The Key Question: Was the Surgeon Designated at the Time of the Exam?

The validity of Form I-693 is determined by whether the civil surgeon was currently designated by USCIS at the time the examination was performed and the form was completed. If the surgeon was designated at the time of the exam, the form is valid — even if the surgeon later retires, loses their designation, or passes away.

This is an important distinction. You do not need to worry about your civil surgeon's future designation status as long as they were properly designated when your exam was performed.

What to Do Before Your Appointment

The best way to protect yourself is to verify the civil surgeon's current designation before your appointment using the USCIS Civil Surgeon Locator. This ensures that the surgeon is designated at the time your exam is performed.

If you scheduled your appointment weeks or months in advance, verify the designation again shortly before your appointment date.

If You Discover a Lapsed Designation Before Your Exam

If you discover that a civil surgeon's designation has lapsed before your appointment, do not proceed with the exam. A Form I-693 completed by a non-designated physician is invalid and will be rejected by USCIS.

Contact the clinic to confirm their status. If the designation is truly lapsed, find a currently designated civil surgeon and reschedule your appointment.

If You Discover a Lapsed Designation After Your Exam

If you discover that a civil surgeon's designation lapsed after your exam was completed, the key question is whether the surgeon was designated at the time of the exam. Check the USCIS Civil Surgeon Locator for historical records or contact USCIS directly.

If the surgeon was designated at the time of the exam, your Form I-693 should be valid. Consult your immigration attorney to confirm.

Choosing a Stable, Established Practice

One way to reduce the risk of civil surgeon designation issues is to choose an established, dedicated immigration clinic with a stable practice. A clinic that has been performing immigration medical exams for many years and maintains a high volume of exams is less likely to have designation issues than a solo practitioner who performs occasional exams.