The Immigration Medical Exam and Vaccinations – What Are They? Will Insurance Pay For Them?
Each family member immigrating to the USA, including a fiancé or fiancée of a US Citizen, will at some point in the US immigration process. If pursuing a visa that provides for the possibility of immigrating to the USA, the Medical Exam is always completed by an approved panel physician or clinic set authorized by the Consular Immigrant Visa Unit in the country where the interview will take place.
When no immigrant visa is involved and the immigrant is already lawfully admitted to the USA under some other category, the Medical Exam will be performed by a “Civil Surgeon” authorized by USCIS, to conduct immigration medical exams.
Vaccinations are required prior to the issue of “immigrant visas” but not required for the K-1 fiancé or K-2 child of fiancée visas. However, we strongly advise all K visa applicants to take care of the vaccinations as a part of the visa process. This avoids the much more complicated and usually considerably more expensive process of dealing with vaccinations and Civil Surgeons in the USA.
During the medical exam abroad, you will complete a form in the local language, regarding both your medical and vaccination history but will not sign the form until the doctor reviews it with you. Often, the doctor will know more about the vaccinations you have received, based on local requirements than you will remember, or be able to document. They will make every effort to avoid duplication.
The exam itself, will include a review of your medical history, chest x-ray, blood tests, physical exam of heart, lungs, abdomen, eyes, ears, nose, throat, extremities, lymph nodes, skin and external genitalia. Upon completion of your exam, the Panel Physician or Civil Surgeon, will sign the required forms and put them in a sealed envelope to be delivered to the Consulate for visa cases or included in a package you will mail to USCIS, Adjustment of Status cases.
Will My or My Foreign Loved One’s Medical Insurance Pay For Any Of This?
The answer is almost always no. We’ve never seen this happen. The reason is that the exam is not medically necessary, and the doctor is seldom found on a list approved by your insurance. Nevertheless it’s worth checking out with the doctor and your insurance, at least in Adjustment of Status cases. (Completed inside the USA)
Which Vaccinations Are Required for US Immigration Purposes?
- Hepatitis A & B
- Influenza
- Influenza Type B
- Measles
- Meningococcal,
- Mumps
- Pneumococcal
- Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
- Polio
- Rotavirus
- Rubella
- Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids
- Vericella
There may also be other preventative vaccinations as recommended from time to time by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices
Can My Immigration Benefit Be Denied Based On The Results Of The Medical Exam?
Yes, the medical grounds of inadmissibility include the following list of communicable diseases of currently considered to be “of public health significance”. This list changes from time to time. For example HIV-AIDS is no longer on the list.
- Syphilis
- Tuberculosis
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Hansen’s disease
- Physical or mental disorders with harmful behavior
- Drug addiction or abuse
Reference Material
Immunizations: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines
Health exam: http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams
Instructions for completing Form I-693: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-693instr.pdf