The Trump administration has announced immediate changes to green card applications that have sent shockwaves throughout the immigrant community. The modifications mandate that every new permanent residency application now requires a renewed medical examination form — a dramatic shift from previous conditions that allowed green card applicants to use forms indefinitely.
Trump’s Policy
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) articulated that this abrupt policy change stems from concerns that the prior rules might pose potential threats to public health. Experts argue that this development introduces new complications for thousands of immigrants navigating the already complex process of obtaining permanent residency in the United States. “This is pretty typical of the kind of changes we’ve been seeing,” said Matt Cameron, an immigration attorney at Cameron Micheroni and Silvia in Boston. He expressed his frustration, noting the lack of a grace period for those affected and said, “Time was that they would at least give you some grace period, some lead up, but this means that things that were in the mail this week are going to be invalid potentially.”
The Adjustments
The adjustments affect the medical exam form, known as the I-693, which is required for immigrants in the U.S. who are seeking to adjust their status or to gain permanent residency. The previous guidelines allowed forms signed by civil surgeons to remain valid for an indefinite period; however, that is no longer the case.
Updated Policy
In April 2024, the USCIS updated its policy to announce that any I-693 completed and signed on or after November 1, 2023, could be used indefinitely. But, with the new regulations, if an application is withdrawn for any reason, the I-693 will be invalidated, forcing applicants to schedule and pay for additional medical examinations. The costs for these exams range from $100 to $500, presenting a financial burden for many immigrants.Cameron warns that this situation could compel immigrants to pay out of pocket multiple times, a situation he finds troubling.”This could mean immigrants have to pay twice over,” he asserted. Previously, only individuals deemed inadmissible based on medical grounds were required to file a medical examination form, while now every green card applicant will be subject to this requirement.
Trump’s Immigration Platform
As the Trump administration continues to enforce stricter immigration laws, scrutiny of immigrants seeking both temporary and permanent visas has significantly increased. The timing of this policy change raises concerns about the impact on thousands of applicants currently preparing to file their adjustment of status applications, marked as Form I-485.There have already been reports about increased immigration enforcement, including the revocation of green cards from those accused of breaking immigration laws. This trend is further exacerbated by instances of legal residents being detained or deported under contentious political circumstances. In one notable case, federal agents detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian protester with a green card, citing his protests against U.S. foreign policy as grounds for removal.
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Author: Joshua Wilburn
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