What is an immigration physical?
If you’re immigrating to the United States and want to obtain a permanent Green Card, you need to undergo an immigration physical. This type of exam is a routine part of the immigration process and helps to ensure public safety.
Certain infectious diseases and medical conditions may prevent you from gaining admission to the United States. An immigration physical helps to verify that you will not endanger the health of the general public.
What medical issues could prevent me from gaining residency?
There are four primary medical conditions that USCIS identifies as making an immigrant inadmissible on health-related grounds. These conditions include:
- A communicable disease with public health significance
- Drug abuse or addiction
- A physical or mental disorder associated with harmful behavior
- Failure to show proof of required vaccinations
Before scheduling an immigration physical appointment, make sure you have all of your necessary documentation and medical paperwork. Doing so will speed up the process and increase your chances of admission. This includes:
- Immunization records or bloodwork to approve your immunity
- Any prior chest X-rays
- Copy of your medical records
- International identification, including passport, identity card, laissez-passer, or travel document
Without this documentation, your provider cannot complete your immigration physical.
What vaccines are necessary for immigration?
To immigrate to the United States, you must be up-to-date on your immunizations. Eligibility requires that you’ve received vaccinations for:
- Hepatitis A and B
- Influenza and influenza type B (Hib)
- Measles, mumps, and rubella
- Meningococcal
- Pneumococcal
- Pertussis
- Polio
- Rotavirus
- Tetanus and diphtheria
- Varicella
Your immunization records help your physician determine you’re not at risk of spreading infectious diseases and conditions to the general public.
What happens during an immigration physical appointment?
When you see the Physicians Medical Primary Care team for an immigration physical, you must show your passport (or some other form of photo identification) and bring the required documents for your provider to complete during your exam.
During the exam, your doctor reviews your medical history, completes a blood test for syphilis, a urine test for gonorrhea, and orders a test for Tuberculosis. Your provider performs a physical exam, screening for specific conditions relevant to immigration law.
Once your doctor completes your exam, they give you your exam results in a sealed envelope.
What happens after my immigration physical?
Following the completion of your immigration physical, your doctor fills out all of the necessary paperwork required by USCIS. The results of an immigration physical are good for up to one full year.
If it’s time to schedule your immigration physical, make an appointment at Physicians Medical Urgent Care today by calling the office or clicking the online booking tool.
If you want to immigrate to the United States and need an immigration physical, call Physicians Medical Primary Care, or request an appointment online today.
