS medical exam is commonly known as the immigration medical exam. It is an essential part of your immigration approval process and is required to get a green card. An application for permanent residency in the United States is incomplete without the immigration medical exam. This medical exam must be conducted by a physician authorized by the U.S. government, specifically designated as a civil surgeon for applicants within the United States or a panel physician for applicants applying abroad. The exam includes:

Physical and mental health examination
Drug and alcohol screening
Medical history and immunization/vaccine record review
Testing for different diseases and illnesses

Why is It Necessary to Undergo the USCIS Medical Exam

What is the USCIS Medical Exam – Why is It Necessary

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires a complete physical and mental evaluation to protect public health in the country. An applicant seeking permanent residence needs to undergo an immigration medical exam.

Several health conditions could make an applicant “inadmissible” to the US. In short, you may be considered ineligible to receive a green card due to certain mental health conditions or something in your medical records. This situation is termed “medical inadmissibility.”

There are five major health reasons that could deny your green card application. This includes infectious diseases that can affect the general public’s health, alcohol or drug abuse, physical and mental disorders that result in harmful behavior, inability to work and incomplete vaccination records.

How to Prepare for the USCIS Medical Exam?

To proceed with your green card application, you must first undergo a USCIS medical exam conducted by a government-authorized doctor, a civil surgeon in the U.S., or a panel physician abroad. Remember, only government-authorized doctors are eligible to perform this medical exam, so make sure to get evaluated by the doctor before your interview.

To select a government-authorized physician for your USCIS medical exam, consult the USCIS website for a list of civil surgeons or panel physicians, or contact the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country if applying from abroad. Here, you can receive a list of certified physicians from the Department of State. You can usually choose your physician, but you will need to confirm your choice of doctor with the local consulate just to be sure.

If you are applying for an adjustment of status within the U.S., you must be examined by a civil surgeon designated by USCIS. Your current location will determine the scheduling process for the exam appointment.

What Should You Bring to a USCIS Medical Exam

It is important to prepare documents and bring them down when you are scheduled to undergo the immigration medical exam. This ensures that the examination process goes smoothly.

Here are the necessary documents you need to carry with you when you are going for your scheduled USCIS medical exam:

Vaccination records
Copies of chest x-ray (if applicable)
Copy of your medical history
Government-issued photo-ID card
Letter from your regular physician stating your treatment plan for any health issues
Payment for the medical exam (check with the doctor before the appointment)
Health insurance card (if applicable)

The rest of the documents you need to bring to the USCIS medical exam will depend on whether you apply for a green card from outside or within the US.

How Much Does a USCIS Medical Exam Cost

The cost of the immigration medical examination varies based on the civil surgeon or panel physician’s fees and the location of the exam. The US government does not have a standard fee, but the cost of an immigration medical exam usually ranges between US$ 100 and US$ 400.

Besides this, you can check with several other government-authorized doctors to find their examination fees. This way, you can make the best-suited decision and choose the right doctor to undergo your USCIS medical exam. In addition, you should also find out if you will incur additional indirect costs, such as transportation, etc.

What is Checked in the USCIS Medical Exam

The USCIS medical exam includes several screening tests for different disorders and diseases. The specific tests depend on whether you are applying for an adjustment of status while staying in the US or consular processing from outside the United States.

Irrespective of the type of residency you are applying for, the general categories of tests remain the same. These are the major medical, physical and mental tests that are performed as part of the USCIS medical exam:

1. Tuberculosis Test

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has separate guidelines for applicants to undergo a tuberculosis test, depending on whether you are applying from within or outside the US.

When applying from within the U.S., an “interferon-gamma release assay” (IGRA) test is required for applicants two years of age and older, subject to the current CDC guidelines for tuberculosis screening. If the test results show you are positive for tuberculosis, then you will be required to undergo additional testing, such as a chest x-ray.

On the other hand, if you are applying from outside the US, you will need to undergo a chest x-ray if you are 15 years or older, especially if you are applying from a country considered “heavily tuberculosis-burdened”, by the CDC. If you are positive for tuberculosis, you may need further testing at the clinic.

2. Vaccination Screening

The CDC and the Immigration and Nationality Act require several different kinds of vaccines. For instance, you should be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B, polio, mumps, measles, rubella, and influenza.

These guidelines may be updated occasionally, so check the list of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provided at this link: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-b-chapter-9.

3. Medical History Review

The doctor will also check your medical history to see if you have ever stayed in a hospital or had any significant events in your health history. This test also checks if you are disabled, highly sick, or unable to function as a productive member of society.

4. Physical Exam

The physical examination includes checking your eyes, ears, throat, nose, heart, lungs, skin, abdomen, extremities, etc.

5. Mental Health Exam

The mental health exam will assess your intelligence, mood, judgment, behavior, and comprehension skills. This test also helps to notice any mental or physical disorders related to harmful or violent behavior and past mental or physical conditions with violent behavioral tendencies.

Conclusion

The USCIS medical exam is mandatory for all applicants seeking permanent resident status (green card) in the United States. These tests must be performed by only government-designated doctors/physicians, whose list is on the USCIS website. For detailed information and updates on the USCIS medical exam, refer to the official website of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at https://www.uscis.gov/.