# USCIS medical exam (I-693): what to expect

> What the I-693 medical exam is: the civil-surgeon requirement, what the exam covers, the sealed envelope, provider-set pricing, and when it's submitted.

Canonical: https://www.popimmigration.com/guides/uscis-medical-exam  
Publisher: Pop Immigration (https://www.popimmigration.com)  
Last reviewed: 2026-07-20

The immigration medical exam has three rules people learn the hard way: only a USCIS-designated civil surgeon can do it, the result travels in a sealed envelope, and the price is whatever the surgeon charges. This page explains the exam's structure — what it is, who performs it, and where it fits in the case. Every claim is cited; general process description, not advice about any individual case.

## Only a civil surgeon

The exam is recorded on Form I-693 and must be performed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon — a regular physician's exam doesn't count. USCIS's find-a-doctor tool locates designated surgeons by location, and Pop Immigration's tiers include a civil-surgeon finder and exam prep guide built on the same designation list.

## What the exam covers

The exam addresses the health-related grounds the law defines, including a review of the vaccination record against the required list. The medical specifics are governed by the form's instructions and the CDC's guidance for civil surgeons — the surgeon works from those, which is why the applicant's job is mostly bringing records, not studying medicine.

## The sealed envelope

The completed I-693 comes back sealed, and it must stay sealed — USCIS does not accept an opened envelope. The copy for the applicant's own records is requested from the surgeon separately.

## Cost and timing

The civil surgeon sets the fee — there is no standard amount and no USCIS filing fee for the I-693 itself, so pricing between designated surgeons varies and calling ahead is rational. When the sealed exam must be submitted relative to the I-485 is stated on USCIS's pages and has changed over time; the current statement there is the authority.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can any doctor do the immigration medical exam?

No — only a USCIS-designated civil surgeon. USCIS's find-a-doctor tool locates them.

### What does the exam cost?

The surgeon sets the fee — there's no standard amount and no USCIS fee for the I-693 itself. Prices vary between designated surgeons.

### What does the exam involve?

The health-related grounds the law defines, including vaccination-record review — governed by the form's instructions and CDC guidance for civil surgeons.

### Why does the envelope matter?

The I-693 is submitted sealed by the surgeon; USCIS doesn't accept opened envelopes. Request a personal copy separately.

### When is the I-693 submitted?

Per the current rule stated on USCIS's I-485/I-693 pages — the timing requirement has changed over time, so those pages are the authority.

## Sources

- USCIS — I-693; Find a Civil Surgeon: https://www.uscis.gov/i-693
- USCIS — I-693 instructions (scope): https://www.uscis.gov/i-693
- USCIS — I-693 (sealed envelope requirement): https://www.uscis.gov/i-693
- USCIS — I-693 (provider-set pricing): https://www.uscis.gov/i-693
- USCIS — I-485/I-693 (timing): https://www.uscis.gov/i-693

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