We’ve all heard the stories. Someone moves to a new country and then gets denied entry at customs because they didn’t get a physical exam. This is because immigration physical exams are required by several countries when you move there. Without an immigration physical exam, your citizenship status may be questioned, which can be very troublesome to your life and future plans. Figuring out what’s required for your specific situation can be confusing and stressful. Let UrgentMed walk you through the processes and requirements for an immigration physical exam with our step-by-step guide below.

What Is an Immigration Physical Exam?

An immigration physical exam is a medical evaluation of a person applying for U.S. permanent resident status, also known as a green card. An immigration physical exam must be completed before applying for a green card. The purpose of the immigration physical exam is to determine whether you are in good health and whether or not you have any dangerous communicable diseases such as tuberculosis or HIV/AIDS.

The purpose of an immigration physical exam is to determine whether you are healthy enough to immigrate to the United States. The medical exam includes a general health assessment, a review of your medical history and vaccination records, and an examination of your eyes, nose, mouth, throat, ears, heart, and lungs.

You need to receive an immigration physical exam if you are planning on immigrating to the U.S. If you have any conditions that could affect your ability to live in America, then you must disclose them during the application process so that they can be taken into consideration (if necessary). An immigration physical exam also helps establish eligibility for certain visa categories that require applicants to show good health and fitness when entering the country.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires applicants for immigration to be examined by a licensed medical doctor. The doctor will assess if you have any health problems that could pose a risk when traveling or living in the country. You may be denied entry into the country if you have serious health conditions and you need to seek treatment before traveling.

doctor performing immigration medical exam
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When Do You Need an Immigration Physical Exam?

You must complete an immigration physical exam before applying for any type of visa or green card status to enter the US legally or become a citizen of the US. You must schedule an immigration physical exam before filing your immigrant petition or application for permanent residence with USCIS (formerly INS). The length of time required before scheduling your exam depends on several factors: the type of visa category being applied for; how recently you received treatment for any medical condition, whether or not you’ve had any significant surgeries; etc.

What Is Included In an Immigration Physical Exam?

The medical exam for immigration includes testing for communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. It also includes chest x-rays and blood tests to check for syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and other infections.

Standard Immigration Medical Examination (SMME) includes a general checkup and blood tests to rule out communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB). The doctor will also check your hearing, vision, and heart rate and listen to your lungs with a stethoscope. In addition, they may conduct an electrocardiogram (EKG) to test your heart rhythm.

The following is a list of the tests that may be included in your immigration physical exam:

Basic blood tests: Basic blood work, including hemoglobin and hematocrit (red blood cell count), white blood cell count, platelet count, and red blood cell distribution width (RDW). These tests are done to determine if there is anemia or infection.

Urinalysis: Urinalysis detects a protein in the urine, which could indicate kidney disease or diabetes. It also checks for glucose in the urine, which could indicate diabetes.

Urine culture: A culture is done on the first-morning urine sample to look for bacteria that cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other diseases that can be treated with antibiotics. If an infection is found, additional tests will be done to determine what kind of bacteria are present and what antibiotics will work best. A doctor may ask you to collect a second urine sample during your exam so they can also test it.

How Can UrgentMed Help With an Immigration Physical Exam?

As you can see, if you need to take an immigration physical exam, you will have plenty of questions. Thankfully, we have the answers. Learn what is included in an immigration physical exam, why it is crucial, and when you should get one. Get in touch with the UrgentMed team by scheduling a consultation today, and we will be happy to help with any questions that you may have about an immigration physical exam.

 If you need to schedule an immigration physical exam, UrgentMed can help make it easy. You can schedule an appointment online or by phone with one of our friendly customer service representatives, who will walk you through the process.

When you arrive at your scheduled time, our medical team will provide you with fast and affordable care – regardless of your insurance status or ability to pay out of pocket. We accept most major insurance plans and offer affordable payment options for those without coverage. If you need help with transportation or accommodation costs associated with travel to one of our clinics, we can sometimes help arrange rides from home or work.

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