USCIS Introduction 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the term for the physician authorized by USCIS to conduct immigration medical exams inside the United States?
- Panel physician
- Civil surgeon (Correct answer)
- Immigration doctor
- Authorized medical officer
Correct answer: Civil surgeon
Physicians designated by USCIS to perform immigration medical exams inside the US are called civil surgeons.
Question 2: What is a 'panel physician' in the context of USCIS medical exams?
- A civil surgeon who reviews other civil surgeons' work
- A physician authorized by a US Embassy or Consulate to examine visa applicants abroad (Correct answer)
- A doctor who specializes in infectious disease for immigration purposes
- A physician on a panel of experts who sets USCIS medical standards
Correct answer: A physician authorized by a US Embassy or Consulate to examine visa applicants abroad
Panel physicians are authorized by US Embassies and Consulates to conduct medical exams for immigrant visa applicants applying from outside the US.
Question 3: Which federal law provides the authority for the US government to require medical examinations for immigrants?
- The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA)
- The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (Correct answer)
- The Public Health Service Act (PHSA)
- The Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Correct answer: The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) establishes health-related grounds of inadmissibility and the authority to require medical exams.
Question 4: Which agency sets the technical standards and vaccination requirements that civil surgeons must follow during immigration medical exams?
- USCIS
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Correct answer)
- The American Medical Association (AMA)
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Correct answer: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC sets the technical instructions and vaccination requirements that civil surgeons follow when conducting immigration medical exams.
Question 5: What must an applicant bring to their civil surgeon appointment for the medical exam?
- Only a government-issued photo ID
- Photo ID, vaccination records, and any relevant medical history (Correct answer)
- Only their I-485 application receipt
- A referral letter from their primary care physician
Correct answer: Photo ID, vaccination records, and any relevant medical history
Applicants should bring a photo ID, vaccination records, and relevant medical history to ensure an efficient and complete exam.
Question 6: After the civil surgeon completes Form I-693, how is the sealed envelope handled?
- The applicant opens it and reviews the results before submitting
- The civil surgeon mails it directly to USCIS
- The envelope is given to the applicant sealed to submit to USCIS (Correct answer)
- The applicant's attorney receives the sealed envelope
Correct answer: The envelope is given to the applicant sealed to submit to USCIS
The civil surgeon seals Form I-693 in an envelope, which the applicant must submit to USCIS unopened.
Question 7: If an applicant received their immigrant visa medical exam abroad, do they need another exam when adjusting status in the US?
- Yes, always — a new exam is always required for US-based applications
- No, if the visa exam was recent enough it may satisfy USCIS requirements (Correct answer)
- Only if they had a communicable disease found during the overseas exam
- Yes, but only for vaccinations, not the physical examination
Correct answer: No, if the visa exam was recent enough it may satisfy USCIS requirements
In some circumstances, a recent overseas panel physician exam can satisfy the I-485 medical exam requirement, but specific conditions must be met.
USCIS Introduction 3
What is the term for the physician authorized by USCIS to conduct immigration medical exams inside the United States?