USCIS has announced the removal of the 60-day requirement for civil surgeons to sign Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, before an individual applies for an underlying immigration benefit, including Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. The temporary waiver that had been in effect since Dec. 9, 2021, will be made permanent with this policy update.
This change will allow USCIS to accept Forms I-693 for adjudicative purposes for up to two years after the date the civil surgeon signed the form, even if they were signed more than 60 days before filing. USCIS officers will no longer be required to issue Requests for Evidence (RFEs) for Form I-693 that are otherwise valid but signed over 60 days before filing.
Applicants, civil surgeons, USCIS officers, federal partners, and other stakeholders have expressed concerns that this requirement is confusing and can cause unnecessary RFEs. While the 60-day rule was designed to enhance operational efficiency and reduce the need to request updated Forms I-693 from applicants, it has not achieved the intended efficiencies in practice.
This policy update will make it easier for applicants to submit Form I-693 and reduce unnecessary RFEs. Civil surgeons will no longer have to sign the form within 60 days of filing, allowing them greater flexibility to perform medical examinations on their own schedule. USCIS will be publishing this change in the policy manual consistent with the updated Form I-693 approved by OMB.
