Every USCIS policy memo sets off a wave of rumor. Here’s what the May 2026 guidance actually means for your medical exam, apart from the noise.
Policy Changes vs. Panic
When USCIS issues new guidance, immigrant communities often hear about it through social media summaries. Those are second- or third-hand, and often wrong. The pattern is the same each time. A small technical change gets blown up into a rumor about mass denials or new bars. The fix is always the same. Read what the memo changes in the process. Ignore what the commentary claims it signals.
What should green card applicants do after a new USCIS memo?
Whatever the policy cycle, the applicant playbook doesn’t change. Complete your I-693 with a designated civil surgeon who follows current technical instructions. Keep your vaccine and TB records organized. File a clean, complete application. Policy memos punish sloppy filings far more than they punish any category of applicant. Precision is your hedge when policy shifts.
Not sure whether a rumor you’ve heard applies to you? Ask a licensed immigration attorney about the legal question. Ask us about the medical examination process. Keeping those two lanes separate is how you get accurate answers in both.
Related reading: I-693 Foreign Vaccination Records · TB Testing for the Green Card Exam · I-693 Rule Changes Since 2025 · I-693 Immigration Medical Exam Cost — $390 Flat, St. Louis
Frequently Asked Questions
Do USCIS policy memos change the I-693 medical exam requirements?
Exam requirements come from CDC technical instructions and USCIS form guidance. When those change, designated civil surgeons put the updates in place directly. Your job stays the same. Bring complete records and get a properly sealed form.
How do I know if an immigration rumor is true?
Check the primary source, such as the USCIS Policy Manual or official notices. Or ask a licensed immigration attorney. Social media summaries are often wrong.
Should I delay my application when new guidance comes out?
Timing decisions are legal strategy questions for your attorney. On the medical side, a complete, precise I-693 serves you under every policy.
How do I get a medical exam for USCIS?
Book Form I-693 with a USCIS-designated civil surgeon who follows current technical instructions. In St. Louis, Dr. Gurpreet Singh Padda, MD, MBA, MHP is a USCIS-designated civil surgeon (CSID 111051). Arrive with your vaccine and TB records organized. That way the form can be completed and sealed cleanly.
How much does Form I-693 cost?
At our St. Louis office the I-693 exam is $390, and a follow-up visit is $190. Whatever the latest memo says, the fastest filing is a clean one. Keep your vaccine and TB records organized. Complete the exam with a designated civil surgeon. File a complete application. Policy memos punish sloppy filings far more than any category of applicant.
Watch the full video above, and explore the rest of the series on our YouTube channel.
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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.