Recently, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has removed the 60-day rule for civil surgeon signatures on Form I-693 Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, also known as the immigration medical exam.
Green card applicants can now submit their medical exam results form up to two years after the civil surgeon signed it. Previously, green card applicants were required to have a civil surgeon sign Form I-693 within 60 days of submitting their green card application or risk its rejection with USCIS. This requirement placed an additional burden on immigrants and raised their risk of receiving a Request for Evidence (RFE).
The removal of the 60-day deadline will give applicants more time and flexibility when searching for a qualified physician who can sign off on their medical examinations. It could also reduce delays caused by having to resubmit documents if they submitted their form more than 60 days from when the civil surgeon signed it.
“While the 60-day rule was intended to enhance operational efficiency and reduce the need to request updated Forms I-693 from applicants, in practice these efficiencies have not been realized,” USCIS said in a press release.