Immigration Medical Exam (Form I-693): What to Expect, What to Bring, and How to Prepare

The immigration medical exam is a required step for most people applying for a U.S. green card — and while it can feel intimidating, it’s a straightforward, well-defined process once you know what’s involved. Knowing what to expect at your immigration medical exam helps you arrive prepared and avoid delays. As a USCIS-designated Civil Surgeon office and a full-service wellness center — offering everything from the I-693 exam to mental and emotional wellness support — Ageless Body Clinic in Hallandale Beach, FL helps applicants complete this step with clarity and care. Here’s your practical guide.

Key Takeaways

• Form I-693 is the medical exam required for most green card (adjustment of status) applicants.
• It must be completed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon within the United States.
• The exam covers medical history, a physical, a mental-health screening, communicable-disease testing, and required vaccinations.
• Bring your photo ID, vaccination records, and relevant medical history.
• The COVID-19 vaccine is no longer required (removed in 2025); age-appropriate CDC vaccines still apply.
• Validity rules changed recently — forms signed on or after Nov. 1, 2023 are valid while your application is pending.
• Never open the sealed envelope the civil surgeon gives you; doing so invalidates the form.

What the I-693 Medical Exam Is

Form I-693, officially the “Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record,” documents that an applicant is free of certain health conditions that could make them inadmissible to the United States on health-related grounds. It’s conducted according to technical instructions set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It’s important to understand what the exam is not: it isn’t a comprehensive physical, and it isn’t intended to diagnose or treat conditions. Its purpose is specific — a standardized screening for immigration purposes, focused on communicable diseases, required vaccinations, and a few other public-health factors.

Who Needs an Immigration Medical Exam

Most people applying to adjust their status to lawful permanent resident — that is, filing Form I-485 for a green card — must submit a completed Form I-693. Some categories of applicants have different or partial requirements, so it’s worth confirming your specific situation with USCIS or your immigration attorney.

The exam includes several components, among them required blood testing, which Ageless Body Clinic performs on-site — one of the conveniences of completing the exam at an integrated wellness center rather than coordinating labs elsewhere.

Who Can Perform It: USCIS Civil Surgeons

Within the United States, the I-693 can only be completed by a physician who has been officially designated by USCIS as a civil surgeon. (Applicants examined outside the U.S. see a different designated provider called a panel physician.) Using a doctor who is not a designated civil surgeon is one of the most common — and most avoidable — reasons an exam is rejected.

Ageless Body Clinic is a USCIS-designated Civil Surgeon office in Hallandale Beach, FL, serving applicants across Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, and South Florida. The clinic’s fees for the exam are structured by age group — with tiers for children and teens (0–18), young adults (19–24), adults (25–44), and older adults (45–65) — so it’s best to contact the clinic directly for current pricing and to schedule.

What to Bring to Your Appointment

Knowing what to bring to your immigration medical exam makes the visit go smoothly. Please plan to bring:

• Government-issued photo ID — such as your passport.
• Your vaccination and immunization records — as complete as possible.
• A list of current medications and relevant medical history, including any ongoing conditions.
• Any prior I-693 forms or related medical records you may have.
• Your glasses or contacts if you wear them, plus your payment method for the exam fee.

What Happens During the Exam

The visit follows a consistent structure. The civil surgeon reviews your medical history and current medications, then performs a physical examination — typically including height, weight, vision, and a check of the heart, lungs, and other systems. A brief mental-health screening is also part of the standardized process.

Next comes testing for certain communicable diseases and a review of your vaccination records, with any needed vaccines offered on-site. Once everything is complete, the civil surgeon fills out and signs your Form I-693 and seals it in an envelope for you to submit with your application.

Required Vaccinations

The i-693 required vaccines come from the CDC’s immigration vaccination schedule and are applied on an age-appropriate basis. Depending on your age and history, these commonly include measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap/Td); polio; varicella (chickenpox); hepatitis A and B; seasonal influenza; and pneumococcal, meningococcal, Hib, and rotavirus vaccines.

Two helpful points: the COVID-19 vaccine is no longer a requirement for the immigration medical exam, having been removed from the required list in 2025, and only the first dose of any multi-dose series is typically needed before the civil surgeon can sign your form. The civil surgeon determines exactly which vaccines apply to you.

Blood Tests and TB Screening

Screening for communicable diseases is a core part of the exam. Tuberculosis (TB) screening is done with a blood test called an IGRA rather than the older skin test; if the result is positive, a chest X-ray and further evaluation follow. Testing for syphilis (and, per current CDC guidance, other conditions for applicable age groups) is also performed through bloodwork. These lab components are why a small blood draw is part of your appointment.

What If You’re Missing Vaccine Records?

Missing or incomplete vaccination records are common and usually easy to resolve — there’s no need to panic. You generally have two options. First, blood tests called titers can measure your antibody levels and confirm existing immunity to diseases like measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella, so you don’t have to repeat shots you don’t need. Second, any genuinely missing vaccines can simply be administered at your exam visit. Either way, missing paperwork rarely has to derail your timeline.

How Long Results Take

Much of the exam is completed during your visit, but the lab-based tests — such as the TB IGRA and syphilis bloodwork — take a few days to return. Once all results are in and any needed vaccines are recorded, the civil surgeon finalizes, signs, and seals your Form I-693. In practice, the completed, sealed form is often ready within about a week, though the exact timing depends on your lab results and whether vaccines are needed.

You’ll typically receive the sealed envelope to submit with your application, and many offices also provide a copy of the results for your own records. Remember: submit the envelope to USCIS unopened.

How Long the I-693 Is Valid

Wondering how long the I-693 is valid? The rules have changed more than once in recent years, so current information matters. Under the guidance in effect now, a Form I-693 that a civil surgeon signed on or after November 1, 2023 is valid for as long as the green card application it was submitted with remains pending — if that application is later withdrawn or denied, the form is no longer valid. A Form I-693 signed before November 1, 2023 retains its validity for two years from the date the civil surgeon signed it.

Because policies can be updated, always confirm the latest validity requirements with USCIS or your immigration attorney before filing.

Common Mistakes That Delay Your Application

A few simple missteps account for most avoidable delays and Requests for Evidence. Watch out for these:

• Opening the sealed envelope — this invalidates the form; leave it sealed for USCIS.
• Using a non-designated doctor — only a USCIS-designated civil surgeon can complete the I-693.
• Incomplete vaccination records — gaps can trigger a Request for Evidence; resolve them at your visit.
• Using an outdated form edition or leaving sections incomplete.
• Filing at the wrong time — submit your form in line with current USCIS guidance for your application.

AI Summary

Form I-693 is the immigration medical exam required for most green card (adjustment of status) applicants, and it must be completed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon in the U.S. The exam includes a medical history review, physical, brief mental-health screening, communicable-disease testing (TB via an IGRA blood test, plus syphilis bloodwork), and age-appropriate CDC vaccinations. The COVID-19 vaccine was removed from the required list in 2025. Bring photo ID, vaccination records, and medical history; missing records can be resolved with titer testing or vaccines given at the visit. The civil surgeon seals the completed form in an envelope that must stay unopened. Validity: forms signed on or after Nov. 1, 2023 are valid while the associated application is pending; forms signed before that date are valid two years from signature. Ageless Body Clinic in Hallandale Beach, FL is a designated Civil Surgeon office serving Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, and South Florida.