For many prospective American citizens, the immigration physical is one of the more daunting aspects of the entire process.
Dr. Christopher Smith and the practitioners at Christos Doctors Inn Walk In Health Care are here to ease your anxieties about this part of your immigration journey. We offer immigration physicals at our Lauderhill, Florida, practice, and we make sure you’re aware of the testing and documentation that are a required part of the experience.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has determined a set of health standards for individuals seeking to obtain citizenship or permanent resident status within the United States. The purpose of an immigration physical is to determine if you meet these health standards.
The goal is to ensure that immigrants don’t carry certain communicable diseases that could cause a public health crisis. It’s intended to protect American citizens, but it also serves to help empower individuals to take steps to treat serious health issues they might not have been aware of.
A simple blood draw is required. This part of the visit takes very little time; all you feel is a little pinch of the needle. We can let you know what’s happening during every step of the way to ensure you’re comfortable.
Blood draws are used to test for several communicable diseases, including tuberculosis (which can also be checked with a skin test), syphilis, and gonorrhea. If your blood testing suggests signs of tuberculosis, you also need to have a chest X-ray as part of your exam.
In order to become a permanent resident or new citizen of the United States, you must demonstrate that you’ve received the vaccines specified by immigration authorities. Most people have already met these requirements through childhood immunizations in their country of origin.
However, if you’re missing any of the required vaccines, we can administer them in our office. It’s also possible that a gap in your immunization records could lead to the need to get a vaccine that you’ve had in the past but simply cannot document.
There’s no need to worry about repeating a vaccine. It’s safe to receive a vaccine as an adult that you may have already received during childhood.
During your appointment, your doctor completes a thorough physical exam. The only medical professionals authorized to perform immigration physicals are those certified by USCIS as civil surgeons. This requirement ensures that everyone seeking an immigration exam receives the same services and can meet the same requirements.
After your exam, Dr. Smith completes the required paperwork to document your physical and test results. This paperwork is a critical part of your immigration journey.
We congratulate you on reaching this stage of the immigration process, and we look forward to playing a small role in helping you become a new American citizen or permanent resident. Our team can answer any questions you have to ensure you meet US government requirements.
When you’re ready to schedule your immigration exam at Christos Doctors Inn Walk In Health Care, our team is here for you. Contact our office online or by phone to check appointment availability.
