What is an immigration Physical?
An immigration physical is an integral part of the green card process for immigrants who wish to establish permanent residency in the United States. The purpose of an immigration exam is to protect public health by ensuring prospective immigrants do not have any infectious diseases or serious mental health problems that could threaten public safety.

The exam itself sets strict guidelines for the medical grounds of inadmissibility, or health reasons an immigrant cannot become a permanent resident of the United States. Besides checking for dangerous communicable diseases that pose a threat to public health, the exam asks for proof of required immunizations. 

What does an immigration exam cover?
The first part of the exam is like any other routine physical at Apex Urgent Care. After your provider measures your height, weight, and vital signs, they check your eyes, ears, nose, throat, and lymph nodes. They also evaluate your heart, lungs, abdomen, skin, and external genitalia. 

A review of medical history and vaccination records are done and blood and urine samples if needed are taken. Finally, your doctor performs a mental health assessment to get a clearer picture of your intelligence, comprehension, judgment, mood, and behavior. 

Is there any lab work is required?
The USCIS requires all applicant test for communicable diseases – Syphilis, Gonorrhea and Tuberculosis. Your medical history will determine which lab tests you will need.  Some patients will also be required to get a chest X ray.     

Which vaccinations are required?
An immigration exam requires those seeking permanent residency to prove they are up to date on mandatory vaccinations. Some immunization requirements are imposed by the Immigration and Nationality Act, while others are required by public health guidelines put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

All green card applicants are required to have received the following vaccines before they can become permanent residents:

• Mumps, measles, rubella
• Polio
• Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids
• Pertussis
• Haemophilus influenza type B
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Varicella
• Influenza
• Pneumococcal pneumonia
• Rotavirus
• Meningococcal

You may be excluded from certain vaccines based on your medical history. You will need to bring your personal vaccination record to your exam. If you have not yet received all the required vaccines, your provider can administer the ones you lack.  

Can my green card be denied for medical reasons?
Your immigration exam establishes whether you meet the health-related standards for admissibility as a permanent United States resident. In some cases, immigration exams can reveal something that makes you inadmissible. 

Your green card can be denied for any of the following medical conditions or reasons:

• You have an infectious disease of public health significance
• You failed to show proof of (or receive) required vaccines
• You have a mental disorder with associated harmful behavior
• You abuse drugs or have an addiction problem

If you need to schedule an immigration exam, call Apex Urgent Care Care today or click the online booking tool to schedule your appointment at any time.