An immigration medical exam is usually not the part people struggle with most. The paperwork is.
You can have your appointment booked and arrive at the clinic ready for the examination, only to realise that your vaccination records are incomplete, an old medical report is missing, or an important document from your home country still needs to be translated.
Getting your paperwork together before the appointment can save you a lot of unnecessary back-and-forth. If you are completing Form I-693 as part of your adjustment-of-status process, the civil surgeon needs the information required to properly review your medical and vaccination history.
Here are seven documents you should have ready before your immigration medical examination.
1. Passport or Government-Issued Photo ID
Start with a valid form of identification.
Bring your passport if you have one. A government-issued photo ID may also be accepted depending on the clinic’s requirements. Your civil surgeon needs to confirm your identity before completing your medical examination and Form I-693.
If your name is different on some of your older medical or vaccination records, bring documentation showing the name change if applicable. This can make it easier to connect your older records with your current identity.
It may seem obvious, but forgetting your ID can turn a straightforward appointment into a frustrating one.
2. Your Vaccination Records
Your vaccination history is one of the most important parts of the immigration medical examination.
Bring every vaccination record you can find, even if it is incomplete. Your records might come from a childhood doctor, school, previous clinic, another country, or a U.S. healthcare provider.
The CDC instructs civil surgeons to review written vaccination records when determining which vaccination requirements have been met. Simply remembering that you received a vaccine generally isn’t the same as having documentation of it.
If your records are incomplete, don’t try to guess which vaccines you need. Bring what you have and let the civil surgeon review your history and determine what is required based on your age and circumstances.
3. English Translations of Foreign Records
If your medical or vaccination records are written in a language other than English, check whether you need an English translation before your appointment.
The CDC states that applicants are responsible for providing reliable English translations of vaccination records that are not in English.
This is particularly important when records contain handwritten information, vaccine abbreviations, or dates that may be difficult to interpret.
Don’t leave translations until the day of your appointment. If you know you have records from another country, sort them out beforehand and ask the clinic what format they require.
4. Previous Immigration Medical Exam Records
Have you completed an immigration medical examination before?
If so, bring any paperwork you still have from that examination. This could include an older Form I-693, vaccination records, laboratory results, or documents provided by a previous civil surgeon.
An older medical examination may not automatically be usable for your current application. USCIS rules concerning Form I-693 can change, and whether previous documentation can be used depends on your circumstances.
Even when a new examination is necessary, older records can still help the civil surgeon understand your vaccination and medical history.
5. Relevant Medical Records
You don’t need to bring every medical document you’ve ever received.
Instead, focus on records that may be relevant to your immigration medical examination. These could include documentation of significant illnesses, surgeries, hospitalisations, ongoing medical conditions, previous tuberculosis treatment or testing, or other conditions that may require additional review.
If you have seen a specialist for a condition that could be relevant to the examination, bringing the related records may be useful.
The civil surgeon reviews your medical history and performs the examination according to the applicable CDC technical instructions. Additional evaluation or documentation may be needed depending on your history and the findings during the examination.
6. Current Medication Information
Bring a list of the medications you currently take.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. Write down the medication names and, if possible, the dosage and how often you take them. You can also bring the medication containers or a current pharmacy list.
This is especially useful if you take medication regularly for an ongoing condition.
Having the information in front of you is much easier than trying to remember the names and dosages during the appointment.
7. Previous Test, Treatment, or Specialist Records
The last category depends on your personal medical history.
If you’ve previously had testing or treatment that may be relevant to the immigration medical examination, bring the supporting documentation. This could include laboratory reports, specialist notes, treatment records, or previous imaging reports.
For example, if you previously received treatment for a condition that may require additional review, having the relevant records available can give the civil surgeon a clearer picture of your history.
The CDC’s technical instructions require civil surgeons to document relevant medical findings, laboratory results, consultations, and other information when applicable.
What If You Don’t Have Everything?
Don’t assume that a missing vaccination card or old medical record means you cannot complete the examination.
Many people don’t have a complete medical history, especially when they moved between countries or received vaccinations many years ago.
Bring whatever documentation you do have and tell the civil surgeon what is missing. Depending on your situation, the civil surgeon may determine that you need additional vaccination, testing, or documentation.
For certain vaccines, acceptable laboratory evidence of immunity may also be considered in situations where vaccination documentation isn’t available.
The important thing is to have the civil surgeon review your situation rather than making assumptions based on information found online.
Can Missing Documents Lead to a USCIS RFE?
They can contribute to problems with an immigration application, but bringing these seven documents cannot guarantee that you will avoid a Request for Evidence (RFE).
USCIS makes the final decision on your immigration application. The civil surgeon’s role is to perform the required medical examination and properly complete the medical documentation.
If USCIS determines that additional information or evidence is needed, it may send an RFE.
That is why preparing your medical paperwork in advance is worthwhile. Having clear vaccination records, relevant medical documentation, and required translations available can help prevent avoidable issues during the medical examination and filing process.
Where Immigration Medical Paperwork Assistance Can Help
Sometimes the difficult part isn’t the medical examination itself. It’s figuring out which documents you already have, which ones are missing, and what needs to be translated or reviewed.
That’s where immigration medical paperwork assistance can be useful.
At MedExam4U, the immigration medical examination process includes reviewing relevant medical and vaccination documentation and completing the required examination and testing based on the applicant’s circumstances.
If you’re preparing for an immigration medical examination in Las Vegas, you can learn more about the process here: