USCIS removes '60 days' rule for immigration screening

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is completely waiving the requirement that civilian surgeons (physicians appointed by the agency who perform immigration physical examinations) sign Form I-693, Immigration Medical Examination and Immigration Card Report, for no more than 60 days prior to filing an application, including Form I-485, Application for Permanent Residence or Change of Status. The requirement has been temporarily lifted as of December 9, 2021. This is mentioned on department site.

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This update will allow USCIS to process cases with immigration medical examinations that were previously considered invalid. Instead of making Requests for Additional Information (RFE) for Form I-693 signed more than 60 days prior to filing Form I-485 but otherwise valid, the Office will be able to accept these Forms I-693 for 2 years after the date when the civil surgeon signed the form.

On the subject: What to do if USCIS takes too long to consider your application: how to check what is the norm, and when to start worrying

Applicants, civil surgeons, USCIS employees, federal partners, and other stakeholders have consistently expressed concern that this requirement is confusing and requires RFE requests for otherwise valid I-693 forms.

Although USCIS stated that the 60-day rule was intended to increase efficiency and reduce the need to request updated Forms I-693 from applicants, this efficiency has not been realized in practice.

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Now civil surgeons no longer need to sign Form I-693 no later than 60 days before filing an immigration application.

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