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Policy Manual
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INA
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Book outline for Policy Manual
  • Policy Manual
    • Search
    • Updates
    • Table of Contents
    • Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures
    • Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants
    • Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole
    • Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees
    • Volume 5 - Adoptions
    • Volume 6 - Immigrants
    • Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status
    • Volume 8 - Admissibility
      • Part A - Admissibility Policies and Procedures
      • Part B - Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility
        • Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background
        • Chapter 2 - Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
        • Chapter 3 - Applicability of Medical Examination and Vaccination Requirement
        • Chapter 4 - Review of Medical Examination Documentation
        • Chapter 5 - Review of Overall Findings
        • Chapter 6 - Communicable Diseases of Public Health Significance
        • Chapter 7 - Physical or Mental Disorder with Associated Harmful Behavior
        • Chapter 8 - Drug Abuse or Drug Addiction
        • Chapter 9 - Vaccination Requirement
        • Chapter 10 - Other Medical Conditions
        • Chapter 11 - Inadmissibility Determination
        • Chapter 12 - Waiver Authority
      • Part C - Civil Surgeon Designation and Revocation
      • Part D - Criminal and Related Grounds of Inadmissibility
      • Part E - Terrorism
      • Part F - National Security and Related Grounds of Inadmissibility
      • Part G - Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility
      • Part H - Labor Certification and Select Immigrant Qualifications
      • Part I - Illegal Entrants and Other Immigration Violators
      • Part J - Fraud and Willful Misrepresentation
      • Part K - False Claim to U.S. Citizenship
      • Part L - Documentation Requirements
      • Part M - Citizenship Ineligibility
      • Part N - Noncitizens Previously Removed
      • Part O - Noncitizens Unlawfully Present
      • Part P - Noncitizens Present After Previous Immigration Violation
      • Part Q - Practicing Polygamists, International Child Abductors, Unlawful Voters, and Tax Evaders
    • Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief
    • Volume 10 - Employment Authorization
    • Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents
    • Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Policy Manual
  3. Volume 8 - Admissibility
  4. Part B - Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility

Part B - Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility

Content navigation tabs
  • Guidance
  • Resources (14)
  • Appendices (0)
  • Updates (17)
  • History (0)

Resources

Legal Authorities

42 CFR 34 - Medical examination of aliens

42 U.S.C. 252 - Medical examination of aliens

INA 212(a)(1) - Health-related grounds

INA 212(g) - Bond and conditions for admission of alien excludable on health-related grounds

INA 221(d) - Physical examination

INA 232, 8 CFR 232 - Detention of aliens for physical and mental examination

Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons

Forms

G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative

I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility

I-602, Application by Refugee for Waiver of Grounds of Excludability

I-690, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility Under Sections 245A or 210 of the Act

I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record

Other Materials

How to Use the USCIS Policy Manual Website (PDF, 2.99 MB)

Appendices

No appendices available at this time.

Updates

POLICY ALERT - Extension of Temporary Waiver of “60-Day Rule” for Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693)

September 29, 2022

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is extending the temporary waiver of the requirement that the civil surgeon’s signature on the Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693) be dated no more than 60 days before an applicant files the application for the underlying immigration benefit.

Read More
Affected Sections

8 USCIS-PM B.4 - Chapter 4 - Review of Medical Examination Documentation

Technical Update - Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility

May 25, 2022

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating existing guidance based on revised Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Technical Instructions regarding gonorrhea and syphilis.

Affected Sections

8 USCIS-PM B.6 - Chapter 6 - Communicable Diseases of Public Health Significance

POLICY ALERT - Use of Medical Examination Completed Abroad for Afghan Nationals Applying for Adjustment of Status After Evacuation Under Operation Allies Welcome

February 01, 2022

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to allow certain Afghan nationals applying for adjustment of status after evacuation under Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) to use the report of an immigration medical examination completed abroad by a panel physician to satisfy the requirement normally demonstrated on a Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693) completed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon, as long as certain conditions are met.

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Affected Sections

8 USCIS-PM B.3 - Chapter 3 - Applicability of Medical Examination and Vaccination Requirement

POLICY ALERT - Temporary Waiver of “60-Day Rule” for Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693)

December 09, 2021

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is temporarily waiving the requirement that the civil surgeon’s signature on the Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693) be dated no more than 60 days before an applicant files the application for the underlying immigration benefit.

Read More
Affected Sections

8 USCIS-PM B.4 - Chapter 4 - Review of Medical Examination Documentation

Technical Update - End of Temporary Extension of Validity Period of Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693)

October 01, 2021

This technical update to Volume 8 removes the temporary extension of the validity period of the Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693) announced August 12, 2021. This temporary extension expires October 1, 2021.

Affected Sections

8 USCIS-PM B.4 - Chapter 4 - Review of Medical Examination Documentation

Technical Update - Implementation of COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Immigration Medical Examination

October 01, 2021

This technical update incorporates the policy guidance that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced September 14, 2021, regarding health-related grounds of inadmissibility in accordance with recently updated requirements issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The updated guidance requires applicants subject to the immigration medical examination to submit COVID-19 vaccination records before completion of immigration medical examinations conducted in the United States and overseas. This guidance became effective October 1, 2021.

Affected Sections

8 USCIS-PM B.9 - Chapter 9 - Vaccination Requirement

9 USCIS-PM D.3 - Chapter 3 - Waiver of Immigrant Vaccination Requirement

POLICY ALERT - COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Immigration Medical Examination

September 14, 2021

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding health-related grounds of inadmissibility in accordance with recently updated requirements issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The updated guidance requires applicants subject to the immigration medical examination to submit COVID-19 vaccination records before completion of immigration medical examinations conducted in the United States and overseas. This guidance becomes effective October 1, 2021.

Read More
Affected Sections

8 USCIS-PM B.9 - Chapter 9 - Vaccination Requirement

9 USCIS-PM D.3 - Chapter 3 - Waiver of Immigrant Vaccination Requirement

POLICY ALERT - Temporary Extension of Validity Period of Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693)

August 12, 2021

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is temporarily extending the validity period of the Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693). This temporary extension is effective through September 30, 2021.

Read More
Affected Sections

8 USCIS-PM B.4 - Chapter 4 - Review of Medical Examination Documentation

Technical Update - Replacing the Term “Alien”

May 11, 2021

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “alien” with “noncitizen” or other appropriate terms throughout the Policy Manual where possible, as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

Technical Update - Moving the Adjudicator’s Field Manual Content into the USCIS Policy Manual

May 21, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating and incorporating relevant Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) content into the USCIS Policy Manual. As that process is ongoing, USCIS has moved any remaining AFM content to its corresponding USCIS Policy Manual Part, in PDF format, until relevant AFM content has been properly incorporated into the USCIS Policy Manual. To the extent that a provision in the USCIS Policy Manual conflicts with remaining AFM content or Policy Memoranda, the updated information in the USCIS Policy Manual prevails. To find remaining AFM content, see the crosswalk (PDF, 350.49 KB) between the AFM and the Policy Manual.

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

3 USCIS-PM - Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole

4 USCIS-PM - Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees

5 USCIS-PM - Volume 5 - Adoptions

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

Technical Update - Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility

December 10, 2019

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating existing guidance based on revised Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Technical Instructions regarding tuberculosis, gonorrhea, and syphilis and the change in nomenclature from leprosy to Hansen’s Disease. USCIS is also updating how USCIS submits a request to CDC for advisory opinion and removing the outdated vaccination chart.

Affected Sections

8 USCIS-PM B.1 - Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background

8 USCIS-PM B.6 - Chapter 6 - Communicable Diseases of Public Health Significance

8 USCIS-PM B.8 - Chapter 8 - Drug Abuse or Drug Addiction

8 USCIS-PM B.9 - Chapter 9 - Vaccination Requirement

Technical Update - Replacing the Term “Foreign National”

October 08, 2019

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “foreign national” with “alien” throughout the Policy Manual as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

POLICY ALERT - Validity of Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693)

October 16, 2018

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in Volume 8, Part B of the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the period of time during which a Form I-693 submitted in support of a related immigration benefits application is considered valid.

Read More
Affected Sections

8 USCIS-PM B - Part B - Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility

POLICY ALERT - Definition of Certain Classes of Medical Conditions and Other Updates Relating to Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility

November 02, 2016

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating guidance regarding health-related grounds of inadmissibility in accordance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rulemaking updating Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 34 (42 CFR 34).

Read More
Affected Sections

8 USCIS-PM B - Part B - Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility

POLICY ALERT - Validity Period of the Medical Certification on the Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693)

May 30, 2014

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing an update to policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual addressing the validity period of civil surgeon endorsements on the Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, Form I-693.

Read More
Affected Sections

8 USCIS-PM B.4 - Chapter 4 - Review of Medical Examination Documentation

Technical Update - Vaccination Requirements for Pregnant or Immuno-Compromised Applicants

March 11, 2014

This technical update replaces the list of vaccines contraindicated for pregnant or immuno-compromised applicants with a reference to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Vaccination Technical Instructions. This ensures the Policy Manual guidance includes the most up-to-date information.

Affected Sections

8 USCIS-PM B.9 - Chapter 9 - Vaccination Requirement

POLICY ALERT - Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility and Waivers

January 28, 2014

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on the health-related grounds of inadmissibility under INA 212(a)(1) and corresponding waivers under INA 212(g).

Read More
Affected Sections

8 USCIS-PM B - Part B - Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility

9 USCIS-PM D - Part D - Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility

Version History

No historical versions available.

0
Page sub tree links
  • Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background
  • Chapter 2 - Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
  • Chapter 3 - Applicability of Medical Examination and Vaccination Requirement
  • Chapter 4 - Review of Medical Examination Documentation
  • Chapter 5 - Review of Overall Findings
  • Chapter 6 - Communicable Diseases of Public Health Significance
  • Chapter 7 - Physical or Mental Disorder with Associated Harmful Behavior
  • Chapter 8 - Drug Abuse or Drug Addiction
  • Chapter 9 - Vaccination Requirement
  • Chapter 10 - Other Medical Conditions
  • Chapter 11 - Inadmissibility Determination
  • Chapter 12 - Waiver Authority
Current as of March 22, 2023
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