Prepping for Your Child's Immigration Medical Exam: Our Top Tips

All immigrants, both children and adults, applying for a green card must undergo an immigration medical exam by a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approved physician. Children under 14 must undergo a pediatric medical exam, while those 15 and over are treated as adults.

An immigration medical exam is an essential part of the green card process to ensure you’re not a harm or threat to the general public's health. 

Dr. Sima Stein of Sima Stein, MD, located in San Jose, California, is a board-certified physician who is also authorized by the USCIS to administer immigration medical examinations on patients of all ages. Dr. Stein ensures that the medical exam process is speedy and straightforward for all her patients and offers one-day turnaround services if necessary.

To make the process quick and efficient, she offers these top tips to help you prepare for your child's immigration medical exam.

Bring all the required documents

Dr. Stein needs to review your child's vaccination and medical history. For her to do this properly, you’ll need to bring the following information to your appointment:

• Your child's vaccination records
• A copy of your child's medical history
• A letter from your current doctor outlining any treatment plan if your child has a previously diagnosed health issue
• Identification documents such as a passport or identification card
• The visa interview appointment letter you received

Additionally, if your child takes medication for a health condition, bring information regarding the type and dose of medication.

Stay up to date on vaccinations

Be sure to stay current on any vaccination requirements in your country of origin. However, the country you’re immigrating from may have different vaccination requirements. If your child hasn’t received one of the required vaccines, Dr. Stein can administer it to ensure they satisfy the US vaccination requirements. 

Talk to your child before their appointment

To keep your child calm and ensure that the appointment goes smoothly, it's a good idea to share what to expect at the exam with them. If they're 15 and over, they should know they’ll have a chest X-ray and blood test. If they're 14 and under, Dr. Stein performs a physician exam, reviews documents, and asks and answers questions. 

Try to schedule your exam well before your visa interview to avoid delays in obtaining a green card. To learn more about the immigration exam or to schedule an appointment, call the office of Sima Stein, MD, or request an appointment online today.