If you’re planning on immigrating to the United States, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires that you undergo an immigration physical. These physicals are an important part of the naturalization process, but is it enough to allow you to live in the United States?
This is a question that Drs. Ines Munoz De Laborde and Svetlana Burkhead regularly hear at Physicians Medical Urgent Care, and it’s one that we’re happy to answer.
An immigration physical is only part of the requirements necessary for living in the United States, but it’s a very important part. While you do need to complete other steps, you can’t enter and live in the United States unless you pass your physical.
Passing your physical exam means that you’re one step closer to obtaining your green card, or immigrant visa. According to the USCIS, passing your physical shows that you are not inadmissible to the United States.
In other words, an immigration physical alone won’t allow you to live in the United States, but you do need to pass your medical exam to receive your visa.
The purpose of the immigration physical is to confirm that you’re free from any communicable diseases or other health conditions that could potentially pose a threat to public health.
The following conditions could deem you inadmissible due to failed medical exam:
Medical examinations are also helpful because they can get your immunization records up to date. During your medical exam here at Physicians Medical Urgent Care, Dr. Munoz De Laborde and Dr. Burkhead review your medical records and, if needed, update your immunizations.
It’s not enough to just complete your physical, but it must be documented accordingly. Per the USCIS requirements, the physical exam must be documented on a particular form called I-693. Our knowledgeable team are experts when it comes to this part of the immigration process. Your Physicians Medical Urgent Care provider completes all of the physical exam-related paperwork that you need.
In addition to your immigration physical, you may need to complete other requirements based on the type of visa you want. There are many different types of visas, both for immigrants and non-immigrants. You will need to meet other criteria to live in the United States based on the type of visa you want. For example, if you are applying for a K-1 visa, you will need to show evidence that you met your fiance within the past two years in person δΈ€ in addition to your physical exam.
We know that applying for citizenship or a visa can be stressful. It’s our mission to help facilitate the immigration physical and make this part of your journey run as smoothly as possible.
If you have questions about your immigration physical or would like to schedule one, call our San Jose, California, office at 408-207-4637. You can also schedule your immigration physical through our online form.
