According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), they are on track to approve more employment-based adjustment of status applications since the fiscal year 2005. It is welcome news that they are prioritizing employment-based Adjustment of Status applications as there is limited time left in this fiscal year. As USCIS is processing a high-volume adjustment of status application, it’s best to be prepared. As such, USCIS is changing the validity period for medicals, Form I-693, from two years to four years. With the tight timeline to the end of the fiscal year and extended validity period for I-693, Report of Medical Examination, we recommend individuals file their current forms as soon as possible.

What is Form I-693, sealed medical?

When applying for an adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident (LPR), an applicant must show that they are not inadmissible to the U.S. for health-related reasons. Form I-693 is used by the applicant to verify their health status after it is completed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon. A Form I-693 usually remains valid for two years after the date the surgeon signs the form, presuming the surgeon signs the form within sixty days prior to the applicant filing their I-485, Adjustment of Status, form.

New Temporary Guidance:

Due to the long-lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, USCIS processing times have drastically slowed. As such, there have been significant wait times for applicants seeking an adjustment of status to that of LPR. As a result of the delay in processing, the validity period for Form I-693 were falling outside of their two-year deadlines before applicants I-485 applications could be processed by the USCIS. To address this issue, the USCIS is extending the validity period of the I-693.

Beginning August 12, 2021, the USCIS will extend the validity period of Form I-693/sealed medical from two years to four years. This means applicants who submit their I-485 form to adjust their status will have two extra years before their I-693 form loses its validity. For decisions on I-485 forms issued on or before September 30, 2021, USCIS will accept Form I-693 if no more than four years have passed since the surgeon signed the form. Form I-693 will be accepted if:

  1. The surgeon signed the form no more than 60 days before the applicant filed their I-485 form.
  2. It has been four or less years since the surgeon signed the form; and
  3. The I-485 decision was issued on or before September 30, 2021.

Additionally, USCIS is changing its previous policy and advising clients to file their sealed medicals along with initial filing. This is a great insight to have in anticipation of the upcoming fiscal year.

If you have questions about applying for Adjustment of Status or other immigration-related topics, contact us at ILBSG. We are here to work with you to ensure you get the right advice.

I-693 immigration Medical examination extension USCIS Form I-693