The date on your Form I-693 matters, but it is not the only date that controls what happens next. For Tampa Bay applicants, the current rule depends on when the civil surgeon signed the form and whether the immigration application connected to it remains pending.
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Under current USCIS guidance, how long is Form I-693 valid depends on the case. A form signed on or after November 1, 2023 remains valid while the application it was submitted with is pending. If that application is withdrawn or denied, the form is no longer valid. A later application generally needs a newly completed form.
This change replaced the earlier policy that allowed qualifying forms to be used indefinitely for future benefit applications. The sections below explain how to apply the rule to your signature date, filing history, and next steps with a Tampa-area civil surgeon.
How long is Form I-693 valid right now?
Right now, a Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, is valid only while the application submitted with it is pending. In other words, the form does not have a fixed expiration date printed on it. Its validity is tied to the immigration application that accompanied it.
This rule comes from the USCIS alert changing the validity period for Form I-693, issued June 11, 2025. The guidance took effect immediately and applies to applications that were pending on June 11, 2025, as well as applications filed on or after that date.
That means the status of the related application matters. If the application is withdrawn or denied, the Form I-693 is no longer valid for that application. For example, if an applicant submitted Form I-693 with Form I-485 and that application was later withdrawn or denied, the form would no longer be valid for that application. A future Form I-485 requires a newly completed Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon.
When reviewing your filing, identify the application connected to the form rather than looking for a standalone number of months or years. A pending application is the condition that keeps the form valid under this guidance. If that application no longer remains pending because it was withdrawn or denied, the same form cannot simply be carried into a future Form I-485. The future filing needs its own newly completed form signed by a civil surgeon.
Applicants in Tampa Bay should keep this application-specific rule in mind when planning the timing of an immigration medical exam. If you are preparing your paperwork or need to understand where the medical exam fits into your filing, review the USCIS medical exam in Tampa information from Med A Physical.
Form I-693 validity is a USCIS process issue, so the agency determines whether a form can be accepted in a particular case. Med A Physical can provide the civil surgeon examination, but it does not decide how USCIS will evaluate an application or whether an applicant’s filing is approvable.
What changed in the I-693 validity rule?
The answer to how long is Form I-693 valid changed more than once between 2024 and 2025. The timeline matters because the rule in effect when you file determines the result, and whether the related application remains pending can determine whether an existing medical examination can still be used.
| Date | What USCIS said | What it means for the form |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2024 | A properly completed Form I-693 signed on or after November 1, 2023, did not expire. | The form could be used indefinitely for a future immigration benefit application. |
| December 2, 2024 | USCIS required applicants to submit Form I-693 with Form I-485. | The medical form was connected to the adjustment-of-status filing rather than held for an unspecified future filing. |
| June 11, 2025 | USCIS limited the indefinite-validity policy for forms signed on or after November 1, 2023. | The form is valid only while the application submitted with it is pending. If that application is withdrawn or denied, the form is no longer valid. |
The June 11, 2025 change took effect immediately and applies to applications pending or filed on or after that date. USCIS explained that an examination tied to any future application could become outdated, including when follow-up related to tuberculosis might be needed. For the agency’s current explanation, read the June 11, 2025 USCIS policy alert.
In practical terms, a Form I-693 submitted with a Form I-485 does not remain reusable if that application is later withdrawn or denied. A future Form I-485 would need a newly completed Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon. Even when a form is otherwise valid, USCIS may request additional evidence or a new or updated form if an officer has reason to believe it no longer accurately reflects the applicant’s medical condition.
This is a timeline of USCIS policy, not legal advice. For help understanding the medical-exam process in Tampa, review Med A Physical’s Tampa I-693 exam process.
When does an older Form I-693 expire?
For an older Form I-693, start with the date the civil surgeon signed the form. Under the policy described in the April 4, 2024 USCIS validity alert, a properly completed Form I-693 signed before November 1, 2023, retains evidentiary value for two years from the civil surgeon’s signature date. That means the relevant date is not when you booked the appointment, scheduled your adjustment-of-status filing, or picked up the sealed envelope. Find the signature date on the completed form and count two years from that date.
This older rule applies to the form’s evidentiary value, not to a guarantee that USCIS will accept it in every situation. USCIS makes the final decision about whether the medical evidence is sufficient for the application. If you are unsure whether the signature date falls within the applicable period, review the form carefully and confirm the current filing requirements before relying on an older examination.
If the two-year period has passed, do not assume that the old form can be extended simply because the examination was completed correctly. Ask what current documentation your filing requires before submitting an expired form. Depending on your circumstances and the filing involved, you may need updated medical documentation rather than relying on the earlier signature.
The three-year exception described in the same alert applies to certain Operation Allies Welcome parolee cases. It is a narrow parolee policy, not the rule for a typical Tampa applicant.
The form also needs to have been properly completed by an authorized civil surgeon. A regular primary-care visit is not a substitute for the required immigration medical examination, so review why the exam must be done by a civil surgeon before arranging a new appointment. Med A Physical can explain the documentation process for Tampa-area applicants, but it cannot determine how USCIS will decide an immigration case.
When do you need a new I-693 exam?
Whether you need another immigration medical exam depends on what happened to the application filed with your Form I-693. Under current USCIS guidance, a Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, remains valid only while the application submitted with it is pending. If that application is withdrawn or denied, the form is no longer valid for that case.
That means a later Form I-485 filing generally needs a newly completed Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon if the earlier I-485 was withdrawn or denied. A still-pending application does not automatically make the form expire. However, an immigration officer may request additional evidence or a new or updated Form I-693 if there is reason to believe the existing form no longer accurately reflects your medical condition. USCIS explains that this limitation helps address the risk that older medical results may miss a change in health or needed tuberculosis follow-up.
- Find the civil surgeon’s signature date. Check the date the civil surgeon signed your Form I-693. The current rule described above applies to forms signed on or after November 1, 2023. Forms signed before that date may be governed by different guidance, so do not assume that an older form follows the same rule. If tuberculosis screening or follow-up is part of your concern, review the details of tuberculosis screening in Tampa before scheduling anything.
- Confirm whether the application that received the form is still pending. A pending application is different from one that was withdrawn or denied. If the original application is no longer pending because it was withdrawn or denied, a future filing needs a newly completed Form I-693. You can review the Tampa immigration exam process to understand how a new exam is prepared.
- Ask the civil surgeon only if a new exam is actually required. Do not repeat the exam solely because you are unsure how long is Form I-693 valid. First gather the signature date and application status, then ask whether your situation calls for a new or updated form. An officer can still request updated medical evidence even when the form is otherwise valid.
This information is about the medical-exam process, not legal advice. Med A Physical does not decide whether USCIS will accept a Form I-693. For a filing-specific answer, consult a qualified immigration attorney and follow any USCIS request you receive.
How can Tampa applicants plan the timing?
Start with the status of the immigration application connected to your Form I-693, rather than relying on a fixed number of months. USCIS guidance says a Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, remains valid while the application it was submitted with is pending. If that application is withdrawn or denied, the form is no longer valid, and a future Form I-485 generally needs a newly completed Form I-693. Review the current USCIS validity guidance for the rule that applies to your filing.
If you are unsure whether you need another exam, bring the prior form’s civil-surgeon signature date and information about the application it accompanied when you seek guidance. That date helps distinguish the form’s signing history, but it does not by itself determine whether the form is still usable. USCIS may also request additional evidence or a new or updated Form I-693 if the record no longer accurately reflects an applicant’s medical condition. Med A Physical can explain the clinic’s documentation process, but USCIS decides whether a form satisfies the agency’s requirements.
For applicants in northwest Hillsborough County, including Citrus Park, Med A Physical is located at 5416 Town N Country Blvd, Tampa, FL 33615. The clinic has bilingual staff and accepts walk-ins. Contact the clinic to confirm current appointment availability and hours. The phone number is (813) 639-9119.
Plan document handling as carefully as appointment timing. Bring the materials needed for your visit using the I-693 appointment checklist, and keep the completed envelope closed after the civil surgeon seals it. Do not open it to inspect the contents. For the handling details, see the sealed envelope rules.
Schedule a new Form I-693 exam in Tampa
If your earlier application was withdrawn or denied, or USCIS has asked for a new medical exam, Med A Physical can complete a new Form I-693. The clinic is in Town N Country. Call (813) 639-9119 or use the contact page to ask about weekday availability in Tampa Bay.
Contact Med A Physical about a new I-693 exam
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Form I-693 valid if it was signed on or after November 1, 2023?
Under current USCIS guidance, it remains valid only while the application submitted with it is pending. This rule took effect June 11, 2025, and applies to applications pending or filed on or after that date. USCIS explains the current rule.
What happens if my application is denied or withdrawn?
The Form I-693 is no longer valid for that application if the related application is withdrawn or denied. If you later file a new Form I-485, USCIS says you need a newly completed Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon. See the Tampa immigration medical exam process for planning help.
Does a Form I-693 signed before November 1, 2023 follow the same rule?
No. USCIS guidance states that a properly completed form signed before November 1, 2023 generally retains evidentiary value for two years from the civil surgeon’s signature. Special rules may apply to Operation Allies Welcome parolee forms. Review the USCIS guidance for those details.
Can USCIS still request a new or updated medical exam?
Yes. Even when a Form I-693 is otherwise valid, an officer may request more evidence or a new or updated form if there is reason to believe it does not accurately reflect your medical condition. This is a USCIS decision, not one Med A Physical can control. See Policy Alert PA-2025-08.
Where can a Tampa applicant schedule a new I-693 exam?
Med A Physical provides civil surgeon exams at 5416 Town N Country Blvd in Tampa. You can review the USCIS medical exam service page or contact the clinic to ask about appointment availability.