The application process for a Green Card can be very long and overwhelming. You need to prepare many documents, along with a medical examination certificate. To receive this certificate, you need to complete a Green Card medical examination as per the instructions of the immigration office.
What Is a Green Card Medical Exam?
A Green Card medical exam is a health evaluation process every applicant must undergo to obtain their Green Card. The point of the exam is to determine that the applicant is healthy, has no detrimental mental health issues, and won’t be a burden on the state, in addition to preventing possible infectious diseases from spreading in the United States.
How to Get a Green Card Medical Exam?
The how about of getting a Green Card medical exam largely depends on whether you are applying for your Green Card in the United States or from your home country:
- From within the US, you need to find the proper doctors appointed for this type of exam, and you can finish the exam either before or after submitting your Green Card application.
- From outside of the US, you need to contact the nearest US embassy or consulate in your country or current country of residence so they can provide you with the necessary information regarding your medical exam.
Green Card Medical Exam Within the US
If you’re applying from within the US for your Green Card, you can schedule your appointment before or after submitting your application. If you complete your exam before applying for your Green Card, you need to attach the medical certificate with the rest of your application package, also known as concurrent filing.
Please note that in this case, you must complete your exam 60 days before submitting your application. If your exam is finished and the medical certificate is signed more than 60 days before the application date, don’t attach the medical certificate with the application. It’s better to submit it after or bring it with you on the day of your interview.
If you choose to complete the medical exam after filing your Green Card application, you can either send the certificate separately or bring it with you on the day of your Green Card interview. With this option, your medical certificate is valid for four years*.
*Please note that a Green Card medical examination certificate is usually valid for two years, but due to Covid, it has been extended to four, and it’s liable to change as the situation with the virus changes.
Green Card Medical Exam Outside the US
If you’re applying for a Green Card from your home country or current country of residence, you must schedule your appointment only after you’ve received your Green Card interview letter from the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC is a part of the State Department that reviews Green Card applications, and they explicitly state not to schedule a medical appointment until you receive a confirmation on your Green Card interview date.
For a medical exam outside of the US, you need to find your nearest US embassy or consulate where they have listed the approved doctors in your country who can conduct the exam— you can find a list of the embassies here. Then, once you find your doctor, you can set your appointment, and you need to bring your Green Card interview confirmation letter with you. The medical certificate, in this case, will be valid for six months, but in some cases, the certificate can expire in three months, e.g., if you have a specific medical condition.
Can I Go to Any Doctor for a Green Card Medical Exam?
No, you cannot have your usual GP or any other doctor conclude the Green Card medical exam; you must find the approved list of doctors, which can be of two types:
- A civil surgeon. You will visit a civil surgeon if you’re applying for your Green Card from within the US. Your surgeon must be from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approved list of doctors.
- A panel physician. A panel physician will complete the examination if you’re applying for your Green Card from your home country. The corresponding US embassy or consulate must approve the doctor. You can find the list of physicians on each embassy’s website.
What Medical Tests Will Be Done for a Green Card?
During the Green Card medical exam, plenty of questions will be asked regarding your medical history; your doctor will review your medical records and vaccinations. Afterward, the following medical exams will be concluded:
- A tuberculosis test. A tuberculosis test is administered differently depending on whether you apply from within or outside of the US for your Green Card. If you are in the US, your civil surgeon will follow the CDC’s Tuberculosis Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons. The doctor will use an IGRA “interferon-gamma release assay” test. If the test reveals signs of TB, you must go back and do chest X-rays and other tests. If you apply from outside the US, your doctor will follow the CDC’s Tuberculosis Technical Instructions for Panel Physicians, which requires all applicants above 15 to receive a chest X-ray.
- A blood and urine test. A blood and urine test will also be administered to check for syphilis or gonorrhea for all applicants above the age of 15.
- Vaccination screening. The US government has a list of required vaccinations for Green Card applicants. If you have not completed your vaccinations, your doctor will administer the rest of the vaccines. If you have, your doctor will sign the vaccination certificate as complete.
- Drug and alcohol test. Drug and alcohol tests are important determiners that might cause your Green Card application to be denied. Your doctor will also ask questions about your current prescriptions and your previous drug history.
What Happens After the Exam?
After the exam, your doctor will collect the examinations and results in one package and ask you to sign the exam form— you need to sign the form in your doctor’s presence. If you are given a sealed envelope with your records, do not open or break the seal, you need to submit the package as is for your application. You can usually ask them to provide you with a copy of the results so you can keep it.
- If you apply from within the US, you must either send the exam results after submitting your application or with your application, depending on how you scheduled your appointment.
- If you apply from outside of the US— your doctor will give you a sealed envelope so you can attach it to your application, or your doctor will send it directly to the embassy or consulate, depending on their instructions.
How Long Does the Green Card Medical Exam Take?
A medical exam for Green Card applications can take anywhere between an hour or days if you have to go back for follow-up tests. The exam length depends on the guidelines your doctor (civil surgeon or panel physician) follows and your health condition.
Immigration Physical Exam Cost
The average cost of the complete examination may be between $100 and $500, with an average cost of $200. But, the medical exam cost depends on where you complete the exam (within the US or your home country) and whether your insurance can cover the exam.
Can You Fail a Green Card Medical Exam?
You can’t actually fail a Green Card medical exam, there is no pass or fail, but if your exam results show serious health problems, it may affect the decision on your Green Card application.
Common Reasons for Green Card Denial due to Medical Exam
Some of the most common reasons why your Green Card application may be denied due to the results of your medical exam include the following:
- You have an infectious disease. If you test positive for infectious diseases such as leprosy, syphilis, or tuberculosis, you cannot receive a Green Card until your disease is taken care of.
- You have a history of drug and alcohol abuse. Your Green Card may be rejected if you test positive for drug use and alcohol abuse.
- You were diagnosed with a mental illness associated with violence. You won’t receive a Green Card if you had bursts of violence or threatened to harm yourself or others due to a mental condition. The USCIS includes drunk driving in this category as well.
- Your health makes it difficult to work. If you have serious health problems which affect your work rendering it impossible to receive an income, your Green Card may be denied for fear that you will end up a burden on the state. This may not be taken into account if despite your health, you have enough financial means to support yourself or if someone will financially support you.
What Can I Do if My Green Card Is Denied Because of My Medical Results?
If your Green Card application is denied due to the results of your medical exam, (e.g., you tested positive for syphilis, TB, or had a previous history of drug use), you need to submit proof to your examination doctor that those medical conditions have already been treated. In case of mental illnesses, your regular doctor may sign a letter stating that your mental illness is under control and being treated. In this case, you must submit proof of your previous medical treatments and medical history.
You also can apply for a “waiver of inadmissibility” to allow you to enter the US. However, the decision to grant a waiver of inadmissibility is at the discretion of the USCIS in consultation with the CDC.
Medicals for Green Card FAQ
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding medicals for a Green Card application.
Do I Need to Get a Medical Exam for a Green Card If I’m Pregnant?
You still need to complete your medical exam if you are pregnant or on your cycle. This includes having a chest-X ray if required. In case of pregnancy, you need to submit written consent to the doctor you agree to the X-ray, and the doctors are legally bound to provide you with double the protection during the X-ray. However, you may ask to have the chest X-ray completed after you give birth to the baby but before entering the US.
Do Children Need to Complete a Medical Exam for Green Card?
Children also need to complete a medical exam for a Green Card, but depending on their age, they may be excluded from certain parts of the exam, such as chest X-rays or blood tests.
Are Applicants With Cognitive Disabilities Required to Complete a Medical Exam?
Green Card applicants with any developmental, intellectual, or learning disabilities can submit a report of their condition to their doctor in addition to any special requirements they may need.
What Do I Need to Bring on the Day of the Medical Exam?
Here is a list of the basic documents you need to bring with you on the day of your Green Card Medical exam:
- A copy of your medical history.
- Previous chest X-rays (if applicable).
- An official ID such as a passport, driver’s license, travel, or residence permit.
- Your vaccination records (if applicable).
- A letter from your regular GP or doctor outlining your health condition and any treatments you follow (if applicable).
- Form I-693 (if you’re applying from the US).
- Your Green Card confirmation letter (if you’re applying from your home country).
Please note that you may be required to submit additional documentation.