I-693 Processing During Shutdown: USCIS Accepts with I-485

(UNITED STATES) U.S. immigration processing will not grind to a halt if Congress fails to fund the government. USCIS remains operational because the agency is funded primarily by application fees, and that includes accepting and processing the Immigration Medical Examination, Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, even during a shutdown.

The agency continues core work on adjustment of status, maintains intake of applications, and moves cases forward with reduced staff as needed. That means applicants who plan Form I-693 submission alongside an adjustment filing can still deliver their paperwork and expect it to move through the system. At the same time, applicants should be prepared for slowdowns linked to other parts of the federal government that may pause. Those dependencies do not block the acceptance or processing of the medical exam itself, but they can slow the overall journey.

Key policy changes and timelines

• Starting December 2, 2024, Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status to reduce holdups. USCIS is urging an I-485 concurrent package that includes the sealed medical form so an officer does not have to issue a later request.
• According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, filing both forms together helps limit back-and-forth mail and cuts down on timeline risk that can stretch cases for months. This is especially helpful when a government shutdown creates ripple effects elsewhere, because the medical exam will already be on file.
• Medical exams signed on or after November 1, 2023, are valid indefinitely. This update means most people do not need to redo a medical or reprint a new form because of processing delays that are outside their control.

These changes together reduce wasted effort and costs, and they lower stress for applicants who are trying to time their filings when the federal schedule looks uncertain.

What USCIS will (and won’t) do during a shutdown

• Because USCIS is fee-funded, its core operations continue even if a shutdown occurs.
• The agency keeps intake channels open and case processing in progress, including accepting and processing petitions, applications, and requests.
• Sealed Form I-693 envelopes that reach the agency are still logged, scanned, and matched to a case. In the adjustment setting, having the medical in hand clears one essential check before a green card can be issued.

However:

• Some immigration-linked systems depend on other agencies that may not operate during a shutdown. For example, the Department of Labor may pause certain functions, and E-Verify often goes offline.
• Those stoppages can affect employment-related steps outside USCIS and may lead to potential delays in the full path to permanent residence. They do not, however, change USCIS’s ability to accept or process Form I-693.

Important takeaway: USCIS continues to take in and process Form I-693 during a shutdown, and the medical exam remains part of the case file used by officers to make decisions.

Filing strategy and practical advice

If you’re deciding whether to file now or wait, consider these points:

• Submitting the medical exam with the adjustment package remains a sound choice. The December 2, 2024 rule means USCIS expects the Form I-693 to be included with Form I-485.
• Filing both together helps avoid a Request for Evidence that might arrive during a period of slower processing.
• Because medicals signed on or after November 1, 2023 do not expire, applicants have much more flexibility:
  • If you finish the exam before filing, include it with the I-485 concurrent filing.
  • If you already filed and need to add the medical, you can send it under USCIS acceptance rules without fear it will lapse during review.
• USCIS officers continue core tasks — preparing decisions where the record is complete, opening mail, scanning forms, and placing documents into case files — even with reduced staffing.

Checklist for applicants (what to do now)

1. Confirm the medical exam is signed on or after November 1, 2023, so it has indefinite validity.
2. Prepare an I-485 concurrent packet that includes the sealed Form I-693 to meet the December 2, 2024 requirement.
3. Expect USCIS to accept and process the medical during a shutdown, even if other agencies pause parts of their systems.
4. Anticipate some slowdown in overall timelines due to inter-agency dependencies, while knowing the medical itself remains in play.

Impact on applicants, employers, and legal service providers

• For individuals: The policy package provides clarity — you can still file, and your medical is unlikely to be rejected or returned simply because of a funding lapse.
• For employers: Pauses in E-Verify or Department of Labor functions can affect employment checks, but they do not stop USCIS from handling medical exams or accepting a complete adjustment packet.
• For legal teams and community groups: The focus should be on educating applicants about:
  • USCIS remains operational during a shutdown and keeps processing Form I-693.
  • Starting December 2, 2024, the medical must be filed with Form I-485.
  • Medicals signed on or after November 1, 2023, are valid indefinitely.
  • Some delays are likely because other agencies may pause services, but USCIS acceptance and processing of medicals continues.

Practical filing considerations during a shutdown

• Keep copies of delivery confirmations for any package that includes the medical and adjustment forms.
• Reduced staffing can stretch response times for status checks; delivery records provide peace of mind and help attorneys coordinate.
• If you have a complete filing, sending it gives USCIS what it needs to keep progressing your case; waiting often increases timeline risk.
• Be realistic about response speed: USCIS may work with fewer staff and other agencies may pause, so plan for slower processing.

Official resources

For forms and official filing instructions, consult U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services:
– U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
– Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
– Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

Final summary

The combination of USCIS’s fee-funded operations, the December 2, 2024 same-time filing requirement, and the indefinite validity for medicals signed on or after November 1, 2023 creates a stable path forward during funding uncertainty.

• Submit a complete I-485 concurrent packet with the sealed Form I-693 when possible.
• Keep delivery records and plan for potential slowdowns outside USCIS.
• Know that a properly signed medical exam from on or after November 1, 2023 remains valid and will be accepted and processed by USCIS even during a shutdown.

VisaVerge.com reports this approach aims to keep adjustment cases moving with fewer interruptions, helping families, employers, and legal service providers navigate periods of budget uncertainty with greater confidence.