Preparing for the immigration medical exam is mostly about gathering the right documents before your appointment. The exam itself is straightforward. What causes delays (extra costs, a second visit, or a Request for Evidence from USCIS ) is almost always something that could have been avoided with a few days of preparation. This guide walks through each step in order, from finding the right doctor to what to do after you leave the office.
If you are in the Tampa Bay area, Medical Exams of Tampa offers an immigration medical exam with a certified civil surgeon in Tampa at $270 for adults and $220 for children, with bilingual staff and Saturday appointments available.
Step 1: find a USCIS-designated civil surgeon and confirm the price
Only a physician officially designated by USCIS as a civil surgeon can perform the immigration medical exam and complete Form I-693. Your regular doctor cannot do it. Use the USCIS Find a Civil Surgeon tool at uscis.gov/tools/find-a-civil-surgeon and search by zip code.
Before booking, call the office and ask for a complete price breakdown: the base exam fee, the blood test fees, and the cost per vaccine. USCIS does not regulate civil surgeon fees, and prices vary significantly between offices. Getting a full estimate in advance avoids surprises at checkout.
Step 2: time your appointment correctly
For adjustment of status applicants (Form I-485), schedule your exam close enough to your filing date that the results will be ready when you submit. The general recommendation is to complete the exam approximately three to four weeks before you plan to file your I-485. Lab results typically take three to five business days to return, and the civil surgeon needs time to complete and seal Form I-693 once all results are in.
Do not schedule the exam too far in advance. While Form I-693 signed on or after November 1, 2023, does not expire on its own, it becomes invalid if the I-485 application it was submitted with is withdrawn or denied. Timing the exam close to your filing date is the practical approach.
Step 3: locate your vaccination records
This is the most important preparation step. Every vaccine you can document at the appointment is one you will not need to receive again, saving you both time and money. Start gathering records at least two weeks before your appointment.
Where to look for vaccination records:
- Your primary care doctor or pediatrician
- Previous schools or daycares (for childhood vaccines)
- Your state health department (many states maintain digital immunization registries)
- Previous employers, if vaccines were required for work
- Your country of origin’s health authority, if you were vaccinated abroad
Records from any country in any language are accepted. If they are not in English, bring a certified translation. The translator must sign a statement confirming the translation is complete and accurate, with their printed name and the date.
If you cannot locate your records at all, do not try to get vaccinated before the appointment. Let the civil surgeon assess which vaccines are appropriate for your age and health before any are administered. Getting vaccinated without that assessment first can create timing issues with multi-dose series.
Step 4: gather your medical history documents
Beyond vaccination records, the civil surgeon will review your medical history during the exam. Prepare these documents in advance if they apply to you:
- A list of current medications with dosages, in labeled bottles or printed prescriptions
- Prior TB test results or chest X-ray films (not just written reports) and treatment documentation if you have ever tested positive
- Written documentation of treatment for syphilis or gonorrhea if you have a prior diagnosis
- A letter from your treating provider if you have a mental health condition or history of substance use, explaining your current status and treatment
- Documentation of any chronic conditions that may be relevant, such as HIV or an immunocompromised state, which can affect which vaccines are appropriate
Having these documents does not mean you will be found inadmissible. For most conditions, what matters is whether there is current harmful behavior or an untreated communicable disease, not the diagnosis itself.
Step 5: complete Part 1 of Form I-693 before your appointment
Some civil surgeon offices provide Form I-693 at the appointment. Others ask you to bring a printed copy. Confirm with the office when you book. If you need to bring it, print the current 01/20/25 edition from uscis.gov and complete Part 1 with your personal information: full legal name, date of birth, address, A-Number if you have one, and USCIS Online Account Number.
Do not sign the form before the appointment. Your signature must happen in the civil surgeon’s physical presence. Signing in advance is a common mistake that requires a corrected form and a return visit.
Step 6: the day of your appointment
Arrive on time or a few minutes early. The appointment typically takes one to two hours depending on what tests are required. You do not need to fast. The blood draw screens for infectious disease markers, not metabolic values, so food and drink do not affect results.
For a complete list of everything to bring, see the full guide on what to bring to your appointment.
If you do not speak English, bring an interpreter. The interpreter must be physically present and will be required to sign Part 3 of Form I-693. A family member or friend can serve as your interpreter.
Step 7: after the appointment
The civil surgeon will contact you when Form I-693 is ready, usually within a few days to two weeks depending on how quickly lab results return. When you pick it up, the civil surgeon gives you two envelopes: one sealed, one unsealed.
Review your unsealed copy carefully before leaving. Check that your name, date of birth, and all personal information are correct. If you spot an error, tell the civil surgeon immediately. They can void the sealed envelope, correct the form, and re-seal it. Do not try to correct errors yourself.
Do not open the sealed envelope under any circumstances. USCIS will reject any form that arrives in an opened or altered envelope. Submit the sealed envelope together with your Form I-485, you cannot file them separately.
Book your immigration medical exam in Tampa
Medical Exams of Tampa is a USCIS-designated civil surgeon office at 7345 Jackson Springs Rd, Tampa, FL. The office stocks the most commonly required vaccines, processes lab results promptly, and has bilingual staff available. Saturday appointments are available for applicants who cannot come during the week.
To schedule your exam, visit immigration exam at Medical Exams of Tampa or call 813-249-0001.
