Everything You Need to Know About Your Immigration Physical

Becoming a United States citizen is a big deal for many people, but it takes work. You must take multiple steps to prove you're physically and mentally healthy enough to enter the US as a citizen.

An immigration physical is one of the main tests you must pass to become a citizen or receive a green card. The purpose of the exam is to ensure you have the proper vaccines and don't have any conditions that could affect public health.

At Calvary Urgent Care, Dr. Joseph Goin is a civil surgeon who can perform immigration physicals at his office in Humble, Texas. Dr. Goin helps you with the proper paperwork and items to pass the physical and become a US citizen.

What is an immigration physical?

An immigration physical is essential to becoming a United States citizen or receiving your green card. The exam ensures you're healthy and not carrying any diseases significant to public health.

The physical helps the United States determine the eligibility of foreign adults and children based on their physical and mental health and vaccination status. Specific health problems, diseases, or lack of vaccines make people ineligible to be US citizens.

Where to get an immigration physical

Unfortunately, you can't go to just any doctor for your immigration physical exam. Only specified doctors can perform the exam and fill out the necessary forms for US citizenship.

If you're going to have the immigration physical inside the United States, you must go to a civil surgeon, which the US Citizenship and Immigration Services appoints. To find a civil surgeon near you, visit the USCIS website.

Outside the United States, contact the US embassy to find a panel physician or a doctor who performs the immigration physical. Contact the embassy for a list of qualified panel physicians who can perform the physical.

Items to bring to the exam

Come prepared for your exam, bringing certain items along to ensure the physical goes smoothly. We recommend having the following items available on the day of your immigration physical:

List of current medications
Previous vaccination records
A valid identification card or passport
I-693 form
US passport photos
Tuberculosis certificate
Certificate of clearance if you've had syphilis
Report for need of special education requirements

Be sure to check with the specific location where you're having the exam; each place may have different requirements and fees for the immigration physical. If you have the physical outside of the US, contact the US embassy for further instructions.

Do I need vaccines?

Vaccines are vital to the immigration exam because they prevent dangerous diseases from spreading throughout the United States. Certain diseases are prevalent in other countries but not in the United States, so vaccines are necessary.

The CDC and Immigration and Nationality Act require certain vaccines to obtain citizenship, which include:

Polio
Measles, mumps, and rubella
Varicella
Influenza
Rotavirus
Hepatitis B and A
Pertussis
Tetanus and diphtheria
Meningococcal
Varicella
Pneumococcal pneumonia
COVID-19
Haemophilus influenzae type B

Not everybody needs every one of the above vaccines. The CDC and the Immigration and Nationality Act base the vaccines on your age, health, and country of origin.

What else is involved in the exam?

The main aspects of the exam are a review of your medical history and a physical exam. Be sure to know as much as possible about your family history, previous and current medical conditions, and any hospital stays.

We also ask you about previous and current drug use. Current abuse of drugs or other substances flags your exam. Still, you can continue if you're currently in rehabilitation or remission from drug use.

The physical exam consists of several components. We check your heart and lungs, abdomen, extremities, and eyes. We also check your ears, nose, throat, and external genitalia. You may require a chest X-ray and blood work to check for certain diseases.

A mental health evaluation is also part of the exam. We discuss any history of depression or other mental health issues and what treatment you've tried or are on.

To schedule your immigration exam, call Calvary Urgent Care today to schedule an appointment or request a consultation on our website.