Designated Civil Surgeons
ALERT: Civil surgeons—According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you cannot conduct an immigration medical examination using telemedicine. You must conduct the physical examination in person. For more information, please see the Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons.
Depending on the immigration benefit sought, an applicant may be required to undergo a medical examination. Immigration medical examinations conducted inside the United States must be performed by a civil surgeon who has been designated by USCIS. (Immigration medical examinations conducted outside the United States must be performed by a panel physician who is authorized by the Department of State.). For more information on immigration medical examination, see Form I-693, Report of Medial Examination and Vaccination Record and USCIS Policy Manual Guidance on Health- Related Grounds of Inadmissibility.
How to Become a Civil Surgeon
If you are interested in becoming a civil surgeon, you must apply using Form I-910, Application for Civil Surgeon Designation. For more information on civil surgeons designation, see USCIS Policy Manual Civil Surgeon Guidance
NOTE: Certain physicians may not need to apply for civil surgeon designation if they fall under a limited number of blanket designations. For more information, see USCIS Policy Manual Blanket Civil Surgeon Designation Guidance.
Civil Surgeons’ Responsibilities: Technical Instructions
Civil surgeons must perform the immigration medical examination according to Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons (Technical Instructions or TIs), published by CDC in Atlanta, Georgia. These Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons include instructions on the various required component of the medical examination and answers to common questions about the exam process.
The civil surgeon is responsible for obtaining these instructions online and complying with the requirements of the Technical Instructions.
Failure to comply with the Technical Instructions may result in USCIS revoking the civil surgeon’s designation.
For more information or a full list of civil surgeons’ responsibilities, see the instructions to Form I-910, Form I-693 and the USCIS Policy Manual Civil Surgeon Guidance.
Educational Materials for Civil Surgeons
USCIS coordinates with CDC to provide regular instruction on how to perform the immigration medical examination according to the Technical Instructions and regulations and correctly capture results of the exam on the Form I-693, Report of Medial Examination and Vaccination Record. Presentations from some recent civil surgeon educational seminars and online training modules can be found below on CDC and partner websites.
Civil Surgeon Seminars
- CDC Civil Surgeon Workshop 2022
- Register for civil surgeon online training module
Vaccination Requirements
Questions and Updates
For currently designated civil surgeons:
| If your inquiry/request is... | Then |
|---|---|
| An immigration-related question or question about completing Form I-693 | Email USCIS at opscivilsurgeons@uscis.dhs.gov |
| A medical question about the immigration medical examination or CDC's Technical Instructions | See www.cdc.gov/cdc-info/index.html for CDC’s contact information |
| Related to civil surgeon designation |
Email USCIS at the USCIS email address provided in your civil surgeon designation approval letter. You should also use this email address to update contact information and office locations, or to request termination of civil surgeon designation status. See the bulleted list below for reasons that require a civil surgeon to notify USCIS. |
Find a Civil Surgeon
A public list of designated civil surgeons is available online through the Find a Civil Surgeon webpage.
In order to keep the public list of civil surgeons accurate and up-to-date, civil surgeons must notify USCIS within 15 days of any change(s) relevant to civil surgeon designation, including if:
- The civil surgeon ceases to practice medicine;
- The civil surgeon ceases to perform immigration medical examinations in the state in which they are designated;
- The civil surgeon’s medical license is restricted and/or the civil surgeon is subject to any disciplinary action;
- There is a change in the civil surgeon’s contact information (such as name of office, address, telephone number, fax number, or email address), or
- The civil surgeon would like to add new office locations.
Send notification of these changes to the USCIS email address you were provided on your designation approval letter. If you cannot locate this USCIS email address, send your notification to Public.Engagement@uscis.dhs.gov.