USCIS Accepts 01/20/25 I-693 in 2026: What U.S. Filers Must Do
USCIS currently accepts the I-693 edition dated 01/20/25, and the date on your civil surgeon’s signature is what actually controls compliance, not the date you happen to print the form. The single most important move right now: confirm with your civil surgeon, before your exam, that they are using the current edition, and make sure the sealed envelope goes in with your Form I-485. Since June 2025, USCIS has also tied I-693 validity to the pending application itself, so a withdrawn or denied case usually means starting over with a new exam.
TL;DR:
- Only the I-693 edition dated 01/20/25 is currently accepted; verify the signature date, not just the print date, to ensure compliance.
- Civil surgeons must use the latest edition at the time of signing; older forms become invalid once the cutoff date passes, leading to rejection.
- The I-693’s validity is now tied directly to the application pending at the time of signing; withdrawn or denied cases generally require a new exam.
- Rejections at intake can often be remedied with the same sealed envelope if the package was not substantively denied or withdrawn.
- Most RFEs result from outdated editions or incomplete vaccination records, so proper preparation and specialized civil surgeons minimize delays.
Table of Contents
- Which I-693 Edition Date Does USCIS Accept in 2026?
- How Do You Verify the Edition Date Before Your Exam?
- What Changed in USCIS Policy Between 2023 and 2026?
- What Happens If Your Application Is Rejected, Withdrawn, or Denied?
- Why Do RFEs Happen With I-693 Submissions, and How Do You Prevent Them?
- Why Does a Specialized Civil Surgeon Matter for Edition and Timing Issues?
- What Should You Bring to Your I-693 Appointment?
- Where Can You Verify These Rules Yourself?
- How We Keep Applicants Compliant With Edition and Validity Rules
- Book Your I-693 Exam With ImmigrationMedicalExams
- Sources
- FAQ
Which I-693 Edition Date Does USCIS Accept in 2026?
The current accepted edition is dated 01/20/25. That date sits at the bottom of both the official form and its instructions, printed in mm/dd/yy format, along with the OMB expiration date.
Before July 3, 2025, USCIS accepted two editions side by side, the 03/09/23 version and the 01/20/25 version. After that date, only the 01/20/25 edition counted. If you’re researching further out into 2026, check the Forms Updates page directly, since USCIS posts new edition dates there as soon as they’re finalized rather than waiting for a broader announcement.
A few things worth knowing about how USCIS structures this:
- Edition dates appear at the bottom of every page of the form and instructions.
- The main I-693 page always reflects the current edition and links to the live PDF.
- Old editions get rejected at intake once a cutoff date passes, even if the form is otherwise filled out correctly.
How Do You Verify the Edition Date Before Your Exam?
Don’t assume the packet in your civil surgeon’s office is current. Printed office copies lag behind USCIS updates more often than you’d expect, and a stack of forms from six months ago can quietly become obsolete.
- Download the current PDF from uscis.gov/i-693 and check the edition date at the bottom before your appointment.
- Ask your civil surgeon’s office directly whether they’re using that same edition, ideally when you book, not when you arrive.
- If the office has older printed stock, ask them to print the current version instead of using what’s on hand.
- Confirm the signature date on your finished form matches the day of your actual exam, since that date is what USCIS checks against the edition rules in effect.
The signature date is the anchor point. USCIS evaluates edition compliance based on when the civil surgeon signs, not when you downloaded or printed the blank form.
What Changed in USCIS Policy Between 2023 and 2026?
The rules around how long an I-693 stays valid have shifted several times in the last few years, and the changes stack on top of each other:
- November 1, 2023: USCIS began applying a cutoff for I-693 signature dates, setting the stage for later validity rules.
- April 4, 2024: USCIS moved toward treating properly completed I-693 forms as valid indefinitely for adjudication purposes, removing the old two-year expiration concept.
- December 2, 2024: USCIS started requiring most applicants to submit Form I-693 together with Form I-485 at filing, rather than allowing it later in the process.
- June 11, 2025: USCIS updated the Policy Manual (PA-2025-08) to state that any I-693 signed on or after November 1, 2023, is valid only while the application it accompanied remains pending.
- September 2025: USCIS field offices began enforcing the June update more consistently at intake and during interviews.
The practical effect for anyone filing in 2026: your medical exam is now linked to one specific application. If that application gets withdrawn or denied, the I-693 tied to it generally can’t be reused for a future filing, even if the exam happened recently and the form itself is still technically within its expiration window.
What Happens If Your Application Is Rejected, Withdrawn, or Denied?
There’s one narrow exception worth knowing, and it’s easy to miss. If USCIS rejects your package at intake, a pure paperwork bounce rather than a substantive denial, you can often fix the issue and resubmit the same sealed I-693 envelope. That’s different from a case that gets adjudicated and denied, or one you withdraw yourself.
- Keep the rejection notice; it documents that USCIS returned the package at intake rather than denying it.
- Contact your civil surgeon right away to find out whether the same sealed envelope can go back in, or whether new documentation is needed.
- If your application was actually withdrawn or denied on the merits, plan on scheduling a new exam, since the old I-693 is very unlikely to satisfy a future filing—see how to reclaim your U.S. immigration bond refund for related guidance.
- Don’t wait until your next filing deadline is close to sort this out.
Pro Tip: Never open a sealed I-693 envelope yourself to check it. Once that seal is broken, USCIS treats it as compromised, and you’ll likely need a new exam regardless of what’s inside.
Why Do RFEs Happen With I-693 Submissions, and How Do You Prevent Them?
Requests for Evidence on I-693 filings tend to trace back to a small set of preventable issues rather than genuine medical problems. The form itself, and the surrounding paperwork, trips people up more than the exam does.
- Using an outdated edition that USCIS no longer accepts at intake.
- Missing or incomplete vaccination documentation, including gaps in specific vaccination rows rather than a full missing category.
- Vaccination history that references old records without formal proof, like a parent’s memory instead of a shot record.
- A sealed envelope that arrives opened, damaged, or resealed.
Civil surgeons follow CDC guidance on tuberculosis screening and other exam components, and incomplete TB documentation is another recurring RFE trigger. Clinics that specialize in this exam catch these gaps before the envelope is sealed. Bring every vaccine record you have, even partial ones, and ask your civil surgeon to confirm your vaccination rows are fully documented before you leave.
Why Does a Specialized Civil Surgeon Matter for Edition and Timing Issues?
A civil surgeon who only handles immigration exams sees edition changes and vaccination documentation problems constantly, which means fewer surprises for you.
- Civil surgeon exam, on-site lab work, vaccination review, and administration when needed, plus sealed I-693 preparation, all in one visit.
- Standard turnaround runs about three days, with a two-day expedited option for applicants racing a filing deadline.
- Online scheduling is available around the clock, so you’re not stuck waiting for office hours to book.
Specialization is what catches an incomplete vaccination row or an outdated edition before it becomes an RFE months later.
What Should You Bring to Your I-693 Appointment?
A little preparation before your visit saves you from a second appointment later.
- Government-issued photo ID and any prior immigration paperwork tied to your case.
- Complete vaccination records, including childhood shots if you have them, plus any prior TB test results.
- Any previous I-693 forms you’ve had completed, even if they weren’t accepted, since they help the civil surgeon see your history.
- A copy of the current I-693 edition, or confirmation from the clinic that they’re using it.
Schedule with enough runway to include the sealed I-693 with your initial I-485 filing. Build in a buffer, too. If a vaccine needs a booster dose or a test needs repeating, you don’t want that delay to push your filing date.
Pro Tip: If you’re pregnant or an older applicant, some vaccine requirements involve deferrals or age-based exceptions. Flag this with your civil surgeon before the exam, not during it, so nothing holds up your sealed envelope.
Where Can You Verify These Rules Yourself?
- Form I-693 and its official PDF confirms the current edition date and exact form layout.
- The June 2025 policy alert explains the validity change tied to pending applications.
- Forms Updates shows every new edition date as USCIS publishes it.
- CDC civil surgeon guidance confirms the medical scope civil surgeons follow, including TB testing.
How We Keep Applicants Compliant With Edition and Validity Rules
We’ve focused exclusively on immigration medical exams since 2007, no primary care, no urgent care, just I-693 work done right. Our flat-package pricing is built to avoid the unexpected add-on costs that catch people off guard elsewhere. Combined with standard three-day turnaround, a two-day expedited option, and 24/7 online scheduling, our process is built around one goal: getting your I-693 accepted the first time.
— ImmigrationMedicalExams Medical Team
Book Your I-693 Exam With ImmigrationMedicalExams
Immigrationmedicalexams is the alternative to piecing together your exam across a primary care office, a separate lab, and a scramble for vaccination records. We handle the civil surgeon exam, on-site labs, vaccination review and administration, and sealed I-693 preparation in one visit, with standard three-day turnaround or a two-day expedited option if your filing deadline is close.
Before you book, confirm you’re aware of the current edition date and bring whatever vaccination records you have. If you’re an older applicant or pregnant, review our seniors guidance or pregnancy and vaccine deferral information first, since those situations sometimes affect timing. When you’re ready, visit our immigration medical exam services page to see appointment availability and book a slot that fits your I-485 filing timeline.
This article is general information, not a substitute for advice from a qualified doctor. Consult a qualified healthcare professional about your own circumstances before acting on anything here.
Sources
- Policy manual update: Validity of Form I-693 (PA-2025-08)
- USCIS changes validity period for any Form I-693 signed on or after Nov. 1, 2023
- Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
- Forms updates — USCIS
FAQ
What Is the Current Edition of Form I-693?
The current accepted edition is dated 01/20/25, as shown on the official USCIS PDF. Always verify the edition date printed at the bottom of the form before your exam, since older stock can still circulate in some offices.
Is USCIS Processing Faster in 2026?
USCIS hasn’t published a blanket faster processing standard for I-693 review itself in 2026; what changed is the validity rule, not the speed of adjudication. Submitting a correctly completed, current-edition I-693 alongside your I-485 avoids the delays caused by RFEs, which is the biggest factor most applicants actually control.
What Are the New Rules for Form I-693?
The biggest recent change is the June 2025 policy update tying I-693 validity to the pending application it was submitted with. If that application is withdrawn or denied, the form generally can’t be reused for a later filing.
Does the I-693 Need to Be Submitted With Form I-485?
Yes. Since December 2, 2024, USCIS has generally required most applicants to file Form I-693 together with Form I-485 rather than submitting it separately later in the process.
What Causes Most I-693 Delays or RFEs?
Outdated form editions and incomplete vaccination documentation cause the majority of I-693 RFEs. Working with a civil surgeon who specializes in immigration exams, like the team at Immigrationmedicalexams, significantly reduces the chance of these preventable errors.