Looking for an immigration doctor? Don’t make these 10 mistakes

Looking for an immigration doctor to perform a USCIS green card medical? Avoid these ten mistakes to find a reliable immigration medical exam doctor in NYC.

#1 Choosing a random immigration medical doctor from the USCIS list

The USCIS Find a Doctor page is merely a guide to help you find an authorized doctor for your green card medical exam. Don’t just choose a name and book an appointment. Check the doctor’s background and find patient reviews online.

#2 Using your health insurance card

Insurance plans don’t typically cover immigration-related medical expenses. You can call your health insurance provider about this. Billing your insurance for a USCIS medical exam may result in a denial of your green card. Immigration can revoke your citizenship for healthcare fraud, a federal offense in the US. A green card physical that claims to be covered by insurance is a red flag.

#3 Providing false information

Medical conditions won’t prevent you from getting a green card as long as they’re manageable and non-infectious. If your Tuberculosis test is positive, it’s not the end of the world. Get treatment rather than submit false information. You have worked hard to get here. Don’t mess it up now.

#4 Opting for cheaper alternatives

You probably paid the attorneys several thousand dollars and never complained about it. A civil surgeon’s visit is only a few hundred, so it isn’t a good idea to skimp on costs. Besides, the green card physical is about your health. It would be beneficial for you to learn about the state of your health from reliable USCIS doctors.

#5 Getting different tests from different places

A USCIS medical exam for green card approval consists of different tests. Getting each one from multiple doctors or urgent care centers may seem like it’ll save you money, but it won’t. It’ll only make you waste more time, money, and energy because you have to travel to different places for every single test you need to get done. More importantly, this will scatter your information, causing issues with your privacy and delaying your paperwork.

#6 Avoiding additional tests

The USCIS requirements are the law. Thus, if your TB screening test is positive, you must get a chest x-ray. The civil surgeon cannot proceed without it. If you avoid immigration doctors who’ll perform additional tests to clarify initial test results, you may not get a medical certificate to submit to the USCIS.

#7 Avoiding vaccination requirements

No two countries vaccinate alike. Many countries do not give MMR vaccines as is the standard in the USA.  So, if your vaccination record falls short, you need to get the required vaccinations.  Vaccines help save lives. If you missed out on it growing up, now’s the time to get them.

#8 Not paying for lab tests

Pay for your lab tests but don’t hesitate to ask for a discount. Make sure to settle your bills after completing your immigration medical exam. You can’t get your medical certificate if you don’t. And if you don’t have it, you won’t be granted citizenship by the USCIS.

#9 Falling for a fixed price “all-inclusive” medical exam

Some healthcare clinics and urgent care centers offer a flat fee for all the tests and shots required by the USCIS. However, not everyone needs the same set of tests and vaccinations. A one-size-fits-all approach simply won’t work.

#10 Going to a doctor with no experience with immigration physicals

Immigration guidelines evolve, USCIS forms get revised, and new medical tests are required. The Form I-693 itself is now many pages long. Going to an immigration doctor who isn’t busy performing immigration medical exams may not be updated. If the tests they perform aren’t complete and there are evident mistakes in the results, your package will get returned.

Conclusion

When choosing an immigration doctor, check on their experience, background, availability, fees, and location. If you are in the US, you should find a USCIS civil surgeon. If you are outside the country, you need to find a panel physician. It may be extra challenging, but a USCIS approval will be worth all the hard work, so choose wisely.