You are required to complete an immigration physical exam in order to immigrate to the United States and become a permanent resident or green card holder. This medical appointment is a key step of the immigration process. It is intended to ensure public safety and remove the risk of inadmissibility. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), health-related grounds for inadmissibility may include someone with a communicable disease of public health significance, who cannot provide documentation of having received a vaccination against vaccine-preventable diseases, who has or has had a physical or mental disorder with associated harmful behavior, or who has a drug addiction.
Learn more in the following frequently asked questions so you are prepared and ready to complete this part of your journey to becoming a United States citizen.
How Do I Find an Immigration Physical Exam Doctor?
An immigration physical exam cannot be performed by any doctor. Applicants applying in the United States must visit a government-approved doctor called a “civil surgeon.” Guofang Wang, MD at Everest Urgent Care has the unique Department of State Certification to provide immigration physical exams in the greater Philadelphia area.
What Should I Take to an Immigration Physical Exam?
You will be required to bring several documents to your exam. While the list sometimes varies depending on the location of your physical, you should be prepared to bring the following to your visit:
- A valid passport or government-issued photo ID, such as a valid passport or driver’s license. If you are 14 years old or younger, bring identification that shows your name, date and place of birth and parent’s full name. Possible forms of identification include your birth certificate (with an English translation) or an affidavit.
- Vaccination records (such as DT, DTP, DTaP, Td, Tdap, OPV, IPV, MMR, Hib, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, varicella, pneumococcal influenza, rotavirus and meningococcal disease)
- Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination, and Vaccination Record (if adjusting status)
- Report of the condition and any special education or supervision requirements (if anyone in your family is immigrating with learning disabilities)
- List of current medications
- Tuberculosis certificate from doctor if you were diagnosed and treated
- Certificate of clearance if you have been diagnosed by a doctor or health official with syphilis and were properly treated
- If you have a history of harmful or violent behavior you must provide information that can help the civil surgeon determine whether the behavior was psychiatric or medical in nature, or the result of drug or alcohol abuse
- If you have been treated or hospitalized for any psychiatric or mental illness, you must provide written certification including diagnosis, length of treatment and prognosis
- Payment (Fee for the exam)
What is the Immigration Physical Exam Process?
During the physical exam, your doctor (civil surgeon) will perform a full physical examination as well as the following:
- IGRA TB Blood Test (must be performed in office or onsite lab)
- Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and Hansen’s Disease testing (must be performed in office or onsite lab)
- Physical and Mental Disorders and Substance Abuse examination
- Vaccinations
What Vaccinations Might I Need?
The doctor will make sure that you have had all the required vaccinations. Some vaccines are expressly required by the Immigration and Nationality Act, and others are required because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have determined they are in the interest of public health. Regardless, you must receive the following vaccinations before being admitted as a permanent resident:
- Mumps, measles, rubella
- Polio
- Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids
- Pertussis
- Haemophilius influenza type B
- Hepatitis B
- Varicella
- Influenza
- Pneumococcal pneumonia
- Rotavirus
- Hepatitis A
- Meningococcal
- COVID-19 (See details below)*
What communicable diseases can possibly cause an applicant to fail an exam?
- Tuberculosis
- Syphilis
- Gonorrhea
- Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy)
- Quarantinable diseases designated by a Presidential Executive Order
- Events reported as a public health emergency to the World Health Organization
- Health-related waivers may be available for some of these diseases
I Have my Immigration Physical Exam Results. Now What?
Once your exam is complete, you must submit your results to the government. Exam results must be signed by a civil surgeon no more than 60 days before you submit Form I-485. Your exam results are valid for two years from the signature date.
The immigration physical exam is not a complete physical exam. It cannot replace your full physical exam, diagnosis, consultation or treatment plan that you may need from your primary health care provider. Its only purpose is to screen for certain medical conditions for the completion of your immigration application process. The physician is not required to screen you for any other conditions except the ones specified by the United States Public Health Services for immigration purposes.
The professional and well-trained team at Everest Urgent Care will be happy to help you through the UCIS immigration physical process. Have more questions or need to schedule an immigration physical exam? Contact us at the Location that is convenient for you: Everest Urgent Care in Upper Darby at (610) 352-8000 or Everest Urgent Care in Chester, PA at (484) 480-4700. Or contact us Online HERE.
