One Step Closer To Getting Your Visa

By Author: Clara Heisler
Total Articles: 20
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Being the land of the free and the brave, the US has its share of people wanting to set foot on its soil and become a part of it for the years to come. Although everyone is welcome to partake of the American dream, there are a number of things that one has to accomplish first before he or she can get a pass to set foot on the American soil.
One of the things that a person has to have before he or she could travel to America is the results of a medical exam. As opposed to the usual medical exam people undergo as a part of local employment requirements or as documentation for insurance, medical exams for immigration is composed of four sets - the physical examination, the TB skin test, blood test, and a record that shows that the applicant has the latest set of vaccinations required by the US public health office. The required vaccinations would include those for mumps, measles, rubella, polio, pertussis, and hepatitis B among others.
Before you worry about how much you have to spend for the exam, keep in mind first that immigration medical exams are only required for applicants who would want their immigration status ...
... to be adjusted except those who had continuously been in the US since 1972, temporary visa applicants, refugees, and asylum-seekers.
Once you have completed the immigration medical exams, the results would be certified by either the panel physician, if you are located abroad; or by the civil surgeon if you are here in the US. You then need to attach the sealed and certified results with your application. Keep in mind that you should not open the envelope containing the results of the exam.
Although it usually is on a case-to-case basis, there are a number of instances when you can apply for a medical waiver. This would allow you to apply for a visa or have your status adjusted without having to undergo immigration exams. The medical waiver can be applied for if you have a son or a daughter who is a US citizen or is a permanent resident. You are also eligible for it if you are classified as a self-petitioning spouse or child.
There are a number of forms that you would need to fill out before you can have your immigration medical exams. The US consular or embassy would be the one to give you these forms as well as the name and contact numbers of the panel physician who can certify the results of your exam. This means that you should get in touch first with the proper authorities before you undergo the medical exam.