FAQs About the Medical Examination for a Visa or Green Card
An important part of the process to get a green card or certain types of visas is the medical examination. The examination is performed by a doctor selected by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS. The test can have a bearing on whether or not you are allowed to enter or remain in the country. If you are planning to apply for a green card or visa, here is what you need to know about the medical examination.
Why Is the Examination Performed?
The medical examination is used to determine whether you are physically fit to be granted legal entry or residency in the country. The doctor not only evaluates your physical health but also reviews your mental health.
In addition to ensuring that you are physically fit, the doctor also verifies that you have received all of the vaccinations that are required by the USCIS.
What Should You Do During the Examination?
During the examination, it is important that you are honest with the doctor. Your honesty also needs to extend to the forms that you are required to complete. If it is discovered that you were not completely honest, the USCIS could consider your actions an attempt to commit fraud. This could result in your application for the green card or visa being denied.
If you are ill on the day of the examination, try to attend the appointment anyway. The doctor can note that you truly were ill and reschedule for another day. If you are unable to attend, contact the doctor as soon as it is evident that you cannot.
Once the examination is complete, the doctor will provide you with a sealed envelope to submit to the USCIS. It is imperative that you do not attempt to open the envelope. If you do, the USCIS worker handling your case could claim that the examination results were altered.
What If You Are Deemed Inadmissible?
There are guidelines that determine whether or not a person would be considered inadmissible. For instance, having a communicable disease, a history of drug abuse, or a mental disorder that has resulted in harmful or destructive behavior in the past could render you inadmissible.
If the doctor has ruled that you are inadmissible, you can choose to fight the decision. You can request another examination by a different doctor. Your attorney could request a hearing to discuss the results to determine if you should be truly labeled inadmissible.
To further learn about the medical examination, consult with an experienced immigration attorney or read more online.
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