Immigration Exams

Preparation

  • download and print the selected immigration forms from the link below.
  • This contains our clinic forms as well as the parts of the I-693 immigration form that you will need to fill. (Please do not print your own copy of the I-693 form in place of this packet, as you will then be missing some important clinic forms.)
  • Note that this does not include the complete I-693 immigration form, only the parts that you will need to fill.
  • Please print single-sided (on only one side of the paper). Either Color or Black-&-White printing is okay.
  • fill the forms prior to arrival at your appointment. However…
  • DO NOT SIGN page 2 of the I-693 form! You must wait for us to tell you to sign when you come to come to our clinic. This is on Page 2, Part 2, Item 6, labeled “Applicant’s Signature”, marked by a large black arrow, underneath text that reads “NOTE: Do not sign or date Form I-693 until instructed to do so by the civil surgeon.” (You may sign all the other pages where appropriate.)
  • We suggest that these forms be filled as soon as possible, but at least a day in advance, as it may require more than half an hour to fill them. You may need to search through your prior medical records to fill in the information.

What To Bring To Your Appointment

  • bring your completed immigration forms from the link above
  • bring government-issued photo identification which:
    • is valid and not expired
    • has your name exactly as it appears on your application
    • has the same signature that you will sign on the form. (For example, if your passport has your signature in a foreign language, then you need to sign the same foreign language signature.)
  • bring vaccination records
  • bring any lab results you have; however, we may need to repeat lab tests for immigration purposes
  • bring any medicine that you are taking (paper prescriptions, and LABELED pill bottles; unlabeled pills will be ignored)
    • this includes medicine not prescribed by a doctor
    • this includes medicine not taken by mouth (inhalers, creams, injections, etc.)
    • other medical records are not required, but will help
  • any documents without English will need an official translation from a licensed translator
    • this includes Chinese and French. Dr.Tam reads Chinese and French but for official records we still need the translation.
  • bring payment (cash or credit card only)
    • note that our price does not include vaccinations
    • payment for tests (blood, X-ray, etc.) is made separately to the lab or X-ray clinic, and is not part of our fee.
  • if you choose, there is an optional discount on the mandatory blood test(s) for applicants. Adult applicants, and children aged 15 years or older, will need at least 3 tests: syphilis, gonorrhea, and a TB blood test. Children age 2 to 14 will need at least the TB blood test.
    • at time of writing, without our discount the usual cost for the tests at nearest laboratory (Quest Diagnostics) are approximately $440 for all three tests, of which approximately $330 is for the TB blood test
    • we have partnered with Quest Diagnostics and are able to offer a discounted price, subject to the following conditions:
    • the discounted fee must be paid prior to ordering the test, and there can be no refund once the test is ordered, as we are then committed to paying Quest for the tests. You must sign an agreement stipulating this.
    • payment can be by credit card or cash
    • the discounted price we offer is:
      • for patients age 15 or older: $240 for the three tests
      • for patients age 14 or less: $180 for the TB blood test
  • for non-English speakers, an interpreter must be present, and needs to sign the immigration form. The interpreter can be a friend/family member, or a professional interpreter. Our clinic staff will not sign your immigration form as an interpreter.
  • other medical records are not required, but will help

What Will Happen

  • be prepared for 90-minute visit, although usually it does not take that long
  • be prepared to demonstrate understanding of the forms you have signed
  • You will be undergoing a medical physical exam. Please wear separate pieces of clothing for upper/lower body that can be individually lifted up or pulled aside. One-piece clothing will result in unnecessary exposure of body parts if the entire piece of clothing needs to be removed just to expose a small part of the body. The typical shirt/T-shirt & pants, and most work attire are fine.
  • although usually not needed, it is possible that a male or female genital exam needs to be done; for female patient examinations by a male doctor, a female nurse will be present
  • tests can be done at the laboratory is in the same building, although if your appointment is 3pm or later, be prepared that you will need to go to the lab another day due to the lab opening hours.
  • generally, all applicants age 2 years or over will need a TB blood test. Applicants age 15 years or over will need additional tests. The tests need not be done on the same day as the visit to the doctor (Civil Surgeon), and need not be done at the same location.
  • most people, including children, will need to do a chest Xray, if the TB results are positive or equivocal. Be prepared that if you do not do the Xray, immigration might not accept your application.
  • for tests that we are required to order by USCIS (such as the test for syphilis), we cannot use previous results from another doctor, no matter how recent. (For example, we have had several Kaiser patients attempt to get the labs done ahead of time, resulting in delays and frustration when they find that this is not what is required.)
  • typical vaccination requirements for adults include TdaP and influenza (“flu”) vaccine, and possibly hepatitis A & B, meningococcal, etc. Other required vaccines, which are usually already given in childhood, include: MMR, varicella, etc. For children, vaccination requirements are more complex.
  • COVID vaccine is required, unless you have an exemption (e.g under 6 months of age). Either a shot of the bivalent vaccine, or both shots of the original series, are valid, as of this writing (requirements may change without notice)
  • note that what matters is not whether you have actually had the vaccines, but whether you have records to prove this. If records are not available, we may be able to do blood tests to check for some of the vaccinations, but other vaccines may need to be re-administered (medically this is usually not a problem to repeat vaccines).
  • we cannot guarantee that you will fulfill requirements for immigration. However, if you do have a health problem preventing you from doing this, we may be able to arrange treatment to help you eventually fulfill the requirements.