USCIS issues new rule on validity of medical exams

On June 11, 2025, USCIS updated its policy manual clarifying the validity of any Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, signed by a civil surgeon on or after Nov. 1, 2023. The agency now says that such form is only valid while the application the Form I-693 was submitted with is pending.

For example, if you submitted an I-485 application (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) and it is still pending, the Form I-693 that came with that I-485 is still considered valid. If that I-485 is withdrawn or denied, that Form I-693 is no longer valid. In the future, if you submit another Form I-485, you would have to submit another Form I-693.

If you recall, on April 4, 2024, USCIS issued a policy that a Form I-693 properly completed and signed by a civil surgeon on or after Nov. 1, 2023, was valid indefinitely. On Dec. 2, 2024, it then required that aliens submit Form I-693 when they file Form I-485.

In this latest update, USCIS has since determined that the April 4, 2024, policy is overly broad and could potentially threaten public health in the United States. It reasons out that by limiting the validity period to only the current immigration benefit application or request, it ensures that aliens get timely and proper medical examinations and treatment, which safeguards public health.

This guidance is effective immediately and applies to applications pending or filed on or after June 11, 2025.

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As you may have known by now, there are widespread protests in Los Angeles, California, condemning the crackdown by Immigration and Customs Enforcement against undocumented immigrants. These protests turned into riots after local enforcement clashed with protesters which triggered an executive action by President Trump. He called on the California National Guard to assist local police and when that did not seem enough to quell the violence, he sent in 700 marines to assist in safeguarding federal properties.

There seems to be no end in sight as of yet for these protests. In fact, other cities have followed suit and more are expected to join in solidarity with the undocumented immigrants.

The issue of immigration has literally already spilled into the streets and it is only a matter of time that there will be lives lost as a result of these unpredictable and oftentimes violent clashes between law enforcement officers and protesters. As I have been saying all the time here in this column, immigration is such a gargantuan issue that parties need to step back and look at it in a more humane and practical way. As Republicans are now in charge of the federal government with the White House and both Houses of Congress under their control, whether they like it or not, this is now their problem to solve. Regardless if they pin the blame on the previous Biden administration, this is the issue they have in front of them right now. They must fix this.