Immigration … a term we have all become familiar with lately. Due to recent immigration policy changes by President Trump, news sources throughout the county are featuring segments and articles on immigration daily. It’s become a very popular topic among our elected leaders and those affected by immigration. The American dream is alive and well, and people all over the world continue to want to come to the United States, as shown in recent immigration numbers.

In 2018 several changes were made to the immigration application. In addition to the new guidelines on the signature requirement, power of attorney signatures are no longer accepted.  The immigration mission statement has been changed to take out the words, “nation of immigrants,” the path to citizenship for DREAMers has been amended, new fees have been implemented, and more.

At UrgentWay, we can help with one of the main requirements of the citizenship process … the medical examination. Here’s a quick overview of the requirements for that exam. (For more details on the application, please visit the U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs website.)

How do I prepare for the Immigration Medical Exam?

While you can’t really “study” for your medical exam, it helps to know what to expect, and you will need to provide several forms:

• Valid passport or another government-issued photo identification (children under 14 years old need to bring documents with name, place of birth, date of birth, and parents’ full names)
• Vaccination records
• Completed Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
• Required number of U.S. passport photos
• Acknowledgment of any learning disabilities for yourself or any family members who are also applying for citizenship
• List of medications you are taking
• Tuberculosis certification from your doctor
• Any history of harmful or violent behavior resulting in injury to people or animals. This information will need to be shared with the doctor so that he/she can determine if the behavior was related to drug or alcohol abuse or a psychological or medical problem.
• Insurance card (if you have insurance)

Can any doctor perform the exam? 

Not all doctors are able to perform the immigration examination. You’ll have to be examined by a civil surgeon who has been approved by the U.S. Government, or USCIS-certified. At UrgentWay we have several USCIS-certified doctors on staff who can perform the examination for you. Sometimes, DNA testing is required as part of the medical exam to prove family affiliation. We also provide AABB-accredited DNA testing services, so you can get both exams done at one time.

What does the medical exam cover? 

The medical examination has a few different parts:

• A review of your medical history and immunization records (see below for details on required vaccinations)
• DNA test (if needed)
• Test for various diseases and illnesses
• A physical and mental evaluation
• Drug and alcohol screening

Several vaccinations will need to be given during the medical examination, as required by the Immigration and Naturalization Act.  The following vaccines are mandatory because the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has determined they are in the interest of public health:

• Haemophilus Influenza Type B
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Influenza
• Meningococcal
• Mumps, Measles, Rubella (MMR)
• Pertussis
• Pneumococcal Pneumonia
• Polio
• Rotavirus
• Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids
• Varicella

If you have had any of these vaccinations already, be sure to bring certified documentation of your vaccines to the exam to give the doctor.

What if I fail the exam?

You could fail the medical exam if:

• You have a drug abuse or addiction
• You have a physical or mental disorder associated with harmful behavior
• You don’t show proof of vaccinations
• You have a communicable disease of public health significance.

What does the exam cost?

The cost for the examination can vary from $100 to $400, and you will need to be prepared to pay for the examination on the same day.  At UrgentWay, our immigration medical exam costs are very affordable, if no further tests or treatments are needed. (We periodically offer special pricing on immigration exams; check our Special Offers page for details.)

Once the exam is complete, the doctor will give you the documentation required in a sealed envelope. Don’t open the envelope … keep it sealed and submit it with your Form I-693. The exam results are good for one year.

How do I schedule my immigration medical exam? 

All four of our UrgentWay locations offer immigration medical exams, but we do recommend scheduling an appointment to ensure that our USCIS-certified doctors are available. Call us at 877-276-9006 with questions or schedule your appointment, or book online.

If you have more questions or need more details, check out our Immigration Medical Exam services page on our website. We look forward to helping you get the immigration medical exam crossed off your list.