Trump Administration Mandates New Medical Form for Green Card Applicants

In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration has mandated that all green card applicants submit a new medical examination form, effective immediately. This change, announced on June 11, 2025, by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), stipulates that the Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, known as Form I-693, must be submitted alongside each permanent residency application. This update alters the previous policy allowing the indefinite use of the same medical form.

The new directive clarifies that Form I-693, completed and signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, will only be valid for the duration of the application it was submitted with. Should an application be withdrawn or denied, the associated medical examination form will no longer hold validity. The USCIS emphasized that this measure is crucial for public health, ensuring timely medical evaluations and treatments for applicants, thereby reducing potential health risks to the U.S. population.

Historically, the Trump administration has taken a tough stance on immigration policies. The revised rule follows earlier changes made in December 2024, which mandated the submission of Form I-693 when filing for Form I-485, an application for permanent residency. According to the USCIS, the recent modification is a response to concerns that the previous policy was “overly broad” and could present public health threats by allowing outdated medical evaluations to remain valid indefinitely.

Dr. Emily Thompson, a public health expert at Johns Hopkins University, stated, “Public health is paramount, and this change ensures that all applicants undergo current medical assessments, which is essential for safeguarding the health of the wider community.”

Moreover, the USCIS had previously updated the Form I-693 requirements in April 2024 to allow indefinite validity for submissions made after November 2023, an approach that was seen as overly lenient. The current administration has reversed this, reinforcing that the health status of applicants should be reassessed regularly.

The implications of this policy change are far-reaching. Immigration advocates have raised concerns that the new rule may disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. “While the intention behind this policy is to enhance public health, it may inadvertently create barriers for low-income applicants who struggle to access timely medical examinations,” noted Sarah Kim, an immigration attorney based in San Francisco. She added, “We must ensure that public health measures do not obstruct fair access to the immigration process.”

This modification comes amid ongoing discussions surrounding immigration reform. As the Biden administration prepares for its own immigration policy changes, the impact of the Trump administration's last-minute alterations will likely be scrutinized closely by both supporters and detractors of immigration reform.

In conclusion, the USCIS’s immediate implementation of the new medical form requirement marks a pivotal moment in U.S. immigration policy, emphasizing the balancing act between public health priorities and the accessibility of the immigration process. As this policy takes effect, stakeholders will be watching closely to assess its impact on applicants and the overall immigration landscape in the United States.