Form I-693 medical exam: 7 things to know before booking

For most adjustment-of-status cases inside the United States, the exam must be performed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon. Verify the physician through the official locator close to your appointment date; the list changes, and a regular doctor's medical license alone does not grant this designation.

Call several clinics. USCIS notes that prices may vary by hundreds of dollars. Ask whether the quoted fee includes the exam, laboratory tests, required vaccines, follow-up visits, a copy for your records, and any additional charges.

Bring the current edition of Form I-693, government-issued photo identification, your vaccination record, relevant medical information, and an accepted payment method. Ask whether the clinic accepts your insurance because many plans do not cover every part of an immigration medical exam.

USCIS requires certain applicants to submit Form I-693 with Form I-485 or the filing may be rejected. Always follow the current instructions for your category. The civil surgeon gives you the original in a sealed envelope; USCIS will not accept it if the envelope has been opened or altered.

Since June 11, 2025, a properly completed I-693 signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023 is generally valid only while the immigration benefit application it accompanied remains pending. If that application is withdrawn or denied, a new I-693 is required for a later application that calls for one.