USCIS Removes 60-Day Time Limit for Civil Surgeon Endorsements on Form I-693

HI INDIA NEWS DESK
WASHINGTON, DC- This change in policy by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) means that civil surgeons are no longer required to sign Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, within 60 days of an individual applying for an immigration benefit. The previous requirement had been subject to a temporary waiver since December 9, 2021, and this policy update will allow USCIS to process cases with immigration medical examinations that would have otherwise been considered invalid.

Instead of issuing Requests for Evidence (RFEs) for Forms I-693 signed more than 60 days before the filing of the I-485, USCIS will now accept these forms for up to 2 years after the date the civil surgeon signed the form. The 60-day rule was intended to increase operational efficiency and reduce the need for updated forms, but in practice, it has caused confusion and resulted in the issuance of RFEs for otherwise valid forms.

This change in policy will benefit applicants, civil surgeons, USCIS officers, federal partners, and other stakeholders by removing the confusing 60-day requirement. The updated Form I-693 has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and will be published in the USCIS policy manual.