On Monday, December 2, 2024, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will now require certain applicants filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to submit Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, with their Form I-485 or the Form I-485 may otherwise be rejected. Previously, USCIS permitted applicants to file their Form I-485 without the medical exam and vaccination record, and USCIS would later issue a Request for Evidence for the outstanding items. As a requirement for permanent residence, applicants for adjustment of status generally must complete an immigration medical examination and all required vaccinations and submit a properly completed Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon to show they are free from health conditions that would render them inadmissible under the health-related grounds.

USCIS stated it made this change, which is effective immediately, to reduce the number of Requests for Evidence issued before adjudicating a Form I-485. The immigration service has revised the Form I-485 instructions to make filing the two forms together a requirement for properly submitted applications.

Questions about this change or adjustment of status in general?  Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a CYA attorney.