USCIS Doctors Civil Surgeon Designation and Compliance 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which government agency grants civil surgeon designation to physicians in the United States?
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) (Correct answer)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- American Medical Association (AMA)
Correct answer: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
USCIS designates civil surgeons through its field offices; it is not the CDC or AMA that grants this specific immigration-exam authority.
Question 2: What is the minimum years of professional experience typically required for a physician to apply for civil surgeon designation?
- 4 years of professional experience after completing training (Correct answer)
- 1 year of professional experience
- 10 years in general practice
- Board certification with no minimum experience years
Correct answer: 4 years of professional experience after completing training
USCIS generally requires that applicants for civil surgeon designation have at least 4 years of professional experience in the practice of medicine.
Question 3: What is a key obligation civil surgeons have to maintain their USCIS designation?
- Comply with CDC Technical Instructions and USCIS policies for conducting immigration medical exams (Correct answer)
- Maintain board certification in infectious disease
- Perform a minimum of 50 immigration exams per year
- Submit annual reports to USCIS listing all exams performed
Correct answer: Comply with CDC Technical Instructions and USCIS policies for conducting immigration medical exams
Designated civil surgeons must follow CDC Technical Instructions and USCIS policies; failure to do so can result in loss of designation.
Question 4: Which CDC publication provides civil surgeons with the detailed protocols for conducting immigration medical examinations?
- CDC Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons (Correct answer)
- MMWR Weekly Report
- CDC Pink Book (Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases)
- USPSTF Clinical Guidelines
Correct answer: CDC Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons
The CDC Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons is the definitive guide outlining all procedures, tests, and documentation requirements for immigration exams.
Question 5: What action can USCIS take if a civil surgeon is found to be not following required exam protocols?
- Revoke or suspend the physician's civil surgeon designation (Correct answer)
- Issue a warning letter with no further action for first offense
- Refer the case to the state medical board only
- Require the physician to retake the designation exam
Correct answer: Revoke or suspend the physician's civil surgeon designation
USCIS has the authority to revoke or suspend a civil surgeon's designation for failure to follow required protocols or for other violations of USCIS policies.
Question 6: What must a civil surgeon certify by signing Form I-693?
- That the examination was performed and the results are accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge (Correct answer)
- That the applicant is admissible to the United States
- That the applicant has received all required vaccinations
- That all laboratory tests were personally performed by the civil surgeon
Correct answer: That the examination was performed and the results are accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge
By signing Form I-693, the civil surgeon certifies that they performed the examination and that all information recorded is accurate and complete to their best knowledge.
USCIS Doctors Civil Surgeon Designation and Compliance 1
Which government agency grants civil surgeon designation to physicians in the United States?