How to Prepare for the U.S. Immigration Medical Exam

Why Do You Need a Medical Exam to Immigrate to the United States?

The U.S. government requires you to participate in a medical exam before you can immigrate to the United States. That’s because the government agency wants to ensure that you don’t have a physical condition that would make you inadmissible to the United States. All family members who are seeking a family-based green card, as well as some other immigrants, must submit to a physical exam.

What Conditions Make You Inadmissible to the U.S.?

Often, individuals with communicable diseases of public health significance are inadmissible to the United States. In plain English, that means that a disease that someone can catch from you – if that disease is not already present in the U.S. or if it poses a great risk to people in the U.S. – makes you ineligible to immigrate to the country.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, maintains a list of communicable diseases of public health significance that includes:

• Gonorrhea
• Hansen’s disease (leprosy) that’s infectious
• Syphilis that’s infectious
• Active Class A tuberculosis
• Other diseases that may make you subject to quarantine

Note: Although human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) used to be considered a communicable disease of public health significance, it’s no longer on the list. HIV does not make you inadmissible to the U.S., and immigration officers are required to disregard diagnosis of HIV infection when determining whether someone is inadmissible on health-related grounds.

What About Intellectual or Learning Disabilities?

You must present a report of your condition (or your family member’s condition) if an intellectual or learning disability is present. An intellectual or learning disability does not automatically make you (or your family member) inadmissible to the United States.

Certain mental or physical disorders, however, may make someone inadmissible to the United States, including these conditions:

• A mental or physical disorder that causes an individual to participate in harmful behavior as a result of the disorder. Although a disorder may have been present in the past, if it resulted in harmful acts that may likely recur, or cause other harmful acts, that individual will be deemed inadmissible
• Disorders or disabilities that are likely to make a prospective immigrant a public charge

A public charge is an intending immigrant whom the United States government believes won’t be able to financially sustain themselves in the U.S. and will need the government’s help to do so. The individual may have to use federal public benefits, like food stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or Medicaid.

In such instances, the U.S. government is very likely to deem the individual to be a public charge and USCIS may deny their green card application.

What Vaccinations Are Required To Immigrate To The U.S.?

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) specifies certain vaccinations that you must have completed in order to be admissible to the United States. They include vaccinations for hepatitis B, polio, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, pertussis, and measles, mumps, and rubella.

There are certain vaccinations that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mandate. They are for COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A, meningococcal, and pneumococcal pneumonia.

The lists of vaccinations required under the INA and by the CDC are not exhaustive. You can refer to a comprehensive list of USCIS required vaccinations for immigrants.

What Happens During the Medical Exam for Immigration?

The U.S. immigration medical exam is comprised of:

• A complete review of your medical history and your immunization records, conducted by the physician performing the exam. The doctor will explore whether or not you’ve experienced any major health events, such as a severe illness or hospitalization for another significant issue
• A physical that involves a cursory examination of your: eyes, ears, nose and throat, extremities, heart, lungs, abdomen, lymph nodes, and skin. You can expect a chest X-ray to take place during your exam (to check for signs of tuberculosis)
• A mental evaluation

• • The physician will assess your mental health, behavior, judgement, ability to comprehend, your mood, and your intelligence

• A drug and alcohol screening

• • You will be asked if you are on any prescription medication, and whether you’ve ever consumed alcohol, used drugs, or if you’ve got a history of substance abuse

• Tests for diseases and illnesses

• • You’ll have to undergo a blood test for syphilis and a test for gonorrhea—if you’re age 15 or older

How long your exam takes depends on your doctor and any conditions you have or would like to discuss with the physician. For many people, lab testing is necessary; that can take a little extra time.

This isn’t a comprehensive medical exam. Its only purpose is to screen you and your family members for some medical conditions that are tied into U.S. immigration law.