Social Drinking Is Not a Ground of Inadmissibility

Moderate or social alcohol consumption is not a ground of inadmissibility under U.S. immigration law. The medical grounds of inadmissibility related to substance use are focused on drug abuse or addiction and, in the context of alcohol, on alcohol use disorder as a clinical diagnosis — not on whether an applicant drinks alcohol.

Alcohol Use Disorder as a Potential Ground of Inadmissibility

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) — a clinical diagnosis based on criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) — can be a ground of inadmissibility. The civil surgeon evaluates whether an applicant currently meets the clinical criteria for AUD, which include patterns of problematic alcohol use that cause significant impairment or distress.

A diagnosis of AUD in the past that has since resolved may not constitute a current ground of inadmissibility. The civil surgeon evaluates your current status.

How the Civil Surgeon Evaluates Alcohol Use

The civil surgeon will conduct a clinical interview and ask about your alcohol use history as part of the standard substance use screening. The evaluation is based on clinical criteria, not on a specific number of drinks per week. If there is evidence of a current alcohol use disorder, the civil surgeon will document this on Form I-693. If you drink socially and do not meet the clinical criteria for AUD, this will not be a finding of inadmissibility.

If You Have a History of Alcohol Use Disorder

If you have a history of alcohol use disorder that has been treated, bringing documentation of your treatment and recovery can be helpful. This might include records from a treatment program, letters from a treating physician, or documentation of participation in a recovery program. Demonstrating that a past disorder has been addressed is relevant to the civil surgeon's evaluation.