USCIS.loveTalent visa medical exam: Form I-693 for O-1, EB-1, NIW
When and where to get the medical exam, how much it costs, and how to correctly complete Form I-693 when changing status.
Author: Alina Kanametova- updated 9 min read
Key answer
The medical exam for a talent visa is done after your petition is approved, and there is a recent rule change for form I-693: when adjusting status inside the US, you must submit it together with form I-485 instead of sending it later by request. Because of this, half of the advice you'll find in older discussions is outdated.
Below are the key things to decide before scheduling your appointment: which specific medical exam you need, when to have it, how much it costs, and what to do with the sealed envelope.
Which medical exam do you need: I-693 or a consular exam
The main decision here determines everything else: the doctor, the form, validity period, and how the results are submitted.
| Adjustment of status in the US | Consular processing abroad | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | I-693 | DS-3025 / DS-3026 |
| Who completes it | civil surgeon from the USCIS list | panel physician at the consulate (in some countries, IOM) |
| Where do results go | to you in a sealed envelope, submitted with I-485 | physician usually sends it directly to the consulate |
| Validity of results | while your application is being reviewed | limited, affects the visa validity period |
This page is about the first column. Consular medical exams, panel physicians, and CDC vaccination requirements are explained separately: panel physician exam and vaccinations.
Applicants sum up the difference in validity periods simply:
So for immigrant visas, the visa is valid as long as the medical exam is valid, but for other visa types, the exam doesn't matter anymore
When to get the medical exam and how long I-693 is valid
Submission rules changed starting December 2, 2024: form I-693 has to be filed with I-485, and USCIS can reject your packet if it's missing. Previously, people often sent the form after receiving a request, so both pieces of advice are still floating around in chats:
If you don't include I-693 with I-485, they'll just send an additional request for it.
There won't be any request. You have to get it yourself and submit the envelope with all your documents
The second answer is current. The first refers to the pre-rule change practice.
The validity period has also changed. Starting June 11, 2025, form I-693 is valid only as long as your application is pending: if your application is denied or withdrawn, the form expires immediately and you'll need a new exam for your next submission. Community members explain it like this: "there's no shelf life anymore, but you can use it only once."
There were changes in the US for form I-693. Apparently, it no longer has an expiration date, but you can only use it once
Keep in mind, the lab tests on the exam have their own validity period. During long review times, you may be asked to redo the exam:
A friend got an RFE on form I-485. She sent her medical exam with her case right away. She got case approval after the RFE, but in the end, they requested a new medical exam. According to the rules, the test results are valid for 2 years.
Do not complete medical exam 'just in case'
If you are not applying for a status change right now, you do not need a recent medical exam: your money and results will expire in vain. The same rule applies during long administrative processing. They do not redo the exam in advance, just wait for a consulate request.
With vaccinations, the logic is the opposite - start them ahead of time:
If I could go back, I would have started my vaccinations before I-140 approval. It would have saved time.
Where to find a civil surgeon
Only a doctor certified by USCIS can fill out Form I-693. You cannot use an ordinary primary care physician or an insurance clinic. USCIS maintains the current list, and you must search by address using the official tool:
https://www.uscis.gov/tools/find-a-civil-surgeon
The fee for submitting the form is listed on the USCIS fee calculator page: https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055?form=i-693.
Call several doctors
Even within the same list, procedures can vary. One doctor may refuse to complete the form, another may cover it under insurance, while a third may charge a set fee for the visit and charge separately for tests. Community members have found that calling around is the only way to determine the actual price. There is no standard rate.
How much do the medical exam and Form I-693 cost?
There is no single price. It depends on the clinic, country, and how many vaccinations you still need. Below are amounts mentioned by applicants themselves. These are community estimates, not official rates.
| Where | Reported Amount | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| USA, civil surgeon | about $300-400 for the exam | about $100 for each missing vaccine without insurance |
| USA, urgent case | about $700 for everything | two vaccines, antibody test, first available doctor |
| USA, two-person family | almost $1600 | total for green card medicals |
| Almaty | 90,000 tenge basic exam | plus 40,000-45,000 tenge for express TB test |
| Belgrade | about 600 euros | plus about 240 euros for travel |
A significant part of the cost is for vaccines and tests, not the actual exam, so it makes sense to prepare for those in advance.
What vaccinations are required and how to avoid unnecessary ones
Bring all vaccination records you can find, especially childhood records. The doctor will fill out the vaccination sheet based on these documents, and any missing vaccines are usually given on the spot.
These requirements apply to every member of the family:
Vaccinations are required for every applicant, according to age, even infants. Do not confuse requirements for citizens with those for immigrants.
The most practical advice from chats is not to get every vaccine up front, but first do an antibody test. For many vaccines, titers are accepted instead of repeat vaccination.
Antibody test plus missing vaccinations in CVS in two days. For our whole family, we finished in 5-7 days. I wouldn't risk trying to generate anything.
Not all vaccines are accepted automatically
There are cases where a local clinic did not count a combination vaccine if it lacked a required component, or even refused to accept antibody tests, requiring that their own vaccine be administered on the spot for an extra fee. Plan for this in both your timeline and your budget.
What the exam looks like and how much time it takes
According to community reports, the structure is almost always the same: several consecutive rooms and a final appointment with a physician who consolidates the results.
In total, there are actually just 4 rooms to go through: - chest X-ray - blood test - height, weight, vision, vaccines - physician - analyzes the data from the previous three rooms. In our case, everything was okay in advance - only my wife and I needed to get MMR and hepatitis vaccines - we got them right away by referral at a nearby clinic.
Timelines reported are from two to three and a half hours per person or small family, and X-rays are often done in another building. Set aside separate time for lab work: results usually arrive within a week, and according to community observations, the full "medical exam plus missing vaccinations" cycle takes about one to two weeks.
Errors in results do happen
There was a reported case where nonexistent spots were found on the X-ray, and this was only mentioned at the physician's exam, so the applicant had to go back, retake the scan, and pay extra. If your schedule before filing or an interview is tight, do not book the exam at the last minute.
Class A and Class B: What can actually get in the way
This is the part that makes applicants the most nervous, and almost always for nothing. The physician is required to note medical conditions on the form, which are divided into two categories set by federal law - INA 212(a)(1) and 42 CFR Part 34.
| Class | What it means | What happens next |
|---|---|---|
| Class A | grounds for inadmissibility | requires treatment or waiver |
| Class B | condition is recorded on the form | does not itself mean denial, but the officer may consider ability to pay for care |
Diabetes, hypertension, asthma, depression, and anxiety without dangerous behavior are classified as Class B. Class A is a narrow set: active tuberculosis, certain infections, missing required vaccinations, mental disorder with documented harmful behavior, and use of controlled substances.
Key factor: behavior, not diagnosis
For the psychiatric section, both elements must be present: a diagnosis and harmful behavior that poses a threat. Neither alone constitutes inadmissibility. Technical instructions for physicians are published by the CDC: instructions for civil surgeons.
The key practical takeaway from these case studies is this: the system rewards disclosure with documentation, not concealment. If you have a condition, it's helpful to provide a letter from your treating physician detailing your stability and prognosis, a list of current medications with dosages, and recent test results.
Envelope with Form I-693: The Main Rule
The civil surgeon gives you the completed form in a sealed envelope, and you must not open it.
Do not accept an opened envelope
If the doctor gives you the form without a sealed envelope or the envelope is damaged, do not accept it: USCIS will not accept such a form. Check the integrity of the envelope right there at the office.
Here are two tips often shared in the community:
- Request two envelopes right away. If USCIS loses the first, you will have a backup to respond without needing another doctor visit.
- Keep a copy of the form for yourself. Ask the doctor specifically if they are using the current version of the form-outdated editions may be rejected.
You can ask for two envelopes and send one to USCIS. Keep the second in case they lose the first, so you can send it upon receiving an RFE.
What to Bring
- Immunization records, especially childhood vaccination documents.
- Passport or other ID.
- For chronic conditions: a letter from your doctor, a list of medications with dosages, recent test results.
- Be clear on your use case (filing I-485, responding to RFE, attending an interview) to align timelines.
Conclusions
- First, determine your path: I-693 from a civil surgeon for adjustment of status or a panel physician for consular processing. Forms and timelines differ.
- Starting December 2024, you must submit I-693 with your I-485-not later upon request.
- From June 2025, the form remains valid as long as your application is pending. If denied or withdrawn, the form expires and you will need a new exam for a new filing.
- Do not get the medical done far in advance "just in case"-but address vaccinations early and start with antibody testing.
- According to community data, the exam in the US costs about $300-400 plus vaccinations; costs abroad are similar or higher.
- Do not open the envelope. Request a backup envelope and keep a copy for yourself.
- Chronic diagnoses are almost always Class B and by themselves do not lead to denial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Materials
Medical Exam with Panel Physician and Vaccinations
Interview
Administrative Processing
Interview Scheduling
NVC and Consulate Roadmap
Real Stage Timelines
NVC Checklist for EB-1
This is not medical or legal advice
This material is for general informational purposes and helps you organize your own preparation. It is not medical or legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. US medical and immigration requirements change frequently, so check current USCIS and CDC guidelines and consult a qualified specialist before applying.
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- TAL List and Talent Visas: O-1, EB-1, EB-2 NIW
- Which professions are on the TAL list: categories A-O
- Form I-94: what it is, how to check it online and print it
- US taxes and immigration status: filing mistakes to avoid
- The visa-bulletin queue
- What happens after the petition is approved
From community discussions
«Achievements in the US - do they want the achievements to be specifically in the US context (publications in US journals, awards specifically in the US) during the time the person lived here? Or will achievements made while living in the US but not related to the US work for them?»
Anton · from public community chats
«I got a NOID on my EB-1A petition. They recognized 3 criteria (publications, authorship, participation in peer review), but didn't accept the evidence of critical role and high salary. Is there anyone here who successfully got through a NOID and got an approval?»
Venus · from public community chats
«Based on YC you can prove the other criteria: Membership - show the low acceptance rate; Awards - $500k of investment; Media - get PR publications about your startup; Original Contributions - if there's traction, show how important it is for the industry (testimonials, LoIs, MRR); Critical Employment - show the key role; High remuneration - depends on the startup.»
Egor · from public community chats
Personal opinions of community members from public discussions, not legal advice.
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