Information Packages

Medical Examinations

The medical examination must be performed by an Embassy approved panel physician and should be completed before the visa appointment. Each applicant must schedule an appointment for a medical exam and is required to show his/her passport as identification at each step of the medical examination process.

As of April 1, 2009 the Remedika Hospital in Skopje, Macedonia and EuroMed Klinika in Pristina, Kosovo are the new panel physicians for the U.S. Embassy. All immigrant visa applicants should schedule their appointments for the required medical exam with one of the panel physicians. After April 1, 2009, examinations may no longer be completed at the IOM clinics in Skopje and Pristina.

Maximum validity of medical examination results is one year, with at least 6 months' validity required on the day of visa issuance. If the exam has less than 6 months' validity, the visa is limited to the life of the exam.

The vaccination report is not required for K - fiance(e)s - K3/K4 and V visa applicants. All other immigrant visa applicants, however, must submit this report as part of the examination process.

Visa applicants younger than 15 do not need a chest X-ray or blood tests, although they must undergo a general medical examination. Applicants 15 or older should bring the chest X-ray and the results of the blood tests with them to a panel physician shown below. All applicants 15 years and older must be screened for syphilis and HIV infection (HIV-1/HIV-2 antibodies). Applicants below 16 years of age should bring their Child's Health Book. All visa applicants must bring two color photographs (in addition to two photographs required for their visa application) and their passport to the physical exam. Children under 14 should be accompanied by at least one parent or a guardian.

Pregnant visa applicants do not provide a chest X-ray. Immunizations for pregnant women are done only at their wish and upon the recommendation of the panel physician -- never using "live vaccine."

Take the chest X-ray to the United States. Do not bring it to the Embassy.

Immigrant visa applicants themselves must make an appointment with a panel physician for their general medical examination.

Vaccination Requirements

U.S. immigration law requires certain categories of visa applicants to obtain the vaccinations listed below prior to the issuance of a visa.

The vaccination report is not required for K - fiance(e)s - K3/K4 and V visa applicants. Immigrant visa applicants, however, must submit this report as part of the medical examination process.

Panel physicians who conduct medical examinations on behalf of visa applicants are required to verify that visa applicants meet the vaccination requirement, or that it is medically inappropriate for the visa applicant to receive one or more of the listed vaccinations: mumps, measles, rubella, polio, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, pertussis, influenzae type B (HIB), hepatitis B, varicella, pneumococcal, and influenza.

To assist the panel physician, and to avoid processing delays, all visa applicants should have their vaccination records available for the physician's review at the time of the medical examination. Visa applicants should consult with their regular health care provider to obtain a copy of their immunization record, if one is available. If you do not have a vaccination record, the panel physician will work with you to determine which vaccinations you may need to meet the requirement. Certain waivers of the vaccination requirement are available upon the recommendation of the panel physician.

Only a physician can determine which of the listed vaccinations are medically appropriate for you, given your age, medical history and current medical condition.