Oakton Health Center

02/01/2026

Family Medicine and USCIS Medical Exam News – February 01, 2026

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has set out mental health technical instructions for panel physicians evaluating immigrant and refugee health statuses. The instructions follow the criteria of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, for diagnosing mental or physical disorders associated with harmful behaviors or substance use disorders. The purpose of these health examinations is to identify any health-related conditions that may affect an applicant's immigration status....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has set out mental health technical instructions for panel physicians evaluating immigrant and refugee health statuses. The instructions follow the criteria of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Diso...

01/25/2026

Family Medicine and USCIS Medical Exam News – January 25, 2026

The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) expressed serious concerns about recent reports indicating that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has ordered a sweeping review and potential reinterview of over 200,000 refugees, alone with cease in processing their applications for permanent residence. USCRI calls on the government to overturn this policy and uphold the United States' commitment to refugee programs in the interest of humanitarian service and in honor of the nation's ethos as a land of freedom and opportunity....

The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) expressed serious concerns about recent reports indicating that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has ordered a sweeping review and potential reinterview of over 200,000 refugees, alone with cease in processing their applicat...

01/18/2026

Family Medicine and USCIS Medical Exam News – January 18, 2026

Summary The Manual Release (MR) #25.20 updates policies and procedures for medical PM/WAG relating to Asylum Applicants and Torture Victims (AATV) as well as Victims of Trafficking, Torture, or Other Serious Crimes (VTTC). The release outlines new procedures for processing AATV/VTTC cases in the Integrated Eligibility System (IES), and new policies regarding derivative family members (DFM) for VTTC cases and the verification of status for AATV/VTTC....

SummaryThe Manual Release (MR) #25.20 updates policies and procedures for medical PM/WAG relating to Asylum Applicants and Torture Victims (AATV) as well as Victims of Trafficking, Torture, or Other Serious Crimes (VTTC). The release outlines new procedures for processing AATV/VTTC cases in the Inte...

01/04/2026

Family Medicine and USCIS Medical Exam News – January 04, 2026

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released detailed instructions for panel physicians evaluating health status of immigrants or refugees applying for US status. The guidance is particularly aimed at identifying physical or mental disorders that could present harmful behaviors, or substance use disorders which could make an applicant inadmissible. The evaluation process will involve the identification and diagnosis of any mental or physical disorders, or substance use disorders....

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released detailed instructions for panel physicians evaluating health status of immigrants or refugees applying for US status. The guidance is particularly aimed at identifying physical or mental disorders that could present harmful behaviors,...

12/07/2025

Family Medicine and USCIS Medical Exam News – December 07, 2025

1. Public Charge Rule As of November 19, 2025, a new rule related to public charge has been proposed but it is not currently in effect. New Yorkers with questions about public charge can call MOIA's Immigration Legal Support hotline at 800-354-0365 for free and safe immigration legal help. The rule is focused on providing clarity for noncitizens on how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will administer the public charge ground of inadmissibility, which relates to the reasons a person could be denied a green card, visa, or admission into the United States because they are likely to become a public charge....

1. Public Charge RuleAs of November 19, 2025, a new rule related to public charge has been proposed but it is not currently in effect. New Yorkers with questions about public charge can call MOIA's Immigration Legal Support hotline at 800-354-0365 for free and safe immigration legal help.The rule is...

11/30/2025

Family Medicine and USCIS Medical Exam News – November 30, 2025

The Trump administration has issued a directive that could make it more difficult for foreigners with certain medical conditions or lack of financial resources to visit or live in the United States. This is part of a wider immigration crackdown from the administration, aiming to reduce the burden on U.S. taxpayers. The directive was issued in a cable from the State Department, which was obtained by The Associated Press....

The Trump administration has issued a directive that could make it more difficult for foreigners with certain medical conditions or lack of financial resources to visit or live in the United States. This is part of a wider immigration crackdown from the administration, aiming to reduce the burden on...

11/09/2025

The Trump administration has issued new guidelines that could potentially deny visas to foreigners who have certain medical conditions like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health conditions under the justification that they could become a potential drain on U.S. resources. This directive, issued from the State Department to embassy and consular officials, greatly expands the list of medical conditions to be considered during visa application and grants more decision-making power to visa officers....

The Trump administration has issued new guidelines that could potentially deny visas to foreigners who have certain medical conditions like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health conditions under the jus...

11/04/2025

The CDC has issued new complete technical instructions for panel physicians involved in evaluating individuals applying for immigrant or refugee status in the U.S. The instructions focus on how to address physical or mental disorders with associated harmful behaviors and substance use disorders. With these guidelines, a physician can evaluate and record findings from the medical examination, which is a crucial component in the immigration process....

The CDC has issued new complete technical instructions for panel physicians involved in evaluating individuals applying for immigrant or refugee status in the U.S. The instructions focus on how to address physical or mental disorders with associated harmful behaviors and substance use disorders. Wit...

10/19/2025

The Trump administration has announced an immediate revision to green card applications, mandating a renewed medical examination for all new permanent residency applications. The change is designed to ensure health-related admissibility and reduce the number of RFEs (Requests For Evidence)sent during the application process, thereby streamlining the process and reducing delays. Under the new guidelines, the medical examination form, known as the I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, must be redone and resubmitted if an application is withdrawn or a different immigration benefit is later filed....

The Trump administration has announced an immediate revision to green card applications, mandating a renewed medical examination for all new permanent residency applications. The change is designed to ensure health-related admissibility and reduce the number of RFEs (Requests For Evidence)sent durin...

10/12/2025

Starting June 11, 2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has revised its policy on medical examination forms, requiring all green card applicants to submit a fresh examination form, regardless of previous submissions. This modifies a policy introduced more than a year prior, which allowed the indefinite reuse of Form I-693, provided that it was completed and endorsed by a certified civil surgeon....

Starting June 11, 2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has revised its policy on medical examination forms, requiring all green card applicants to submit a fresh examination form, regardless of previous submissions. This modifies a policy introduced more than a year p...

10/05/2025

1. October 2025 Visa Bulletin Released: Important Actions to Take The October 2025 Visa Bulletin was released marking the start of the new fiscal year, and for many, a significant development in their green card applications. Those waiting for their employment-based green card can now either file their Adjustment of Status (I-485) or expect their pending cases to be approved if a visa number is available....

09/28/2025

1. The MR #25.20 Medical PM/WAG has implemented updates to Asylum Applicants and Torture Victims (AATV) and Victims of Trafficking, Torture or Other Serious Crimes (VTTC). New updates include clarification of state-funded medical services and federally funded Medicaid, and the introduction of new processing procedures for AATV/VTTC cases within IES. There have been recent changes to the eligibility criteria for state-funded VTTC benefits....

1. The MR #25.20 Medical PM/WAG has implemented updates to Asylum Applicants and Torture Victims (AATV) and Victims of Trafficking, Torture or Other Serious Crimes (VTTC). New updates include clarification of state-funded medical services and federally funded Medicaid, and the introduction of new pr...