USCIS Doctors Civil Surgeon Designation and Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the civil surgeon's responsibility if an applicant presents with symptoms of an active communicable disease of public health significance during the exam?
- Report the case to local or state public health authorities and withhold Form I-693 pending full evaluation (Correct answer)
- Complete Form I-693 and note the symptoms as Class B
- Send the applicant to an emergency room without completing the exam
- Issue Form I-693 and attach a medical referral note
Correct answer: Report the case to local or state public health authorities and withhold Form I-693 pending full evaluation
Civil surgeons must report notifiable communicable diseases to public health authorities and must not finalize Form I-693 until an appropriate evaluation is completed.
Question 2: How frequently does the USCIS civil surgeon designation need to be renewed?
- Designation does not automatically expire but must be maintained through ongoing compliance (Correct answer)
- Every 2 years
- Every 5 years
- Every year with an annual attestation
Correct answer: Designation does not automatically expire but must be maintained through ongoing compliance
Civil surgeon designation does not have a fixed expiration date but can be revoked for non-compliance; USCIS periodically reviews designations.
Question 3: Which of the following physicians CANNOT perform immigration medical exams in the United States?
- A licensed US physician who has not been designated by USCIS as a civil surgeon (Correct answer)
- A USCIS-designated civil surgeon with a D.O. degree
- A board-certified internist who is also a designated civil surgeon
- A family physician designated as a civil surgeon
Correct answer: A licensed US physician who has not been designated by USCIS as a civil surgeon
Only USCIS-designated civil surgeons may perform immigration medical exams; a licensed physician who lacks USCIS designation is not authorized.
Question 4: What resource can applicants use to locate a USCIS-designated civil surgeon near them?
- The USCIS civil surgeon locator tool on the USCIS website (Correct answer)
- State medical board directories
- American Medical Association physician finder
- CDC clinic locator
Correct answer: The USCIS civil surgeon locator tool on the USCIS website
USCIS maintains a searchable locator tool on its official website that allows applicants to find designated civil surgeons by zip code.
Question 5: What does USCIS require a civil surgeon to do before examining a minor applicant without a parent or legal guardian present?
- Ensure a parent or guardian provides written consent and ideally is present, or follow applicable legal requirements (Correct answer)
- Proceed with the exam if the minor is over age 14
- Refuse to conduct the examination
- Contact USCIS for special authorization
Correct answer: Ensure a parent or guardian provides written consent and ideally is present, or follow applicable legal requirements
Minors generally require parental or guardian consent before a medical examination; civil surgeons should follow applicable legal and ethical consent requirements.
Question 6: Which type of documentation may a civil surgeon request to verify an applicant's identity before conducting the immigration medical exam?
- Government-issued photo identification such as a passport or state ID (Correct answer)
- Social Security number only
- USCIS receipt notice alone
- No identification is required by USCIS
Correct answer: Government-issued photo identification such as a passport or state ID
Civil surgeons should verify the applicant's identity using government-issued photo identification to ensure the exam is conducted for the correct individual.
USCIS Doctors Civil Surgeon Designation and Compliance 2
What is the civil surgeon's responsibility if an applicant presents with symptoms of an active communicable disease of public health significance during the exam?