The new rules state that for any immigration medicals completed on or after May 1, 2024, a Polio booster (IPV) is required for all applicants aged 2 months and older, including all adults, unless proper documentation is provided of previous primary vaccination.
Problem: Changes in the rules for submission that occur after the I-693 has been submitted.
Remedy: You will receive a Request for Evidence (RFE) that will order you to comply with the new rules. Call Dr. Gordon’s office for an appointment. Depending on how much time has elapsed since your physical, you will either need an updated original or a complete re-do.
Problem: Failure to keep the seal intact on your sealed official report.
Remedy: If you have not submitted yet, call for an appointment to bring the envelope back to Dr. Gordon’s office, and we will re-seal it for you. If you have already submitted, you will receive an RFE. Call Dr. Gordon’s office for an appointment. Depending on how much time has elapsed since your physical, you will either need a duplicate original, updated original, or a complete re-do.
Problem: Refusal to comply with vaccination requirements.
Remedy: You will be given the opportunity to request an individual waiver based on religious or moral convictions. Basically, this means you will have to explain to a USCIS agent why the rules that apply to all other applicants should not apply to you. This is a difficult argument to make and is rarely successful. The usual outcome will be up to a 12-month delay in the processing of your application, hundreds of dollars in attorney’s fees (your chances approach zero if you do not have an attorney), and having to do a complete re-do of your medical at a later date--including compliance with all vaccination requirements.
Problem: Your medical history does not match your legal history.
Remedy: It is important that your medical history and legal history match. For example, if you have a DUI on your legal record, and there is no mention of it in your medical report, your medical report will be rejected. So, it is of the utmost importance to be completely honest during your interview with the Civil Surgeon.
Problem: The Civil Surgeon determines that you have a Class-A medically disqualifying physical or mental health condition.
Remedy: The remedy for this situation will obviously vary from case to case. Dr. Gordon will issue you a Disqualification Letter that will explain why you were found disqualified and what to do about it.
If you want to know more, contact us today. Dr. Steven Wittenberg Gordon has dedicated 80% of his practice to immigration medicine in memory of his late father, a refugee and Holocaust survivor. Hence, our team of professional and trained staff is dedicated to serving you in the best possible way.
Also Read: How Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) Affects the Immigration Medical Exam
