Immigration Form I-693 – 10 Tips
Form I-693 is used to report immigrants’ medical examination to USCIS. The medical analysis must be carried out by a designated civil surgeon. The examination is used to establish whether an applicant is not inadmissible to the United States on public health grounds. Here are tips from RunRex.com to help you with your application of the form I-963:
1. Compulsory Requirements
The use of the latest immigration form is mandatory because USCIS updates its immigration forms often.
Response to all relevant questions and information in the form is essential and should be provided in the check boxes and blank boxes provided.
Through the manual application, you are required to type or print your information using only black ink. The entries should neither get highlighted nor have a shaded background.
Adding a signature to the form is also very necessary because it certifies that the signatory is the one who has applied for the form I-963.
Payment of the filing fee is vital, and information regarding the same is included in the form instructions. The fee or fee waiver is attached to the upper left of the completed application form or petition.
All requested documentation and evidence should also be attached to the form or petition for submission.
Adhere to the notice received regarding fingerprinting. The notice includes the date, time, day and location of the appointment.
2. How to Avoid Delays
Avoid sending original passports or other valuable personal documents because, in case of theft, it would be hard to have them replaced
Attachment of individual files to the USCIS should be done using paperclips to avoid their loss.
In case of any made payments, the payment is attached to the first primary immigration form making sure your name is indicated on the payment document. If one cheque is used to file more than one form and it happens that one of the forms is found to be improperly filed, all forms get rejected.
You should always use the same name and the same version of your name on all documents being filed with USCIS and are the same person.
In the address section, the ‘care of line’ is for the applicant’s name and street address should not be written in that section.
On the section of birthplace on the form, it always means the country of birth. The date of birth should also be included in the form in its designated field following the MM/DD/YY format.
3. Methods of Submission
You could either choose to deliver the form in person, by mailing it together with form I-485 which is the form used to file for adjustment of status.
4. Place of Filing
The filing is done after the civil surgeon is through examining you. The surgeon should give you an envelope with the finished form, and it should only be handed over if sealed. If you happen to submit the form to USCIS while not sealed, the form is returned to the applicant. The form should only be submitted and accepted while signed.
5. Finding a Civil Surgeon
Since your family doctor cannot perform the medical test, one looks for a designated civil surgeon. A chosen civil surgeon is a doctor, pre-approved by USCIS to carry out the form I-693. A list of the government certified doctors is available on the USCIS website. While overseas, a civil surgeon is referred to as a Panel Physician.
6. Form I-693 Check List
You are required to provide a list of all the vaccines you have had, any chronic conditions that you may be having or provide any medication you may be taking at the time of examination.
7. The Examination
The doctor first reviews your medical history after which he gives you a physical examination, blood tests, and a chest x-ray. Chest x-rays and blood tests are excluded in cases of children below the age of 15 years. Depending on the country of origin, you may request for the x-ray to be exempted if you are pregnant though it is not a guarantee that your wish will be granted.
If a record of your vaccination is missing, it may be administered. The exam is then completed with a sealed report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.
8. Validity Period
As per from 1 June 2014, USCIS limited the validity of form I-963 to a period of one year from the day of submission. Form I-963 must be submitted within the one year of its application by the immigrant.
9. Medical Waiver
A medical waiver permits an immigrant to remain or go into the U.S despite being diagnosed with a condition identified as Medical Grounds of Instability. The exemption may be granted according to terms, and conditions which are determined by USCIS in consultation with public health officials, based on the nature of the medical condition.
A waiver is granted if you are a spouse, an unmarried daughter or son, or an unmarried adopted child of a US citizen.
10. Requirements
To file for a form I-963, you must have filed for the form of adjustment of status and nonimmigrant visa. To apply, you can be a refugee, asylum recipient, or any other immigrant.
Form I-963 is applied by an immigrant who wants to live the US and has already applied for the adjustment of status. It is applied to and approved by USCIS.