Immigration Physical Specialist

What happens during an immigration physical?

An immigration physical starts much like any other annual checkup. Dr. Smith checks your height, weight, and blood pressure and listens to your heart and lungs. He looks into your eyes, ears, nose, and throat and palpates your abdomen and lymph nodes. If you need any immunizations or boosters, Dr. Smith administers them.

He also runs a series of health screenings for illnesses like tuberculosis, syphilis, and gonorrhea. Dr. Smith checks for signs of communicable diseases as well as physical and mental diseases the U.S. government has categorized as inadmissible.

Dr. Smith talks to you about your overall health and well-being and answers your questions about your health. While this physical is part of your immigration application, it’s still an opportunity to ask questions about how to improve your health.

After your immigration physical, Dr. Smith completes the appropriate paperwork and sends it to the U.S. consulate or embassy. The results of your physical are valid for one year.

What vaccinations are required as part of an immigration physical?

You will either need to provide medical records showing you’ve been vaccinated against the following list of diseases and illnesses or Dr. Smith will provide the immunization. If you don’t have records of your immunizations, there are blood tests available to check for the required antibodies.

The required vaccinations include:

• Hepatitis A and B
• Measles
• Mumps
• Meningococcal
• Pneumococcal
• Pertussis
• Polio
• Rotavirus
• Rubella
• Tetanus
• Diphtheria
• Varicela
• Current influenza and influenza type B

What should I bring to an immigration physical?

You need to bring identification and a variety of other documentation to your immigration physical. Dr. Smith needs to see:

• Passport
• Vaccination records
• Appropriate forms
• Reports regarding any learning disabilities
• List of current medical conditions and medications
• Certificate from your former doctor for any prior positive tuberculosis tests
• Certificates for any psychiatric or medical problem that has caused violent behavior or hospitalization

Why are immigration physicals needed?

A physical is just part of the immigration process. Many diseases that are still active in other parts of the world have more or less been eradicated in the United States. These physicals help protect the public health of the communities you are trying to join.

Schedule your immigration physical by calling the practice or booking online.