Not every physician can sign Form I-693. Only a civil surgeon can, a physician designated by USCIS specifically for that purpose. This guide covers what they do, what they do not do and how to verify that someone is one.
What is a civil surgeon?
A physician USCIS has authorized to perform the immigration medical exam inside the United States. The designation is individual and granted per office. Outside the country, that role belongs to panel physicians, which is a different figure.
What they do and do not do
They do: the physical exam, the tests USCIS requires, any missing vaccines, and completing and sealing the I-693.
They do not: give legal advice on your case, decide whether your residence is approved, or file anything with USCIS. A civil surgeon documents your health status; they play no part in the outcome of your case.
How to verify an office is designated
USCIS maintains an official search tool where you can look up by ZIP code. It is the only reliable way: do not rely on advertisements or recommendations without checking.
If an office appears in the tool, it is designated. If it does not appear, it cannot sign the form, no matter how prominently it advertises "immigration exams".
What to ask before going
- Does the office appear in the USCIS search tool?
- How much is the exam and how much are the vaccines, separately?
- Do you do the IGRA tuberculosis blood test here?
- What happens if I am missing a multi-dose vaccine?
- When do I get the sealed envelope?
The second question avoids surprises: the price of the exam and of the vaccines are usually separate things.
Warning signs
- They cannot tell you whether they appear in the USCIS tool
- They promise a result or "guarantee" approval
- They hand you the form without a sealed envelope
- They ask you to open the envelope to review it
- They offer legal advice bundled with the medical exam
After the exam
Check that your details are correct before the envelope is sealed: full name, date of birth and case number. An error there means redoing it. And once sealed, do not open it.
In Houston
Clínica Hispana Nueva Salud Little York performs the I-693 immigration medical exam walk-in, Monday through Sunday from 9 AM to 9 PM. This guide to the exam walks through the process step by step.
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