Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.
A recent U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) memo (pdf) directs field offices, when evaluating adjustment of immigration status petitions decided before January 1, 2011, to accept as valid a Form I-693 (pdf) civil surgeon endorsement that was signed more than one year prior to the evaluation if:
• the endorsement was included with the initial adjustment status application; and
• no Class A or B medical condition is listed in sections 2, 3 or 4 of Part 2.
A medical examination and endorsement is required for adjustment applications. Normally endorsements are invalid after one year. However, because many applications have remained pending for more than one year, USCIS has extended their validity.
This is USCIS’s second extension in as many years. In December 2008, extensions were granted for cases decided before January 1, 2010 if: (1) the above-mentioned conditions were met, and (2) no Class B medical condition (e.g., hypertension, diabetes) was noted in Form I-693’s section 6. The latter requirement, however, is not included in the current extension.