Civil Surgeons

Most applicants for adjustment of status are required to have a medical examination. The medical examination must be conducted by a civil surgeon who has been designated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Finding A Designated Civil Surgeon in Your Area

To find a civil surgeon in your area, go to http://www.uslegalvisa.com/immigration-doctor.html and choose your state.

Doctors interested in being registered as a Designated Civil Surgeon should submit the following to their local USCIS Office:

·         A letter to the District Director requesting consideration

·         A copy of a current medical license

·         A current resume that shows 4 years of professional experience, not including a residency program

·         Proof of U.S. Citizenship or lawful status in the United States

·         Two signature cards showing name typed and signature below

Special Instructions for Civil Surgeons

In order to perform immigration medical examinations, you must be a physician designated by USCIS as a civil surgeon. The medical examination must be performed according to CDC’s Technical Instructions for the Medical Examinations of Aliens in the United States (Technical Instructions or TIs), published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. These Technical Instructions include:

·         The Technical Instructions for Medical Examinations of Aliens in the U.S. (1991)

·         The Tuberculosis (TB) Component of the Technical Instructions for the Medical Examination of Aliens in the U.S. 2008 (effective May 1, 2008)

·         Adjustment of Status for U.S. Permanent Residence Requirements: Technical Instructions for Vaccinations 2009 (effective December 14, 2009)

·         2010 Technical Instructions for Mental Disorders and Substance Abuse for Civil Surgeons (effective June 1, 2010)

·         Any updates to the documents above as published on CDC’s website

Each of these documents and subsequent updates can be obtained from CDC’s website and are linked on the right side of this page.

CDC does not mail hard copies of these documents; it is the responsibility of the civil surgeon to obtain these documents online and comply with the requirements of the technical Instructions.

Failure to comply with the technical Instructions may result in the revocation of civil surgeon designation by USCIS.