U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its policy for Form I-693, the medical exam required for many immigration applications. Going forward, Form I-693 will generally be valid only for the application it was submitted with — and can’t be reused for future applications.
This change applies to all applications submitted or pending as of June 11, 2025.
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What Changed?
Before the update, USCIS allowed some flexibility in reusing Form I-693. For example, if your application was denied or withdrawn but your medical exam was still valid, you might have been able to reuse that exam for a new application.
Under the new policy:
- If your immigration application is denied or withdrawn, your Form I-693 is no longer valid.
- You’ll need to complete a new medical exam and submit a new Form I-693 with any future immigration application.
- The change applies to I-693 forms signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023.
- Forms signed before November 1, 2023 will still be valid for two years from the date they were signed.
Who Does this Affect?
This policy affects most applicants for a green card through the adjustment of status process, as well as others required to prove they are not inadmissible on health-related grounds.
You’ll be impacted if:
- You submitted Form I-693 with an application that was later denied or withdrawn.
- You plan to reapply for a green card or other benefit requiring a medical exam.
- You’re applying after November 1, 2023 and hoped to reuse a previous Form I-693.
Why is USCIS making this change?
USCIS says the old policy created a risk to public health, since it allowed applicants to reuse older medical exams that might no longer reflect their current health status. By limiting Form I-693 to a single immigration benefit application, USCIS aims to ensure that all medical exams are up to date and complete.
What should you do?
If you’re applying for a green card or any immigration benefit that requires a medical exam:
- Make sure to submit Form I-693 with your application — this has been required since December 2024.
- Don’t count on reusing a past medical exam, even if it was recent.
- If your previous application was denied or withdrawn, plan to complete a new medical exam before you reapply.
Bottom line
If you’re starting a new green card application or immigration process, expect to submit a fresh medical exam. Even if you completed Form I-693 not long ago, you’ll need to redo it if it was tied to a withdrawn or denied application. This new policy may create added costs or delays for some applicants, but USCIS says it helps protect public health and speeds up application reviews.