Must the Immigration Medical Exam Form I-693 Be Filed Together with Form I-485?
This article addresses whether Form I-693, the immigration medical examination report, must be submitted together with Form I-485. According to the USCIS Policy Manual, the I-693 may be filed concurrently with the I-485 or at any time after filing but before USCIS finalizes adjudication, including bringing it to an interview or waiting for a Request for Evidence. The article also offers general suggestions for cases with long visa backlogs or incomplete vaccination records.
Today a reader asked: "Can I do the medical exam after submitting the application and then bring the results to the interview?"
Short answer: Yes. Form I-693 can be submitted at any time before USCIS approves Form I-485.
Form I-693 Can Be Submitted After Form I-485
Chapter 4 of the USCIS Policy Manual provides a clear explanation on this point [link]:
According to the USCIS Policy Manual, applicants may submit the Form I-693 medical examination report to USCIS: concurrently with the immigration benefit application; or at any time after filing the immigration benefit application but before USCIS finalizes adjudication of that application. If not submitted simultaneously with the immigration benefit application, applicants may bring the medical examination report to an interview or wait until USCIS issues an RFE requesting the medical examination report.
- The medical examination report (Form I-693) may be submitted together with the immigration application (Form I-485).
- If your Form I-485 has already been filed, you only need to submit Form I-693 before USCIS approves it. You may bring it to the interview or wait for USCIS to issue a Request for Evidence (RFE).
General Suggestions
- If your priority date is far back and is not expected to become current within 2 years, there is no need to submit the medical examination report together with Form I-485.
- If your vaccination records are incomplete, catching up on vaccinations may take several weeks or even months. If you expect your priority date to become current within six months, it is advisable to start preparing for the immigration medical exam.
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