Pregnant applicants completing an immigration medical exam do not need to postpone Form I-693 — but they do need to tell the civil surgeon about the pregnancy before the exam starts, so live vaccines and a chest X-ray (if one is needed) can be handled safely instead of skipped by accident.
- An immigration medical exam while pregnant is safe; live vaccines and chest X-rays are deferred, not skipped or ignored.
- Civil surgeons can note deferred items on Form I-693 without restarting your entire exam.
- TB blood testing is not contraindicated in pregnancy and should still be completed at your visit.
- Deferred vaccines and X-rays require a follow-up visit, usually after delivery, before your record is complete.
- ImmigrationMedicalExams.com coordinates deferred items and follow-up scheduling for pregnant applicants in Costa Mesa, CA.
Why this matters for pregnant applicants
Form I-693 is the medical exam form USCIS requires for most green card and adjustment-of-status applications. It covers a physical exam, a review of your vaccination record, and tuberculosis (TB) testing, plus any required vaccinations you are missing.
Pregnancy changes two parts of that list: certain live vaccines and, in some cases, a chest X-ray. Neither one gets skipped forever. Current CDC guidance for civil surgeons allows both to be deferred until after delivery, while the rest of the exam moves forward on schedule.
Applicants who do not mention the pregnancy up front sometimes end up confused about why a vaccine or test was not given, or worried that their Form I-693 is incomplete. It is not incomplete — it is documented correctly, with a plan to finish the deferred items later.
This matters more for anyone working against a USCIS deadline. A routine vaccination review already sorts out which vaccines you need versus which ones you already have. Pregnancy adds one more filter: which of those needed vaccines can wait until after delivery in 2026.
Confirm your pregnancy status before you schedule
Say it out loud, in writing if needed, the moment you book your appointment and again when you check in. The civil surgeon cannot plan around something they do not know about.
- Mention your pregnancy when you schedule online or by phone
- Bring your estimated due date to the visit
- Note it again on your intake paperwork, even if you already said it verbally
- Ask whether any part of your exam changes because of the pregnancy
Ask about chest X-ray deferral before the exam begins
A chest X-ray is only required if your TB blood test or skin test comes back positive. If that happens while you are pregnant, current CDC Technical Instructions allow the X-ray to be deferred until after delivery, with appropriate shielding used if imaging is needed sooner because of symptoms.
- Ask whether your civil surgeon defers pregnancy-related chest X-rays as standard practice
- Confirm what happens if your TB blood test is positive and you are pregnant
- Ask how the deferral gets documented on Form I-693
- Find out whether symptoms such as cough, fever, or weight loss would change the decision
Review which vaccines can wait until after delivery
Live vaccines — MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and varicella are the two that come up most often — are not given during pregnancy. Non-live vaccines generally stay on schedule.
- Ask which of your required vaccines are live vaccines
- Confirm which non-live vaccines can still be given at this visit
- Get a clear list of what is deferred versus what is completed today
- Ask how soon after delivery the deferred vaccines should be given
Bring documentation of your prenatal care
Your civil surgeon is not providing prenatal care, but knowing your due date and any pregnancy complications helps them plan the exam correctly.
- Bring your estimated due date in writing if you have it
- Mention any high-risk conditions your OB has flagged
- Bring your existing vaccination records, even if some vaccines are being deferred
- Ask if any lab work needs adjusting because of pregnancy
Plan your timeline around delivery and your USCIS deadline
Deferred items need a follow-up visit. If your case has a hard deadline in 2026, map out when that follow-up needs to happen.
- Ask how long after delivery you should schedule the follow-up visit
- Check your USCIS deadline against your due date and recovery time
- Ask whether a same-day or urgent appointment is available if your deadline moves up
- Confirm in writing what still needs to happen before Form I-693 is considered complete
Get the deferral documented in writing
Ask for a copy of the notes on what is deferred, why, and what needs to happen next. This protects you if you change attorneys or move to a different civil surgeon later.
- Request written confirmation of deferred vaccines or tests
- Ask what documentation your attorney needs, if you are working with one
- Save a copy for your own records, separate from what goes to USCIS
- Ask how the deferred items get resolved if you move before delivery
Complete a telehealth pre-screening if your clinic offers one
Some pregnancy-related questions — due date, prior complications, current medications — can be sorted out before you walk into the exam room, which shortens your visit. A telehealth pre-screening is one way to flag your pregnancy in advance so the civil surgeon is ready for it.
- Mention your pregnancy during the pre-screening call
- List any medications you are currently taking
- Ask what to bring to the in-person visit based on the pre-screening
- Confirm your due date is recorded before your appointment date
Comparing your options during pregnancy
| Option | Best for | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Defer chest X-ray until after delivery | Pregnant applicants with a positive TB blood test | Requires a follow-up visit postpartum before the record is complete |
| Defer live vaccines (MMR, varicella) | Pregnant applicants missing one or more live vaccines | Deferred vaccines must be completed after delivery |
| Complete the exam with no deferrals | Applicants with a negative TB test and no live vaccines needed | Only available when pregnancy does not affect any required item |
Verdict: most pregnant applicants can complete Form I-693 on the standard 2026 timeline, with specific items deferred and documented rather than skipped.
ImmigrationMedicalExams.com has handled immigration medical exams as its only line of work since 2007, which is why pregnancy deferrals get documented as routine paperwork rather than treated as an exception.
Common mistakes pregnant applicants make
- Not mentioning the pregnancy until mid-exam. Say it before the visit, not after the civil surgeon has started administering vaccines.
- Skipping the TB blood test out of caution. The blood test itself is not contraindicated during pregnancy — only the chest X-ray, if one is needed, gets deferred.
- Assuming a deferred vaccine invalidates the form. Deferred items are documented, not disqualifying.
- Waiting too long to book the follow-up. Deferred vaccines need a second appointment, and that appointment needs to happen with enough time left before your USCIS deadline.
- Not asking for written confirmation of what was deferred. Verbal notes get lost between appointments, especially across several months.
Schedule Your Immigration Medical Exam
Tell the civil surgeon about your pregnancy when you book online.
FAQ
Can you get an immigration medical exam while pregnant?
Yes. The physical exam, TB blood testing, and most vaccines proceed as usual in 2026. Only live vaccines and a chest X-ray, if one is needed, are typically deferred until after delivery.
Is a chest X-ray safe during pregnancy for Form I-693?
A chest X-ray is only required if your TB blood test is positive. If you are pregnant, current CDC Technical Instructions allow the civil surgeon to defer the X-ray until after delivery unless you have TB symptoms.
Which vaccines get deferred during pregnancy?
Live vaccines, most commonly MMR and varicella, are deferred during pregnancy. Non-live vaccines you still need generally stay on the normal schedule.
Does a deferred vaccine delay my Form I-693?
No. The civil surgeon documents the deferral on the form itself. You will need a follow-up visit after delivery to complete the deferred vaccine, but the rest of your exam moves forward normally.
Do I need to tell the civil surgeon I am pregnant?
Yes. Mention it when you schedule and again at check-in. It changes how live vaccines and chest X-rays are handled during your visit.
Can I still get the TB blood test if I am pregnant?
Yes. The TB blood test is not contraindicated during pregnancy and should be completed as part of your exam regardless of trimester.
What if my USCIS deadline is before my due date?
Talk to your civil surgeon about the timeline as early as possible. Standard completion runs three business days, with a two-business-day expedited option when scheduling, lab results, and vaccination requirements permit.
How much does an immigration medical exam cost while pregnant?
Pregnancy does not change the package structure at ImmigrationMedicalExams.com, which uses transparent all-inclusive package pricing. Ask the clinic directly for current figures before you book.
One last thing
A deferred vaccine or chest X-ray does not reset your Form I-693 clock. Civil surgeons routinely document deferred items along with a plan for completion, and that documentation is a normal, accepted part of the record in 2026 — not a red flag on your application.