What Happens During an Immigration Medical Exam in Oak Lawn?

If you are adjusting status to lawful permanent resident, applying for a green card, or working through certain refugee or asylum processes, USCIS requires a medical exam. The purpose is straightforward: confirm that you do not have a health condition that could bar admission under U.S. immigration law, and confirm that you meet current vaccination requirements.

The exam is documented on Form I-693, and only a physician designated by USCIS as a civil surgeon can complete and seal it. That form goes with your green-card application. Without it, USCIS will not adjudicate your case.

At FirstCare Urgent Care Center in Oak Lawn, Dr. Claudia Beals is a designated USCIS civil surgeon. We perform USCIS immigration medical exams for applicants across the south-suburban and South Side Chicago area every week. Mexico, Poland, Lithuania, the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and many other countries of origin are represented in our regular caseload.

The exam itself is straightforward when you know what to expect. This guide walks through the process step by step so there are no surprises. what to bring, what happens during the visit, what tests are drawn, when vaccines are administered, and when you can expect the sealed I-693 in hand. For most applicants, the process wraps in two visits over three to five business days.

Preparation cuts your exam time in half. Bring the following to your first visit:

A valid photo ID. A passport is ideal because USCIS requires the exam to be documented on Form I-693 with your name exactly as it appears on immigration documents. A driver's license, state ID, or foreign passport works if you do not yet have a United States passport.

Your Form I-693 if your attorney has already started it. The civil surgeon completes and seals the medical portion, but if the applicant information section is pre-filled, the visit moves faster. If you do not have the form, we provide a blank one during your visit.

Vaccination records - every dose you have received in your lifetime, from any country. This is one of the most common places applicants get delayed. USCIS requires proof of vaccination for a specific list: Tdap or DTaP, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), polio, varicella, hepatitis A and B, meningococcal, influenza (seasonal), and COVID-19. If we have documentation for a vaccine, we do not have to give it again.

If we do not, we administer the vaccine at the visit or defer per current USCIS policy.

Any prior medical records related to chronic conditions - diabetes, hypertension, TB history, mental health treatment, or any hospitalization. The more records you bring, the smoother the visit.

Payment. Immigration exams are typically not covered by health insurance. We quote the flat exam fee, plus any vaccine costs, before the visit begins. Cash, debit, and all major credit cards accepted.

Your first visit runs about 45 to 60 minutes. Here is the flow.

Check-in and paperwork. Front desk verifies your ID and starts your Form I-693. If you brought your own form, we work from that. If not, we complete it in-clinic.

Any missing sections related to your immigration case are filled in with attorney guidance where needed.

Medical history review. Our civil surgeon reviews your health history - conditions, medications, prior surgeries, mental health, substance use history, and any communicable disease exposure. This conversation is confidential and focused on the specific questions USCIS asks. There are no trick questions - honesty is essential because inconsistencies with your other application documents can create problems later.

Physical exam. Vitals, heart and lung exam, general assessment, and a check for signs of communicable disease. This part is a standard head-to-toe medical exam, similar to a routine physical.

Lab work. We draw blood for the Quantiferon tuberculosis test, syphilis (RPR), and gonorrhea urine testing when applicable based on age and USCIS guidance. Samples are drawn during your visit and sent to our reference lab. Quantiferon TB results typically come back the next business day; syphilis and gonorrhea results follow in a few business days.

Vaccines. Any USCIS-required vaccines that you cannot document are administered during the visit or added to the follow-up plan. Common ones we give in-clinic include Tdap, MMR, varicella, and flu depending on season.

Documentation and next steps. Our civil surgeon completes the medical portions of Form I-693 based on the exam and labs. The form gets sealed once all results are in, typically at your second visit within a few business days.

The medical items USCIS specifically screens for are Class A conditions - things that would bar admission - and Class B conditions, which are documented but do not prevent adjustment of status. Understanding what is on the list helps demystify the process.

Communicable diseases. Active tuberculosis is the biggest item. USCIS requires the Quantiferon blood test (an IGRA test) for all applicants over two years old. If positive, follow-up chest X-ray is required.

Active TB is a Class A condition; latent TB is documented but adjustable. Syphilis testing (RPR) is required for applicants 15 and older. Gonorrhea urine testing is required for applicants 15 and older per current guidance.

Vaccine-preventable diseases. USCIS requires proof of specific vaccines: Tdap or DTaP series, MMR, polio, varicella (chickenpox), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal (age-dependent), rotavirus (age-dependent), Hib (age-dependent), pneumococcal (age-dependent), seasonal influenza, and COVID-19. Missing vaccines can either be administered during the exam or documented as blanket waiver per your case.

Mental health and substance use. USCIS screens for mental disorders associated with harmful behavior and substance use disorders. This portion is conducted through history questions, not lab tests. Being honest during this section is essential; documented conditions do not automatically bar adjustment.

Physical or mental disorders with associated harmful behavior are Class A findings. These are rare and usually require additional specialty evaluation.

The vast majority of applicants have no Class A findings and move through the exam without complication. For patients who do have flags, we work with you and your attorney to document the situation appropriately.

The exam is not complete until all lab results are back and every required vaccine is either documented, administered, or appropriately waived. Here is the typical timeline for most applicants:

Day of first visit: exam, labs drawn, vaccines administered as needed, physical portion of Form I-693 completed. You leave with a clear plan for what is outstanding.

1 to 2 business days: TB, syphilis, and gonorrhea results come back from the reference lab. Our civil surgeon reviews each result and updates your form.

3 to 5 business days: Second visit to pick up the sealed Form I-693. The form is sealed inside an envelope with civil surgeon signature and stamp. Do not open it - USCIS requires an unopened sealed envelope. You provide this envelope to USCIS at your green-card interview or with your I-485 filing per your attorney's instructions.

What happens if you have a tight USCIS deadline. Call ahead. We have processed enough I-693s to know which pieces can be expedited and which cannot. For most applicants with an interview within two weeks, we can complete the exam and hand you the sealed form within five business days if you come in promptly and no additional vaccines are missing.

The Form I-693 is generally valid for two years from the date of sealing. If your USCIS case takes longer than that or your form expires before your case adjudicates, you will need a new exam.

For applicants across Oak Lawn, Beverly, Auburn Gresham, Burbank, and Evergreen Park, our clinic is a short drive from the community. Bilingual English and Spanish staff handle intake, and we work with additional language support when needed. To book your immigration exam, call (708) 265-2702 or walk in during clinic hours.

Only a physician designated by USCIS as a civil surgeon. Dr. Claudia Beals at FirstCare Urgent Care in Oak Lawn is a designated civil surgeon and performs USCIS-approved medical exams for adjustment-of-status applicants across the Chicago south-suburban and South Side area.

Immigration exams are generally not covered by health insurance because USCIS-required exams are not considered medically necessary care. We quote the flat exam fee and any vaccine costs up front before your visit begins. Cash, debit, and all major credit cards are accepted at checkout. Call (708) 265-2702 for current pricing.

We administer USCIS-required vaccines on-site during the same visit whenever possible. Common ones we give include Tdap, MMR, varicella, and flu depending on what you are missing and the season. Vaccine costs are quoted before administration. If you have documentation of vaccines from prior clinics or abroad, bring it - documented doses do not need to be repeated.

Yes. We frequently see families adjusting status together. Each applicant gets their own I-693 and their own exam appointment, but scheduling family members close together saves time. Bring vaccine records for every family member so we can efficiently confirm what is documented and what needs to be given.

Come in as soon as possible and let us know your deadline. For most applicants we can complete the exam, receive lab results, and provide a sealed Form I-693 within five business days when the visit happens promptly and no additional vaccine series is required. Call ahead at (708) 265-2702 so our team can plan your visit for the fastest turnaround.