Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the immediate and permanent elimination of the requirement that civil surgeons sign Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, no more than 60 days before a foreign nationals applies for adjustment of status by filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.  A completed Form I-693 must be included with all I-485 filings and is used to confirm that the applicant is not inadmissible on a health-related ground.  The 60-day signature requirement had been temporarily waived by the USCIS since December 9, 2021.

The elimination of the 60-day signature requirement allows USCIS officers to accept I-693 medical examination forms with signatures that are older than 60 days.  Such forms will now be considered valid for up to two years from the date they were signed.

This change has been implemented because of concerns consistently expressed by foreign nationals, civil surgeons, USCIS officers, and other stakeholders that the 60-day signature requirement is confusing and requires USCIS officers to issue Requests for Evidence asking for new Forms I-693 when an otherwise valid Form I-693 is already on file.