Form I-693: The Immigration Medical Exam, Explained
Anyone applying for a green card from inside the United States (most often with Form I-485) who must show they are not inadmissible on health-related grounds.
FORM
I-693
AGENCY
USCIS
FEE
There is no USCIS filing fee for Form I-693. You pay the civil surgeon directly for the exam and vaccines — commonly $100–$500 depending on the provider and which shots you need. Prices vary widely, so it is worth calling a few offices.
PROCESSING TIME
The exam itself is usually one visit (plus a follow-up if you need vaccines or lab work). The civil surgeon completes and signs the form, then gives it to you in a sealed envelope to submit. USCIS reviews it as part of your green card application, not as a separate filing.
WHERE TO FILE
You do not mail Form I-693 by itself. Submit the sealed envelope together with your Form I-485, in response to a Request for Evidence, or bring it to your green card interview. Never open the envelope — USCIS rejects an I-693 whose seal is broken.
Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, is the medical exam that goes with most green card applications filed inside the United States. Its purpose is narrow: to show USCIS that you are not inadmissible for health reasons — that you don't have a communicable disease of public-health significance, that you have the required vaccinations, and that you don't have a condition that would make you a danger to yourself or others.
The most important thing to understand about I-693 is that you do not fill out most of it. A USCIS-designated doctor called a civil surgeon performs the exam and completes the medical sections. Your job is to complete the identifying information at the top, bring the right documents to your appointment, and submit the sealed result without opening it. Trying to fill in the medical parts yourself, or breaking the seal to read it, are the two fastest ways to get the form rejected.
This guide explains what you are responsible for, what the civil surgeon handles, how the current validity rules work, and the mistakes that most often delay a case. Fastform helps you complete the applicant section accurately before your appointment, so the only thing left at the doctor's office is the exam itself.
How to fill out Form I-693 — field by field
Before you start — find a civil surgeon
Only a doctor that USCIS has designated as a 'civil surgeon' can complete Form I-693. Use the 'Find a Doctor' tool on the USCIS website to locate one near you. A regular physical from your own doctor will not be accepted, no matter how thorough it is.
Part 1 — Information About You (Applicant)
This is the section you complete, ideally before your appointment. Enter your full legal name, your A-Number if you have one, your date of birth, and your mailing address — all exactly as they appear on your green card application (Form I-485). Consistency across your forms matters: a name or birth date that doesn't match your I-485 can raise questions.
Bring the right documents to your exam
Take a government photo ID, your vaccination records (so the civil surgeon doesn't repeat shots you've already had), and any records of past treatment for conditions like tuberculosis. Bringing complete vaccine records is the single best way to avoid paying for extra shots and a second visit.
The medical sections — completed by the civil surgeon
The doctor fills in the results of your physical exam, tuberculosis screening, blood tests, and the vaccination record. You do not write anything in these parts. If you see blanks here, that is normal until the appointment — leave them for the civil surgeon.
Applicant certification and signature
You sign the applicant certification in front of, or as directed by, the civil surgeon — generally at the appointment, not before. The civil surgeon also signs and dates their portion. An I-693 missing either signature is incomplete and will be rejected.
The sealed envelope
After completing the form, the civil surgeon seals it in an envelope and signs across the flap. Keep it sealed. If USCIS asked for the medical exam and you already have the sealed envelope, submit it with your application or bring it to your interview exactly as the doctor gave it to you.
Common mistakes on Form I-693
Seeing a regular doctor instead of a USCIS-designated civil surgeon. Only a civil surgeon's exam counts — use the USCIS 'Find a Doctor' tool first.
Opening the sealed envelope. A broken seal voids the form and forces you to repeat the exam. If you want a copy, ask the civil surgeon for one before they seal it.
Names or dates that don't match your I-485. Keep every detail in Part 1 identical to your green card application.
Showing up without vaccination records. Missing records often mean repeat vaccines, extra cost, and a second appointment.
Submitting too early or too late. Timing matters because of the validity rules — coordinate with your I-485 filing or your attorney rather than getting the exam years in advance.
Ready to fill out Form I-693?
Upload the PDF and answer simple questions. Fastform fills in the boxes.
USCIS charges no fee for Form I-693 itself. You pay the civil surgeon for the exam and any vaccines, commonly between $100 and $500 depending on the provider and what you need. Prices vary a lot between offices, so it pays to call around.
Who fills out Form I-693?
You complete only the applicant information at the top (Part 1). A USCIS-designated civil surgeon performs the exam and completes all of the medical and vaccination sections, then signs and seals the form.
How long is a completed I-693 valid?
Under current USCIS guidance, an I-693 properly signed by a civil surgeon on or after Nov. 1, 2023 generally remains valid while your application is pending. However, recent policy means that if your underlying application is denied or withdrawn, you typically cannot reuse the same I-693 and will need a new exam for a later filing. Exams signed before Nov. 1, 2023 are valid for two years. Confirm the current rule on uscis.gov, as this policy has changed more than once.
When should I submit Form I-693?
Most applicants submit the sealed I-693 together with Form I-485, but you can also provide it in response to a Request for Evidence or bring it to your interview. Don't get the exam far in advance — coordinate the timing with your green card filing.
Can I open the envelope to see my results?
No. USCIS will reject an I-693 with a broken seal. If you want a copy of your results for your own records, ask the civil surgeon to give you one before they seal the official envelope.
Last reviewed 2026-06-28. This is general information, not legal advice — fees, addresses, and requirements change, so verify current details on uscis.gov.