logo
What is USCIS's new policy for green card applicants starting from 11 June? Here's a rundown

What is USCIS's new policy for green card applicants starting from 11 June? Here's a rundown

Hindustan Times12-06-2025
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reversed a recent policy regarding medical examination forms required for green card applicants.
What does the new policy say? Effective 11 June 2025, all new green card applications must include a fresh medical examination form, regardless of whether the applicant had submitted one previously.
The agency's latest update replaces a policy introduced just over a year ago, which had allowed applicants to reuse Form I-693—the 'Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record'—indefinitely, as long as it was properly filled out and signed by a certified civil surgeon.
ALSO READ| 'Won't tolerate visa abuse,' says US after video of handcuffed Indian student goes viral
'Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, signed by a civil surgeon on or after Nov. 1, 2023, is only valid while the application the Form I-693 was submitted with is pending,' the USCIS said in its statement.
'If the application a Form I-693 was submitted with is withdrawn or denied, that Form I-693 is no longer valid. This guidance is effective immediately and applies to applications pending or filed on or after June 11, 2025.'
It details that if a green card application is denied or withdrawn, the accompanying medical form cannot be reused. Any subsequent application will now require a new medical examination and an updated I-693 form.
'Most aliens subject to health-related grounds of inadmissibility must have an immigration medical examination to demonstrate they are not inadmissible,' USCIS added.
'In general, aliens applying to adjust status must submit Form I-693 to show they are free from any conditions that would render them inadmissible under the health-related grounds of inadmissibility. We may require an alien who would otherwise not be required to undergo an immigration medical examination to submit a Form I-693 as a matter of discretion, if the evidence indicates that there may be a public health concern.'
The now-revoked April 2024 guidance had made the validity of Form I-693 indefinite. 'We have since determined that the April 4, 2024, policy is overly broad and could potentially threaten public health in the United States,' USCIS said.
ALSO READ| Donald Trump launches $5 million immigration 'gold card' visa signup site
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Greenhouse gases aren't harmful? Donald Trump administration likely to make shocking announcement
Greenhouse gases aren't harmful? Donald Trump administration likely to make shocking announcement

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Greenhouse gases aren't harmful? Donald Trump administration likely to make shocking announcement

President Donald Trump 's administration is preparing to upend a foundational scientific determination about the harms of greenhouse gases that underpins the US government's ability to curb climate change. A proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to change the so-called "Endangerment Finding" was sent to the White House on June 30, a spokesperson told AFP. An announcement is expected imminently. Here's what to know -- and what's at stake if the finding is overturned. What is the Endangerment Finding? Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Healthcare Cybersecurity Artificial Intelligence Management Data Science MBA Degree Project Management Public Policy Design Thinking PGDM healthcare Others Leadership others Product Management Data Analytics Digital Marketing Technology MCA CXO Finance Data Science Operations Management Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis in Healthcare Financial Management & Investing Strategic Management in Healthcare Process Design & Analysis Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Program in Healthcare Management Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details The Clean Air Act of 1970 empowered the EPA to regulate "air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare." For decades, the law applied to pollutants like lead, ozone and soot. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Costco Shoppers Say This Fat-Burning Patch Triggers Weight Loss "Unlike Any Other" Health Advice Today Undo But as climate science around the dangers of heat-trapping greenhouse gases advanced in the 2000s, a coalition of states and nonprofit groups petitioned the EPA to include them under the law, focusing on motor vehicles. The issue reached the Supreme Court, which in 2007 ruled that greenhouse gases qualify as air pollutants and directed the EPA to revisit its stance. Live Events That led to the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which declared greenhouse gases a threat to public health and welfare, based on overwhelming scientific consensus and peer-reviewed research. "That 2009 finding formed the basis for all of EPA's subsequent regulations," Meredith Hankins, a senior attorney on climate and energy for the activist Natural Resources Defense Council, told AFP. "They've issued greenhouse gas standards for tailpipe emissions from motor vehicles, smokestack emissions from power plants -- all of these individual rulemakings trace themselves back to the 2009 Endangerment Finding." What is the Trump administration doing? The Endangerment Finding has withstood multiple legal challenges, and although Trump's first administration considered reversing it, they ultimately held back. But the finding is now a direct target of Project 2025, a far-right governance blueprint closely followed by the administration. In March, the EPA under Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a formal reconsideration of the finding. "The Trump Administration will not sacrifice national prosperity, energy security, and the freedom of our people for an agenda that throttles our industries, our mobility, and our consumer choice while benefiting adversaries overseas," he said. The government is expected to undo the earlier finding that greenhouse gases endanger public welfare. It will argue that the economic costs of regulation have been undervalued -- and downplay the role of US motor vehicle emissions in climate change. In fact, transportation is the largest source of US greenhouse gas emissions. Since 1970, the United States has emitted more vehicle-based greenhouse gases than the next nine countries combined, according to an analysis by the Institute for Policy Integrity that will soon be published in full. FAQs Q1. Who is President of USA? A1. President of USA is Donald Trump. Q2. Which is largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in US? A2. The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in US is transportation

India's children face health risks as tariff-free British junk food enters market under new FTA
India's children face health risks as tariff-free British junk food enters market under new FTA

Economic Times

time4 hours ago

  • Economic Times

India's children face health risks as tariff-free British junk food enters market under new FTA

India-Britain FTA, announced on Thursday, will allow tariff-free entry for British food and drink, such as chocolate, gingerbread, sweet biscuits, soft drinks and non-alcoholic beer. Another FTA with four EU nations also indicates that chocolates will be cheaper to enter India. This is bad news for the health of India's children. Cheap Britain-made food products, which are likely to be high in fat/sugar/salt (HFSS), could now flood the Indian market and fuel the rapidly growing market of ultra-processed food products. It means consumption of unhealthy diets would increase when India is grappling with a surge in childhood obesity, diabetes and other diet-related NCDs. Aggressive marketing of HFSS products is fuelling obesity. Between 2006 and 2019, the per-capita consumption of such products rose by nearly 50 times. Earlier this year, Narendra Modi launched an anti-obesity campaign, asking people to reduce oil consumption by 10%. This must now be backed by strong regulation on marketing, including mandatory front-of-pack warning labels on HFSS food products. Further, a clearly worded law must restrict advertisements of HFSS foods. In the 1990s, Mexico signed Nafta with the US. Without safeguards, it led to an explosion of sugary drinks and processed foods, ushering in a wave of obesity and diabetes that haunts the country to this day. Mexican health experts call it their 'Nafta moment'. India can't afford to repeat this regulations are not only focusing on labelling but also on marketing restrictions, especially to protect children. While Britain exports HFSS food products to India, it uses traffic light labels, restricts HFSS marketing, and will enforce a 9 PM TV and online ad ban from October. The EU is strengthening its food labelling and marketing restrictions, especially for children. Britain aims to reduce children's exposure to unhealthy food promotion. Chile, Mexico, Brazil and Israel have implemented strong front-of-pack warning sharp contrast, India has no mandatory warning label, and the food industry enjoys the freedom of advertising, partly because of weak laws that are open to interpretation. Cartoon mascots or health claims on unhealthy food products, sponsorships of school or sporting events by food/drink product companies, and unrestricted celebrity endorsements of HFSS products are common occurrences. This is not just a policy gap, it's an equity why the hesitation in India?The science is clear. The PM has spoken. Yet, regulatory action is still caught between industry resistance and bureaucratic delay. The question isn't whether we can do it, it's whether we will. The Supreme Court has also spoken about food labelling and its glaring gaps as the judges asked: 'You all have grandchildren? What are you feeding them? The packets have no information.'The PM has given a moral nudge. The apex court has given a legal one. The Economic Survey has offered the economic rationale. Technically, GoI's dietary guidelines for Indians make this case strong the country needs the health ministry to act boldly. Because if India doesn't lead on this now, it will be our children who pay the price, bite by bite. The writer is convenor, Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Can Chyawanprash save Dabur in the age of Shark-Tank startups? Piaggio sues former employee for 'Coldplay' reference on CEO Why Air India could loom large on its biggest rival IndiGo's Q1 results Can medicines inject the vitamins Amazon is missing? How India's oil arbitrage has hit the European sanctions wall Stock Radar: Bajaj Finance breaks out from falling supply trendline; likely to hit fresh highs above Rs 1,000 Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus These large- and mid-cap stocks can give more than 25% return in 1 year, according to analysts For investors with patience & cash: 6 large-caps with strong balance sheets & big TAM; and an upside potential of more than 24%

India's 8 Tropic of Cancer States every traveller must explore; from Gujarat to Meghalaya
India's 8 Tropic of Cancer States every traveller must explore; from Gujarat to Meghalaya

Time of India

time5 hours ago

  • Time of India

India's 8 Tropic of Cancer States every traveller must explore; from Gujarat to Meghalaya

For those who don't know, the Tropic of Cancer is among the five prime circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. In India, the Tropic of Cancer passes through eight Indian states, and it holds a major geographical and climatic importance. The Tropic of Cancer passes through Gujarat (West), Rajasthan (North), Madhya Pradesh (Central), Chhattisgarh (Central), Jharkhand (East), West Bengal (East), Tripura (North East), and Mizoram (North East). Gujarat Not many must be aware of the fact that Gujarat is the entry point of the Tropic of Cancer in India and passes near Amreli and Rajkot. This is the reason why Gujarat's has a hot semi-arid to arid climate. Rajasthan The Tropic of Cancer passes through southern Rajasthan. The line passed through parts of Dungarpur and Banswara districts. These regions experience extreme temperatures. The summers are extremely hot while winters are quite cool. Madhya Pradesh The line crosses through central Madhya Pradesh, including districts such as Ujjain, Ratlam, and Shajapur. The passage of the Tropic contributes to a mix of tropical wet and dry climate zones. Chhattisgarh The Tropic of Cancer passes through northern Chhattisgarh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo It also crosses Korba and Surguja districts. The region experiences moderate to warm weather conditions. The state also experiences heavy rainfall during the monsoon because of this geographical feature. Jharkhand The Tropic of Cancer enters Jharkhand near Kanke, close to Ranchi. It is a fact that Ranchi is almost exactly on the Tropic of Cancer. This is the reason why the place has a subtropical weather condition. West Bengal The Tropic of Cancer passes through Purulia, Bankura, and Nadia in West Bengal. These regions experience humid subtropical climates. The summer temperatures are extremely high. Tripura The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of Tripura. The city of Udaipur is the closest to the Tropic of Cancer in India. It passes exactly through the capital city, Agartala. It is one of the northeastern states with a moist tropical climate. Mizoram The line of Tropic of Cancer passes through another northeastern state which is Mizoram. It crosses through southern Mizoram, influencing the lush hilly terrain and tropical monsoon climate. Despite being close to the tropics, the elevation provides milder temperatures.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store