What to Expect From Your Immigration Physical

You’ve worked incredibly hard to become a citizen of the United States — all that’s left is checking off a few boxes. Among them is your immigration physical. 

If you don’t know what to expect, it can feel overwhelming. At Washington Internal Medicine, Dr. Sohan Varma and our team want to make sure you feel completely prepared and comfortable before heading into your appointment. Here’s a closer look at what happens during an immigration physical and how you can prepare.

The basics of an immigration physical

The immigration physical is one of the many steps you must take to become a US citizen, and it’s necessary to ensure public safety. During your appointment, we screen for certain medical conditions relevant to US immigration law, including COVID-19. 

When you arrive for your appointment, it’s essential that you bring several items pertinent to your health and immigration status, including:

• Valid passport or government-issued identification
• Form 1-693, Report of Medical Examination
• Vaccination records
• Cost of examination

Furthermore, your vaccinations records should show that you have been immunized against the following:

• Mumps, measles, rubella
• Polio
• Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids
• Pertussis
• Haemophilus influenza type B
• Hepatitis B
• Varicella
• Influenza
• Pneumococcal pneumonia
• Rotavirus
• Hepatitis A
• Meningococcal

During your exam, we also ask questions about your medical history. For example, we may ask if you’ve had any extended hospital stays or been placed in an institution for a chronic physical or mental condition. 

We may also inquire about drug abuse or addiction. If you’re currently living with an addiction, you cannot be admitted into the United States, but if your addiction is in remission, you are still a candidate. 

The physical examination portion allows us to evaluate your ears, nose, eyes, and throat, as well as your extremities and your heart, lungs, abdomen, lymph nodes, skin, and external genitalia. To check for certain conditions and illnesses, we may order a chest X-ray and blood test.

There’s also a mental examination component, during which we perform tests that assess your mental health and behavior. If you have a current physical or mental disorder or have past issues that are likely to recur, you’ll need to receive treatment before becoming a citizen of the US. 

After your examination, Dr. Varma completes and signs Form I-693. We ask that you bring an envelope with mailing and return addresses written on the outside. We are required to seal the envelope — any evidence of tampering or opening the seal can cause your application to be rejected.

Are you ready to get one step closer to becoming a US citizen? Call the office or click the link provided to get more information or schedule an appointment at our Chantilly, Virginia, office today.