Immigration Medical Exam in Charlotte, NC: What to Expect at CML Health
- CML Health
- May 15
- 7 min read
If you are applying for a green card or adjusting your immigration status, the immigration medical exam is one step you cannot skip. For families in Charlotte, Monroe, and Concord, NC, finding a USCIS certified civil surgeon who speaks your language, fits into your schedule, and gives you straight answers about cost and process can feel harder than it should. CML Health performs USCIS compliant immigration medical exams across four convenient North Carolina locations, with same day and next day appointments available six days a week. This guide walks you through what the exam involves, what it costs, what documents to bring, and how recent USCIS policy changes affect your application.
What Is the Immigration Medical Exam and Form I-693?
The immigration medical exam is a federally required health screening that confirms green card applicants do not have a communicable disease, harmful behavior linked to a physical or mental disorder, or missing vaccinations that would make them inadmissible to the United States. Only a USCIS designated civil surgeon can perform this exam and sign Form I-693, the Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. CML Health provides certified immigration medical exams in Charlotte, NC, completed and sealed in compliance with current USCIS standards.
Form I-693 has 11 parts. You complete Part 1 with your personal information before your appointment. The civil surgeon completes the medical, vaccination, and certification sections during and after your exam. According to USCIS, the form must be signed by the civil surgeon and placed in a sealed envelope before it leaves the clinic. If you break that seal, your form is invalid and you will need a new exam.
Dr. Carlos Rish and Dr. Edward Mogabgab serve as the two civil surgeons at CML Health, and both are authorized to evaluate adults and children for immigration purposes. You can book an immigration medical exam at any of our four NC locations without being an existing patient.
What Happens During Your Immigration Medical Exam?
The exam covers four main areas: a physical evaluation, a review of your vaccination history, lab tests for communicable diseases, and a mental health screening. Most appointments at CML Health are completed in two visits.
First visit (30 to 45 minutes):
Identity verification using your government issued photo ID
Review of your completed Part 1 of Form I-693 and any medical history you bring
General physical exam covering eyes, ears, throat, heart, lungs, abdomen, skin, and lymph nodes
Vaccination review and administration of any required vaccines you are missing
Blood draw for the QuantiFERON tuberculosis test (ages 2 and older)
Syphilis screening for adults 18 to 44
Gonorrhea urine test for adults 18 to 24
Mental health and behavioral screening
Follow-up visit (after 2 to 4 business days):
Review of your lab results with the civil surgeon
Completion and signature of Form I-693
Sealing of the form in the official envelope you will submit to USCIS
Children under 17 follow a similar process with age appropriate vaccinations and a pediatric physical exam. CML Health is part of the North Carolina Immunization Program and offers free COVID-19 vaccinations for patients up to 18 years old, even though the COVID-19 vaccine is no longer required for the green card application itself.
How Much Does an Immigration Medical Exam Cost in Charlotte?
The immigration medical exam at CML Health costs $285 for adults 18 and older and $215 for children under 18. That fee covers your initial visit, your follow-up visit, the standard lab tests, and the completion of Form I-693. Vaccinations are billed separately, though many insurance plans cover vaccines as preventive care even when they do not cover the exam itself.
For context, immigration physicals in the Charlotte area generally range from $245 to $500 depending on the provider, so the CML Health flat rate sits at the lower end of the local market with no surprise add ons for the form itself.
A few cost notes patients ask about often:
If your TB blood test is positive, USCIS requires a chest X-ray to confirm whether you have active tuberculosis. That X-ray is not included in the exam fee.
Health insurance does not cover immigration medical services because they are required for legal status, not for diagnosis or treatment.
CML Health will match any verified reasonable price for the same scope of services. If you have a written quote from another civil surgeon, bring it to your appointment.
Find your nearest CML Health location to confirm pricing and reserve a same day or next day appointment.
What Documents Do You Need to Bring?
Bringing the right paperwork to your first visit keeps your application on track and prevents follow-up trips. Here is what to pack:
Government issued photo ID. A valid passport, driver's license, or military ID. USCIS requires identity verification before any civil surgeon can sign Form I-693.
Your vaccination records. Bring any immunization documentation you have from past doctors, schools, or your home country. If your records are not in English, the CML Health team can review records in Spanish and Portuguese.
Form I-693, Part 1, completed but unsigned. Print the most recent edition from the USCIS website. As of July 3, 2025, USCIS only accepts the 01/20/25 edition.
Any previous I-693 forms or USCIS correspondence. If your previous form expired or was rejected, bring it for the civil surgeon to review.
Work permit or employment authorization document, if you have one.
List of current medications with dosages.
If your immunizations are not up to date or your records are missing, CML Health offers blood tests to check immunity (titer tests) at no extra charge as part of the exam.
What Vaccines Are Required for the Immigration Medical Exam?
USCIS requires specific vaccines based on your age and medical history. The civil surgeon will check your records against the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) schedule and administer anything you need to complete your I-693.
Adult vaccination requirements typically include:
Tetanus (Td or Tdap) within the past 10 years
Polio (IPV), 3 doses
MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), 2 doses for adults up to age 64
Varicella (chickenpox), 2 doses or documented history of the illness
Hepatitis B, 3 doses for adults up to age 59
Seasonal influenza, September 1 through March 31
Pneumococcal vaccine, 1 dose for adults 65 and older
Pediatric requirements typically include:
Hepatitis A, 2 doses between 12 months and 18 years
Meningococcal vaccine (age dependent)
Pneumococcal vaccine, 4 doses between 2 and 18 months
Hib vaccine, 4 doses between 2 and 59 months
Rotavirus, 2 doses between 2 and 4 months
If you object to vaccinations based on religious beliefs or moral convictions, you can apply for a waiver through Form I-601. Approval is not guaranteed, and a waiver denial can affect your adjustment of status, so discuss this option with your immigration attorney before your appointment.
Recent USCIS Updates Every Applicant Should Know
USCIS has made several important changes in the past two years that affect how you schedule and submit your medical exam. CML Health stays current on every update so your form moves through the process without rejections.
COVID-19 vaccination removed (January 22, 2025). USCIS permanently waived the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for Form I-693. You no longer need proof of COVID-19 vaccination for your green card application, although CML Health still offers the vaccine free to patients under 18 through the NC Immunization Program.
Concurrent filing rule (December 2, 2024). USCIS now requires you to submit Form I-693 at the same time as Form I-485, your Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. If you file your green card application without your medical exam results, USCIS may reject the application outright. Schedule your immigration medical exam in Charlotte before you mail your I-485 packet.
Form validity (November 1, 2023 and later). A properly completed Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, does not expire. Forms signed before that date remain valid for two years from the signature date.
New form edition (effective July 3, 2025). USCIS only accepts the 01/20/25 edition of Form I-693 for any form signed on or after July 3, 2025. Download the current version directly from the USCIS Form I-693 page before your appointment.
For the official policy details, you can review the USCIS Form I-693 page as the primary federal source.
Why Families Across Charlotte Choose CML Health
Beyond the certifications and the paperwork, the immigration medical exam is a moment when language, comfort, and respect matter. CML Health was built around that idea. The team speaks English, Spanish, and Portuguese in every clinic, so nothing about your health history or the USCIS process gets lost in translation. You can ask questions in the language you think in.
A few specifics that set CML Health apart for immigration applicants:
Trilingual support throughout your visit, from the front desk through your follow-up call
Family appointments in a single trip. Spouses, parents, and children can complete their exams together
Same-day and next-day scheduling, with availability six days a week
Four locations across the greater Charlotte area: Central Charlotte, South Charlotte, Monroe, and Concord
Transparent flat pricing with no add-on fees for I-693 completion
Patients like Ivan E. from Concord have shared that their immigration physical with the CML Health team "went more than well" and that "the entire staff treated me excellently." That kind of experience is what the team aims for at every appointment.
You can also explore our family care services if you want to continue care with CML Health after your immigration process, or book your first visit to make CML Health your medical home.
Book Your Immigration Medical Exam in Charlotte, NC
The immigration process moves quickly once your paperwork is in motion, and a delayed or incorrect medical exam can hold up your green card application by months. CML Health makes that step simple with USCIS designated civil surgeons, multilingual support, transparent pricing, and four convenient North Carolina locations. Whether you live in Charlotte, Monroe, Concord, or anywhere in between, you can schedule your immigration medical exam at CML Health today and move forward with your application with confidence.
