The I-693 exam includes a syphilis blood test and a gonorrhea urine test, as CDC technical instructions require. A positive result is a treatable finding, not a permanent bar. With documented, completed treatment, the application can proceed.
All green card applicants within specific age ranges must be tested for certain sexually transmitted infections. Knowing why takes the fear out of the process.
Which STD tests does the immigration medical exam require?
The CDC technical instructions set who gets tested. Applicants age 18–44 are tested for syphilis (a blood test). Those age 15 and older are screened for gonorrhea (a urine test). These aren’t judgments about you. They’re the communicable-disease (contagious disease) screenings that federal law designates for immigration.
What happens if my syphilis or gonorrhea test is positive?
A positive result is a treatable finding, not a permanent bar. Gonorrhea and untreated syphilis are both Class A conditions. But that is only while untreated. Once treatment is completed and documented, the finding is reclassified. Then the application proceeds. The worst plan is to avoid it. An untreated infection found late in the process causes far more delay than one dealt with directly.
Privacy and Professionalism
These results are kept as private as any medical record. They go into your sealed I-693 as clinical data points. Nothing more. Our office runs the required panels as prepaid, coordinated testing. That way results come back quickly and the file closes cleanly.
Related reading: TB Testing and Treatment in the I-693 Exam · TB Screening in the Immigration Medical Exam · I-693 Immigration Medical Exam Cost — $390 Flat, St. Louis
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to be tested for syphilis and gonorrhea in the I-693 exam?
The CDC technical instructions set the ages. Syphilis blood testing applies to applicants 18–44. Gonorrhea urine screening applies to those 15 and older.
Will a positive STI test make me inadmissible?
Not permanently. These are Class A conditions only while untreated. Once you finish treatment and it is documented, the finding is resolved. Then your application proceeds.
Are my results confidential?
Yes. Results are medical records. They are kept private. They are included only within your sealed I-693, as required by USCIS.
Is the USCIS medical exam checked for STDs?
Yes. The CDC technical instructions set this. Applicants age 18 to 44 have a syphilis blood test. Those 15 and older have a gonorrhea urine test. These are not judgments about you. They are the communicable-disease screenings that federal law designates for immigration. The results go into your sealed I-693 as clinical data points. They are kept as private as any medical record.
How much does the I-693 exam cost?
The I-693 exam at our St. Louis office is $390, and a follow-up visit is $190. Say a syphilis or gonorrhea result comes back positive. It is a treatable finding, not a permanent bar. Once treatment is completed and documented, the finding is reclassified and your application proceeds. Dealing with it directly costs far less time than avoiding it.
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Dr. Gurpreet Padda, MD — USCIS-Designated Civil Surgeon (CSID 111051)
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This article is educational information about the immigration medical examination process. It is not legal advice and does not create a physician–patient relationship. For legal questions about your case, consult a licensed immigration attorney.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Gurpreet Singh Padda, MD, MBA, MHP — USCIS-designated civil surgeon (CSID 111051), board certified in Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine, Interventional Pain Management, Addiction Medicine, and Obesity Medicine. Last reviewed September 2026.