I-693 questions, answered

What is Form I-693?

Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, is the medical form USCIS requires from most people applying for a green card from inside the United States. A USCIS-designated civil surgeon completes it and gives it to you in a sealed envelope to file with your Form I-485.

Read more: What is Form I-693?

Who can complete Form I-693?

Only a civil surgeon: a physician USCIS has designated to perform immigration medical exams in the United States. Your regular doctor can complete it only if they hold that designation. USCIS has an online locator to check.

Who needs Form I-693?

Anyone applying for a green card from inside the U.S. on Form I-485, whether the case is family-based, marriage-based, employment-based or another category. Each applicant needs their own form, including children. Some refugees, derivative asylees and K visa holders who had a medical exam abroad need only the vaccination record.

Read more: Who needs Form I-693?

Do I need Form I-693 for consular processing?

No. If you apply for an immigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad, a State Department panel physician examines you there, and that exam does not use Form I-693.

Do I need Form I-693 for U.S. citizenship?

No. Naturalization on Form N-400 has no medical exam. Form I-693 is for green card applications filed inside the U.S.

Do I have to file Form I-693 with my I-485?

Yes. Since December 2, 2024, USCIS may reject a Form I-485 that is filed without a signed Form I-693, so the medical exam needs to be finished before you file.

Read more: I-693 validity and timing

How long is Form I-693 valid?

A Form I-693 signed on or after November 1, 2023 stays valid for as long as the application it was filed with is pending. It is generally valid only for that application: if the I-485 is denied or withdrawn, a future application needs a new Form I-693.

Is there still a 60-day rule for Form I-693?

No. The rule that the civil surgeon had to sign within 60 days before you filed was permanently removed on March 31, 2023.

Can I open the sealed I-693 envelope?

Not if you file by mail: send the envelope unopened with your I-485. If you file online, USCIS allows you to open it and upload the form, but keep the original form and envelope until your case is decided.

Which vaccines do I need for Form I-693?

It depends on your age. USCIS and the CDC set different vaccine and lab requirements for each age group. I-693 ReadyCheck shows the list for your age group when you enter your date of birth.

Are vaccine records from another country accepted for I-693?

Yes. Records from any country are accepted if they are legible and show the name of each vaccine and the date it was given.

Read more: Vaccine records for I-693

Can a blood test replace a vaccine for I-693?

For some vaccines, yes. An immunity blood test (titer) showing you are already immune is accepted in place of several vaccines, such as measles, mumps and rubella. Polio is the exception: immunity tests are not accepted for polio.

What if I have no vaccine records at all?

You can still complete Form I-693. The civil surgeon gives the missing vaccines or, where it is accepted, tests for immunity. You do not have to finish a multi-dose series before filing: doses that are not yet due are waived.

Is the flu shot required for Form I-693?

Only during flu season, which USCIS defines as October 1 through March 31. When it is required, it must be the current season's vaccine.

Is the COVID-19 vaccine required for Form I-693?

No. USCIS stopped requiring COVID-19 vaccination for applications pending on or after January 20, 2025.

Is the I-693 requirements check free?

Yes, completely. The I-693 ReadyCheck vaccine and lab list for your age group is free, and so is the review of any vaccine or lab records you send. You see the list on screen straight away and receive a copy by email, free of charge.

How does I-693 ReadyCheck work?

Enter your name, contact details and date of birth, and optionally upload your vaccine or lab records. You see the vaccine and lab list for your age group straight away, and a copy arrives by email. If you sent records, our team reviews them at no charge and emails you what is still missing.

Who reviews my records?

The team at Ask For Cure, the practice of Dr. Vinit Agrawal, MD, a USCIS-designated civil surgeon. Replies come by email.

What files can I upload?

PDF, JPG, PNG or HEIC files: up to 10 files, 10MB each and 40MB in total. Photos taken on a phone are fine as long as every entry is readable.