Why Is Immigration Medical Exam Necessary In The Immigration Process?

The US Immigration Medical Exam is a mandatory medical exam required for green card applicants or for those who are seeking adjustment of their status to that of permanent residence in the U.S. including those seeking asylum. It is also required for certain non immigrant visas. In the U.S., it is conducted by a USCIS approved civil surgeon while outside the U.S. a physician on the panel of USCIS conducts it.

What does it include?

It includes a list of tests including a tuberculin skin test or IGRA test to detect tuberculosis. If the initial tuberculosis tests are positive, the applicant needs to undergo a chest x ray. Pregnant women can opt out of the radiograph if they do not wish to undergo it provided they present a certificate of their pregnancy signed by their doctor or obstetrician.

Followed by the TB tests is a body check up of ears, eyes, throat, nose, lymph nodes, lungs, heart and the external genital area. These tests are carried out to determine the presence of other communicable diseases, which at times the applicant himself may not be aware of.

Later, the applicant is tested for drug abuse and a mental evaluation is done based on the medical history. Finally, a set of vaccines is administered. These vaccines are compulsory, according to the Immigration and Nationality Act, and as demanded by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Immigration doctors carry out this step with precision based on the technical instructions laid down by the CDC.

Why is it conducted?

The immigration medical exam is conducted for the purposes of ensuring that the immigrant is not inadmissible on the grounds of public health and safety. It is important that the immigrant does not bring in diseases that have been eradicated in the US or those that are under process of being eradicated or those that may possibly cause an outbreak.

The CDC implements a list of inadmissible health related problems that need to be vaccinated for as suggested by the Advisory Community on Immunization Practices (ACIP), in accordance with the regulations laid down in the Immigration and Nationality Act. These are checked for and vaccinated during the immigration medical.

Vaccination for vaccine-preventable diseases includes at least the following diseases: Mumps, Measles, Rubella, Polio, Tetanus and Diphtheria toxoids, Pertussis, Influenza type B and Hepatitis B.

Recent outbreaks in the US

After TB outbreaks in Los Angeles, South Carolina and most recently Wisconsin, a new type of TB, multi drug-resistant, has been detected. This type of TB cannot be easily cured with regular TB drugs and treating it costs thousands of dollars per patient. In addition, TB in itself is a highly contagious disease. 

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