On August 12, 2021, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an update to its policies. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, USCIS decided to temporarily extend the validity of the Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. This Form is used to show that a person applying for any immigration benefits does not have any medical conditions that may make them inadmissible to the United States. Under current regulations, Form I-693 is valid for two years from the date the physician signed the form. However, for the Form I-693 to be valid, the Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status must be filed within 60 days from when the physician signed the Form I-693.
However, USCIS has been experiencing processing and operational delays, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has also impacted people applying for immigration benefits. In response to these concerns, USCIS decided to temporarily extend the period of validity for any valid Form I-693 from two to four years. This update goes into effect August 12, 2021 until September 30, 2021.
Per the new guidelines a Form I-693 will now be valid if it meets the following criteria:
- The Form I-485 was filed within 60 days of the date of the physician’s signature on the Form I-693;
- The date of the signature is not older than four years; and
- USCIS issues a decision on the Form I-485 on or before September 30, 2021.
If you have any questions regarding Adjustment of Status or any other immigration related matter, please do not hesitate to contact KILO Immigration, a Sacramento immigration law firm by filling out this contact form.