The exam follows federal immigration health rules. A doctor approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, called a civil surgeon, performs the exam and records the results on Form I-693. CDC rules control much of the medical part of the process.
For people in Chicago and nearby suburbs, preparation can save an extra trip. Bring your vaccine records, ID, and relevant medical information. Also make sure the doctor performing your exam is currently authorized by USCIS.
What Is an Immigration Physical Exam?
An immigration physical exam is a medical exam used for certain U.S. immigration applications, including many adjustment-of-status cases.
The goal is not to decide if you are generally “healthy enough” to get a green card. The civil surgeon is checking for specific health conditions covered by U.S. immigration law.
The exam can include:
- A review of your medical history
- A physical and mental health exam
- Tuberculosis screening
- Certain blood or urine tests
- A review of required vaccines
- Completion of Form I-693
The civil surgeon reports the results to USCIS. The doctor does not decide if your green card case will be approved. That decision belongs to USCIS.
Who Needs an Immigration Medical Exam?
Many people applying to adjust their status to permanent resident while inside the United States need Form I-693.
There are exceptions. Some refugees, asylees, K visa holders, and people who already had an immigration medical exam abroad may have different requirements.
That part can get confusing.
Before paying for a new exam, check your current USCIS form instructions or ask a qualified immigration professional if you are not sure what your case requires.
Why the Civil Surgeon Matters
Your family doctor cannot automatically complete your immigration medical paperwork.
For an exam performed inside the United States, the physician generally must be designated by USCIS as a civil surgeon at the time the immigration medical examination is completed. USCIS provides a doctor-search tool where applicants can look for authorized physicians.
Check this before your visit.
A clinic may offer many kinds of physical exams but that does not, by itself, mean every doctor there can sign Form I-693.
What Happens During an Immigration Physical Exam?
The visit has several parts.
Medical history review
The civil surgeon will ask about your health history.
You may be asked about past illnesses, hospital stays, surgeries, medicines, mental health conditions, substance use, and past treatment for certain infectious diseases.
Bring records if you have an important medical history. This is especially helpful if you have been treated for tuberculosis or another condition that may affect the immigration exam.
Physical examination
The doctor will perform a physical exam based on CDC immigration requirements.
This may include checking your heart, lungs, abdomen, skin, eyes, ears, and other parts of your general health.
A mental health assessment is also part of the immigration medical examination.
Tuberculosis testing
This part has changed over the years, so old clinic pages can cause confusion.
Under current CDC instructions for civil surgeons, applicants age 2 or older must have an IGRA blood test for tuberculosis. IGRA stands for interferon-gamma release assay.
A routine TB skin test is not the required screening test for these applicants.
A chest X-ray is required in certain situations, such as when the IGRA is positive, the person has signs or symptoms of tuberculosis disease, or other CDC criteria apply.
Do not assume everyone needs an X-ray.
Syphilis testing
CDC currently requires routine syphilis testing for applicants age 18 through 44.
Applicants younger than 18 or age 45 and older may still need testing when there is a medical reason to suspect infection.
Gonorrhea testing
Routine gonorrhea testing applies to applicants aged 18 through 24.
People outside this age group may be tested when the civil surgeon has a reason to suspect an infection.
HIV testing is not a required part of the U.S. immigration medical screening process, although a doctor may discuss testing when it is medically appropriate.
What Vaccines Are Required for an Immigration Physical?
There is no one vaccine list that applies in exactly the same way to every person.
CDC looks at factors such as your age and whether a vaccine is medically appropriate. The civil surgeon reviews your records and decides which immigration vaccination requirements apply to you.
Bring written vaccine records if you have them.
Old vaccination cards, medical records, and other acceptable documentation may help the civil surgeon determine what you already received.
If records are missing, do not guess.
Ask the civil surgeon what documentation, vaccination, or other proof is acceptable in your case.
One major change is worth knowing: USCIS stopped requiring adjustment-of-status applicants to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination effective January 22, 2025. USCIS stated that it would not deny an adjustment application because the applicant failed to provide that COVID-19 vaccination documentation.
What Should You Bring to Your Immigration Physical Exam?
Prepare your documents before leaving home.
A useful checklist includes:
- Valid government-issued photo identification
- Vaccination records
- Relevant medical records
- A list of medicines you take
- Records related to past tuberculosis diagnosis or treatment, if applicable
- Any immigration information or documents the clinic asks you to bring
- Form I-693 if the clinic tells you to bring a printed copy
USCIS guidance tells applicants to bring medical records, including vaccination records, to the initial examination.
Call the clinic before you go if your records are in another language. Ask whether a translation is needed and what format they accept.
What Happens With Form I-693 After the Exam?
Once all required parts of the examination are complete, the civil surgeon completes and signs Form I-693.
How you handle the finished form now depends on how your Form I-485 is filed.
For a traditional paper filing, the completed I-693 is generally placed in a sealed envelope. USCIS materials instruct civil surgeons to seal the original and mark the envelope for USCIS use.
There is a newer rule for certain online Form I-485 filings. Current filing guidance says online applicants open the civil surgeon's envelope, upload the completed I-693 with the online application, and keep the original form and envelope while the case is pending. This is different from the older paper-only process.
Because USCIS filing options can change, check the current Form I-485 and Form I-693 instructions before opening or mailing anything.
Another rule changed in June 2025. A qualifying I-693 is now generally valid only while the immigration benefit application it was submitted with remains pending. If that application is denied or withdrawn, a new I-693 may be required for a later application.
How Long Does an Immigration Physical Exam Take?
The doctor visit itself is only one part of the process.
Lab results can take extra time. You may also need a chest X-ray, vaccination, treatment, or another visit before the civil surgeon can finish your paperwork.
NovaMed Urgent Care states that its Quantiferon TB results typically take about 3 to 5 days, but actual timing may vary.
Do not plan your immigration filing around a guaranteed same-day result unless the clinic confirms that timeline for your case.
How Much Does an Immigration Physical Exam Cost in Chicago?
There is no single federal price for an immigration medical exam.
Your total may depend on:
- The exam fee
- Required lab testing
- Vaccines you still need
- A chest X-ray, if required
- Other medical follow-up
NovaMed Urgent Care does not list one fixed total on its immigration exam page. The clinic says costs vary based on required lab work and vaccinations and asks patients to contact the office for current pricing.
Ask a simple question before you visit: “What is included in the immigration exam price, and what could cost extra?”
Also ask your insurance plan directly about coverage. Do not assume the full immigration exam, vaccines, labs, and imaging are all covered the same way.
Immigration Physical Exam at NovaMed Urgent Care
People searching for NovaMed Urgent Care from Chicago should know that the clinic is located in Mount Prospect, Illinois, not within Chicago city limits.
NovaMed lists its address as 1717 W Algonquin Rd, Mount Prospect, IL 60056. The clinic says it serves patients from the Chicago area.
According to NovaMed, its immigration physical service includes medical history review, physical examination, Quantiferon TB blood testing, vaccination review, and required blood testing. The clinic also advertises immigration exams on a walk-in basis.
Still, call before traveling.
Confirm:
- Immigration exam availability that day
- Current pricing
- Which labs are included
- Whether needed vaccines are available
- Whether the physician handling your exam is currently listed as a USCIS-designated civil surgeon
- What documents the clinic wants you to bring
That last check matters most. USCIS maintains the official doctor list.
How to Prepare and Avoid Delays
A little preparation can make the process easier.
Start with your vaccine records. Find them before your appointment instead of trying to remember vaccine dates at the clinic.
Bring records of major medical conditions too.
If you have a history of tuberculosis, bring the records you have. If your IGRA is positive, do not panic. A positive blood test does not by itself mean you have active infectious TB. The civil surgeon follows additional CDC steps, including a chest X-ray when required.
Most of all, follow the current filing instructions for your own case. Immigration medical rules have changed several times in recent years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any doctor perform an immigration physical?
No. For most adjustment-of-status medical exams performed in the United States, the exam must be completed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon.
Do I need a COVID-19 vaccine for Form I-693?
USCIS waived the COVID-19 vaccination documentation requirement for adjustment-of-status applicants effective January 22, 2025.
Do you get drug tested during an immigration physical?
A routine employment-style drug test is not automatically part of every immigration medical exam. However, the immigration medical examination does include review of drug abuse or addiction issues under federal medical rules. The civil surgeon decides what further evaluation is medically required.
What if I do not have vaccination records?
Tell the civil surgeon. Vaccine requirements depend on age and medical appropriateness, and the doctor will determine what documentation or vaccinations are needed under current CDC rules.
Will everyone need a chest X-ray?
No. For adjustment-of-status exams in the United States, applicants age 2 and older get an IGRA TB blood test. A chest X-ray is required when specific CDC criteria apply, including a positive IGRA or symptoms that suggest tuberculosis disease.
Can insurance pay for an immigration physical exam?
Coverage varies. Ask both the clinic and your insurer before the visit. Also ask whether the quoted price includes labs, vaccines, and any imaging you may need.
Your Next Step
Before your immigration physical exam, collect your vaccine and medical records. Then verify the civil surgeon through the USCIS doctor-search tool and ask the clinic for its current price and document checklist.
If you plan to use NovaMed Urgent Care, confirm current immigration-exam availability before making the trip to Mount Prospect.
Rules can change. For filing questions, use the latest USCIS instructions rather than an old clinic article or checklist.
This article is for education. It is not personal medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician in Chicago or your area about your own health.
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