You have finished your immigration medical appointment, but the office is still waiting for a result—or you notice information that looks wrong on your copy of Form I-693. Your next step is to contact the civil surgeon’s office and identify exactly what needs attention before you submit it.

An incomplete I-693 can involve unfinished medical requirements, a documentation problem, or a missing signature. Those situations need different solutions. A blank section is not automatically an error: some parts of the form do not apply to every applicant. USCIS explains the completion requirements in its Policy Manual.

First, find out what is unfinished

Ask the office which of these describes your situation:

• The examination is still in progress. A laboratory result, medical evaluation or required follow-up may be outstanding.

• The examination is complete, but the paperwork needs attention. A name, date, entry or required signature may need review.

• A section does not apply to you. The office can explain why it is not completed.

Avoid trying to diagnose the problem from an empty box alone. For example, USCIS notes that a chest X-ray section does not need completion when an X-ray was not required. The civil surgeon is responsible for documenting the examination appropriately.

Contact the office that performed your examination

Start with the practice that prepared your I-693. Tell the staff the date of your visit and describe the issue you noticed on your patient copy.

A useful question is: “Is my examination complete, and does the form need a correction before I submit it?”

Then ask:

1. What specific information or step is missing?
2. Is there anything I need to provide, or is the office waiting for another provider?
3. Do I need a return appointment?
4. How will I know when the completed paperwork is ready?
5. Is there a charge for the additional service or visit?

Ask the office how to send medical records securely. Avoid sending an entire medical file through an unfamiliar email address simply because you are trying to resolve the issue quickly.

If another practice performed your examination, contact that practice first. A different clinic may need to review your situation before explaining what services it can provide.

Let the civil surgeon handle medical entries and corrections

Do not add laboratory results, change medical classifications, alter the clinician’s signature or make your own edits to a signed medical report.

Point out the concern and let the office determine the appropriate correction and documentation. If your own signature needs attention, follow the civil surgeon’s instructions rather than signing or dating a document on your own initiative.

USCIS requires the applicable parts of the form and the necessary signatures to be completed. The applicant’s signature and the civil surgeon’s certification have different purposes; one cannot replace the other. See USCIS documentation and signature requirements.

If a medical requirement is still pending

Ask for a clear description of the outstanding step. “Waiting for laboratory results” is different from “waiting for a specialist’s evaluation.”

For a pending test, ask whether you need to do anything or simply wait for the office to receive the report. For a requested record, clarify which document is needed and where to obtain it. For a medical referral, ask who will arrange the appointment and how the findings will return to the civil surgeon.

The immigration examination includes medical assessment and documentation, not just filling in a form. CDC’s civil-surgeon instructions guide that evaluation.

Do not assume a filing deadline makes an unfinished examination ready for certification. If timing affects your application, discuss the filing decision with your immigration attorney or accredited representative while the clinic addresses the medical requirements.

Handle the envelope according to your filing method

The civil surgeon gives you the completed, signed I-693 in a sealed envelope. What you do next depends on how you are filing.

If you are mailing Form I-485

Submit the I-693 in the original sealed envelope provided by the civil surgeon. To review your information beforehand, ask the office for a separate patient copy rather than opening the submission envelope to inspect it.

If you are eligible to file Form I-485 online

Current USCIS instructions direct online filers to open the civil surgeon’s sealed envelope and upload the completed I-693 with the application. Keep both the original form and envelope until USCIS makes a final decision.

Online filing is available only to eligible applicants. Check the current USCIS I-693 instructions for your filing route. If you discover an error while preparing the upload, contact the clinic before submitting the document.

Confirm completion before making filing plans

When the office says the paperwork is ready, ask whether all applicable examination steps and documentation are complete. Request a patient copy and check that your identifying information matches the information you supplied.

If Form I-693—or a partial I-693—is required with your Form I-485, USCIS says it must accompany that application; otherwise, USCIS may reject the I-485. Do not assume you can send missing medical paperwork later. Review USCIS’s current filing requirements.

A clinical question belongs with the civil surgeon. A question about when or how to file your immigration application belongs with USCIS guidance or your legal representative.

Questions applicants often ask

Does incomplete paperwork mean I failed the medical exam?

The word “incomplete” does not identify a medical finding or decide an immigration outcome. Ask the clinic what is outstanding and what needs to happen next.

Does a blank section mean my I-693 is wrong?

Not necessarily. Some sections are unnecessary in particular cases. Ask the office whether the section applies to you instead of filling it in yourself.

Will I have to repeat the entire examination?

That cannot be determined from the word “incomplete.” The issuing civil surgeon needs to review the problem and explain whether it requires documentation, another appointment, further evaluation or a new examination.

What if I already received a USCIS notice?

This guide addresses problems found before submission. If USCIS has sent a rejection notice or a Request for Evidence, share the actual notice with your legal representative and the clinic. Its instructions and deadline need a separate review.

Lab On Demand offers immigration medical exam appointments in Indianapolis. If your examination was performed here, contact the office about unfinished items or questions on your patient copy.