The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced an update regarding Form I-693, which is required to be completed by those seeking to obtain a green card.
Effective immediately, any Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon on or after Nov. 1, 2023, will only remain valid while the associated application is pending.
If the application is withdrawn or denied, the form becomes invalid and applicants must submit a new form with any subsequent application, according to a statement released Wednesday by USCIS on their official X .
A green card, formally known as a Permanent Resident Card, grants individuals the right to live and work permanently in the United States.
We have updated the USCIS policy manual to clarify that a Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, is no longer valid if the Form I-485, Application to Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, it was submitted with originally is…
— USCIS (@USCIS) June 11, 2025
This new policy will apply to all applications pending or filed on or after June 11, 2025, federal authorities say.
Previously, applicants were allowed to reuse a valid Form I-693 for future applications if their original application was denied or withdrawn.
“Once an applicant applies for their green card process, they would submit medical records for conditions like tuberculosis or HIV — anything that could be spread,” said Husein Sadruddin, manager attorney at Jaime Barron Dallas. “Under this new policy, if your application is denied, you must do the medical examination again and re-pay for it.”
The cost for the medical examination and completion of Form I-693 typically ranges from $400 to $1,000, depending on the case, Sadruddin said.
Applicants with pending cases and scheduled interviews are not affected by the change unless their application is denied or withdrawn, Sadruddin said.
He strongly advised applicants to avoid mistakes that could lead to denial and additional costs by having a qualified nonprofit agency or experienced attorney review their application before submission.
“If your case is denied or rejected by immigration, you may have to refile with new fees and a new application altogether,” Sadruddin said.
USCIS stated that the policy change aims to ensure timely and accurate medical examinations and treatments, thereby safeguarding public health.