All green card applicants within specific age ranges must be tested for certain sexually transmitted infections — and understanding why removes the anxiety from the process.
What the Law Requires
Under CDC technical instructions, applicants age 18–44 are tested for syphilis (a blood test), and applicants age 15 and older are screened for gonorrhea (a urine test). These aren’t judgments — they’re the communicable-disease screenings federal law designates for the immigration context.
What a Positive Result Means
A positive result is a treatable finding, not a permanent bar. Both gonorrhea and untreated syphilis are Class A conditions only while untreated; documented, completed treatment reclassifies the finding and the application proceeds. The worst strategy is avoidance — an untreated infection discovered late in the process creates far more delay than one addressed directly.
Privacy and Professionalism
These results are handled with the same confidentiality as any medical record. They go into your sealed I-693 as clinical data points — nothing more. Our office processes the required panels as prepaid, coordinated testing so results return quickly and the file closes cleanly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to be tested for syphilis and gonorrhea in the I-693 exam?
Per CDC technical instructions, syphilis blood testing applies to applicants 18–44, and gonorrhea urine screening applies to applicants 15 and older.
Will a positive STI test make me inadmissible?
Not permanently. These are Class A conditions only while untreated. Documented completion of treatment resolves the finding and your application proceeds.
Are my results confidential?
Yes. Results are medical records handled confidentially and included only within your sealed I-693 as required by USCIS.
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Dr. Gurpreet Padda, MD — USCIS-Designated Civil Surgeon (CSID 111051)
4477 Woodson Rd, Suite 102, Woodson Terrace, MO 63134 — minutes from St. Louis Lambert International Airport
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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.