Indefinite Validity Period for Form I-693 Medical Examinations

On April 4, 2024, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced new guidance on the validity period of Form I-693 Medical Examinations that are required for Adjustment of Status (green card) applications. Medical examinations that were completed and signed by the USCIS-designated Civil Surgeon on or after November 1, 2023 no longer expire after two years, and are valid indefinitely as evidence to show that the adjustment of status applicant is not inadmissible on health-related grounds. Applicants whose medical examinations were completed and signed prior to November 1, 2023 will remain subject to the two-year validity period under the USCIS’ previous policy. Please note that the USCIS adjudicators have the discretion to request more evidence or a new or updated medical examination if they have reason to believe the applicant’s medical condition has changed since the civil surgeon signed the Form I-693, regardless of the validity period.

What this Means for our Clients

The indefinite validity period for qualified medical examinations is welcome news for adjustment of status applicants as it will most likely eliminate processing delays caused by Requests for Evidence for updated medical examinations. This new guidance is especially beneficial for applicants who file their adjustment of status applications with medical examinations early under the Dates for Filing Chart in the Visa Bulletin, and/or applicants whose pending applications become affected by visa retrogression, that must wait for their priority dates to become current for their applications to be adjudicated, which in some cases can take years depending on the country of chargeability and visa backlogs.