USCIS Communication & Stakeholder Relations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How does a civil surgeon typically deliver completed immigration medical examination results to an applicant?
- By emailing the results directly to USCIS
- By sealing Form I-693 in a tamper-evident envelope and returning it to the applicant (Correct answer)
- By mailing Form I-693 directly to the USCIS service center
- By uploading results to the CDC portal
Correct answer: By sealing Form I-693 in a tamper-evident envelope and returning it to the applicant
Civil surgeons seal Form I-693 in a tamper-evident envelope and give it to the applicant, who then submits it to USCIS with their application.
Question 2: How can applicants locate a USCIS-designated civil surgeon in their area?
- By searching the CDC Yellow Book
- By calling their local immigration court
- By using the civil surgeon locator tool on the USCIS website (Correct answer)
- By contacting the state Department of Health
Correct answer: By using the civil surgeon locator tool on the USCIS website
USCIS maintains an online civil surgeon locator tool that applicants can use to find designated civil surgeons by zip code.
Question 3: When USCIS issues a Request for Evidence (RFE) related to a medical examination, who bears primary responsibility for responding?
- The CDC Division of Global Migration Health
- The state health department that received the disease report
- The applicant, typically in coordination with the civil surgeon (Correct answer)
- The immigration judge assigned to the case
Correct answer: The applicant, typically in coordination with the civil surgeon
RFEs are sent to the applicant, who must respond within the stated deadline, often by obtaining supplemental documentation from the civil surgeon.
Question 4: If a civil surgeon discovers an administrative error on a Form I-693 after sealing the envelope, what is the correct corrective action?
- Ask the applicant to correct the error before submission
- Complete a new, corrected Form I-693 and re-seal it (Correct answer)
- Attach a handwritten correction note to the outside of the envelope
- Notify USCIS by phone and allow them to make the correction
Correct answer: Complete a new, corrected Form I-693 and re-seal it
A new Form I-693 must be completed with the correct information; corrections on a sealed or previously prepared form are not acceptable.
Question 5: How long is a USCIS civil surgeon designation valid before renewal must be sought?
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 5 years (Correct answer)
- It is permanent once granted
Correct answer: 5 years
USCIS designates civil surgeons for a period of 5 years, after which they must apply for renewal to continue performing immigration medical exams.
Question 6: What should a civil surgeon do when an applicant fails to return for required follow-up testing after the initial exam?
- Report the applicant immediately to immigration enforcement
- Document the missed appointment and make reasonable attempts to contact the applicant (Correct answer)
- Submit Form I-693 with the incomplete results and note the absence
- Transfer the case to the nearest USCIS field office
Correct answer: Document the missed appointment and make reasonable attempts to contact the applicant
The civil surgeon should document the missed appointment and attempt to reach the applicant, as incomplete follow-up can affect the validity of the examination.
Question 7: When must a civil surgeon report a communicable disease of public health significance discovered during a medical exam?
- Only after obtaining the applicant's written consent
- Never, because all medical information from the exam is strictly confidential
- As required by applicable federal, state, and local public health reporting laws (Correct answer)
- Only to USCIS, and not to any public health authority
Correct answer: As required by applicable federal, state, and local public health reporting laws
Civil surgeons are subject to the same mandatory public health reporting obligations as other physicians, regardless of the immigration context.
USCIS Communication & Stakeholder Relations 2
How does a civil surgeon typically deliver completed immigration medical examination results to an applicant?