Medical Exam for Adjustment of Status- New Rule

[Commish10 427]

ALERT: Effective December 9, 2021, USCIS is temporarily waiving the requirement that the civil surgeon sign the Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693) no more than 60 days before the date the applicant files an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485). It is still in the best interest of applicants to undergo the immigration medical examination close to the time of filing the Form I-485, as the Form I-693 only retains its evidentiary value for 2 years from the date of the civil surgeon’s signature. After the 2-year timeframe, the applicant would need to submit a new Form I-693 if USCIS has not adjudicated the Form I-485. This temporary waiver is effective until September 30, 2022.  

[Puppythecat 89]

So in summary the medical exam and vaccination record and form I-693 is still needed but no longer expires after 60 days?

[Chancy 6,242]

12 hours ago, Puppythecat said:

So in summary the medical exam and vaccination record and form I-693 is still needed but no longer expires after 60 days?

 

Note that if your K1 beneficiary completes the vaccination requirements at SLEC Manila, there will be no need for I-693 if the I-485 is filed within 1 year of the visa medical.  The K1 medical will never expire if the immigrant meets the requirement for I-485 filing within 1-year.

 

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

4 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

Note that if your K1 beneficiary completes the vaccination requirements at SLEC Manila, there will be no need for I-693 if the I-485 is filed within 1 year of the visa medical.  The K1 medical will never expire if the immigrant meets the requirement for I-485 filing within 1-year.

 

Yep, great point. We have seen a lot of grief on VJ over unnecessary I-693s.

Edited December 10, 2021 by Carpe Vinum

[Chancy 6,242]

2 minutes ago, Carpe Vinum said:

We have seen a lot of grief on VJ over unnecessary I-693s.

 

With majority of vaccinated Filipinos getting Sinovac, we may see a surge of AOS from K1 applicants being required to get one of the CDC-approved vaccine brands and submit I-693.  We probably won't see reports confirming or disputing this until applicants go for their AOS interviews in a year or so.

 

[flicks1998 1,044]

2 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

With majority of vaccinated Filipinos getting Sinovac, we may see a surge of AOS from K1 applicants being required to get one of the CDC-approved vaccine brands and submit I-693.  We probably won't see reports confirming or disputing this until applicants go for their AOS interviews in a year or so.

 

Sinovac is actually an approved WHO vaccine, although with Sinopharm.  The link to the WHO approved vaccines is below as well as the CDC link for approved vaccines.  

 

https://covid19.trackvaccines.org/agency/who/

 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html  (scrolled down to Accepted Covid vaccines)

[Chancy 6,242]

36 minutes ago, flicks1998 said:

Sinovac is actually an approved WHO vaccine, although with Sinopharm.  The link to the WHO approved vaccines is below as well as the CDC link for approved vaccines.  

 

Thanks for the correction.  I checked just now that the CDC Technical Instructions for Panel Physicians has been updated to state that WHO-approved vaccines are acceptable for the visa medical -- https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/panel-physicians/covid-19-technical-instructions.html

 

[flicks1998 1,044]

27 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

Thanks for the correction.  I checked just now that the CDC Technical Instructions for Panel Physicians has been updated to state that WHO-approved vaccines are acceptable for the visa medical -- https://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/panel-physicians/covid-19-technical-instructions.html

 

Yes, that list will keep changing.  I know Sputnik is under review now but that may take some time to get approved.  We should see more vaccines added to the list over the course of 2022.  We are having issues with some of our Kazakhstan travelers as they use Sinopharm/Sinovac, Sputnik and Pfizer.  The ones who have been vaccinated with Sputnik cannot enter the US at this time.  We have reached out to International SOS and the CDC and both have said they would have to be revaccinated.  Even getting one of the approved vaccines as a booster would not qualify as being fully vaccinated as well.

Edited December 10, 2021 by flicks1998

[Commish10 427]

6 hours ago, Carpe Vinum said:

Yep, great point. We have seen a lot of grief on VJ over unnecessary I-693s.

Since my wife did not have to get a COVID vaccine before she left on Nov 7, she will still have to do the I-693 med exam after she is vaccinated. 

[Chancy 6,242]

1 minute ago, Commish10 said:

Since my wife did not have to get a COVID vaccine before she left on Nov 7, she will still have to do the I-693 med exam after she is vaccinated. 

 

Is her K1 medical date before Oct 1?  Does her vaccination worksheet from SLEC say that she completed all her vaccinations?  If yes to both, no need for I-693.  It doesn't matter if she was not COVID-vaccinated prior to travel.  What matters is her K1 medical date and completion status.