August 2021 Newsletter

Immigration Updates

A couple of small, but useful changes to the immigration process took effect this month.

First, USCIS made a decision to extend the validity period for Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, from two years to four years due to COVID-19-related delays in processing.

The validity requirements for Form I-693 are that:

  • The civil surgeon’s signature is dated no more than 60 days before the applicant filed Form I-485.
  • No more than four years have passed since the date of the civil surgeon’s signature.

Another big change is that applicants for permanent residency can now apply for their Social Security card as a part of their application process, instead of having to do so separately at a Social Security office. Upon receiving the data from Form I-485, the Social Security Administration will automatically assign an original SSN or issue a replacement card to the applicant, as appropriate.

As always, stay tuned to our blog and newsletter for the latest developments in immigration policies and procedures!