Medical-report validity recalculated from the civil surgeon signature

Policy effect

From November 1, 2018, USCIS revised Form I-693 validity rules: the civil surgeon must sign no more than 60 days before the underlying benefit application is filed, and USCIS must adjudicate within two years of the signature. Some forms submitted before November 1 remained subject to the previous validity policy. Officers retained discretion to request updated medical evidence if they had reason to believe medical inadmissibility might exist.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: From November 1, 2018, USCIS revised Form I-693 validity rules: the civil surgeon must sign no more than 60 days before the underlying benefit application is filed, and USCIS must adjudicate within two years of the signature.; Some forms submitted before November 1 remained subject to the previous validity policy.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office of the Director (MS 2000) Washington, DC 20529-2000 October 16, 2018 PA-2018-09 Policy Alert SUBJECT: Validity of Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693) Purpose U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in Volume 8, Part B of the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the period of time during which a Form I-693 submitted in support of a related immigration benefits application1 is considered valid. This policy is controlling and supersedes any prior guidance on the topic. Background Form I-6 … 93 is used by USCIS officers in determining whether an applicant for an immigration benefit in the United States is inadmissible under the health-related grounds of inadmissibility.2 USCIS designates civil surgeons in the United States to conduct immigration medical examinations and record the results on Form I-693.3 Federal statutes and regulations do not prescribe the validity period of Form I-693; rather, USCIS historically has established the validity period by policy. USCIS is now updating the way the current maximum 2-year validity period is calculated to enhance operational efficiencies … and reduce the need to request updated Form I-693 from applicants.4 This policy is effective November 1, 2018.5 Policy Highlights  A Form I-693 is valid only when a civil surgeon signs it no more than 60 days before the date an applicant files the application for the underlying immigration benefit; and USCIS adjudicates the application within 2 years from the date of the civil surgeon’s signature. Citation Volume 8: Admissibility, Part B, Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility [8 USCIS-PM B]. 1 For example, an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485). 2 Se …

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other United States changes operative in 2018

• 2018-01-19Requirement to Articulate Particular Social Groups Before the Immigration Judge (Matter of W-Y-C- & H-O-B-)
• 2018-03-05Vacatur of Requirement for Full Evidentiary Hearings in Asylum Claims (Matter of E-F-H-L-)
• 2018-04-06Zero-Tolerance Policy for Southwest Border Offenses Under 8 U.S.C. § 1325(a)
• 2018-05-15Tenant-occupancy methodology withdrawn for EB-5 job forecasts
• 2018-05-17Matter of Castro-Tum: Restriction on General Administrative Closure Authority
• 2018-06-11Matter of A-B-, 27 I&N Dec. 316 (A.G. 2018), Interim Decision #3929
• 2018-08-16Standards for Continuances to Pursue Collateral Relief in Removal Proceedings (Matter of L-A-B-R-)
• 2018-09-11Outright Denials Without Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) (PM-602-0163)
• 2018-09-18Limitation on Immigration Judges' Inherent Authority to Terminate or Dismiss Removal Proceedings (Matter of S-O-G- & F-D-B-)
• 2018-10-01Expanded Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs) for Denied Status-Impacting Applications
• 2018-10-04Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2019