If you are an immigrant who has been working through the green card process, then you should know that you will need to have a medical examination completed before you can receive your green card. This physical is meant to ensure that you are in good health. There are some things that you should do to prepare for the examination.
Prepare Your Vaccination Records
Immigration professionals in the United States know that immunization schedules and access to vaccines will vary greatly from country to country. So, a basic evaluation of your vaccinations is required to see what you may be missing. You want to gather any and all immunization records that list the date and strength of your vaccines along with the country they were administered. A record of the doctor who administered the injection is important as well.
If you are unable to gather your records, you will need to have bloodwork taken to check for the antibodies in your system. Your general physician can write an order for this, if you do not have a doctor, the immigration office may be able to do this for you.
Your bloodwork will check to see if you have received vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, pertussis, and hepatitis. Most immigrants will also need to receive a TB test to see if you have ever been exposed to tuberculosis. If exposure is noted, then you will be sent for an x-ray to see if you have an active infection in the lungs.
Gather Your Medical History
There are a few different parts of the medical exam. They will focus on your physical health as well as your mental health. However, the exam is mostly completed to make sure that you are free of diseases or ailments that may affect others in the United States. For this reason, you will be asked a number of questions about your medical history as well as the history of your family. If you are unfamiliar with this information, your medical examination may not be completed in full. This can be problematic and cause a delay in your green card processing.
You want to avoid delays by gathering as much of your own and your family's medical history as possible. Speak with your physician about sending your medical records from your country of origin and ask your family members about their own medical backgrounds.
Keep in mind that your sexual history may be required along with your general health history, so prepare for this and also be aware that blood tests may be taken to test for syphilis.
In order to receive a green card, consider finding a professional that is capable of performing an immigration medical examination.
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No matter what gets in the way of achieving good health, we plan to help you every step of the way. Whether you need to learn what a healthy meal consists of, how often you should exercise to maintain good cardiovascular health, or how to improve your motivation to work out, we hope you can find the answers to your questions on this blog or the healthcare resources we share here. While we are not health experts, we strive to lead healthy lifestyles, just like you.