The Immigrant Visa Interview and the Medical Examination

Applying for a Visa after Winning the Green Card Lottery

The registration for the Green Card Lottery is only the first step in the process to coming to the United States to live as a permanent resident.

After applicants find out whether or not they have won the Green Card Lottery they can then apply for their visa. The visa application process is very much similar to the process for any other type of permanent resident visa.

The application is to be submitted and then there will be an interview with an immigration officer to determine the suitability of the applicant for a Green Card.

When Does the Interview Occur?

The interview for a Green Card occurs after the visa application has been submitted and the form fee has been paid.

The interview is normally scheduled and is conducted at a consulate or embassy nearby where the applicant lives. If the applicant is currently in the United States, they can do their interview at a USCIS center.

A mandatory medical examination must be conducted at some point in the process to make sure that the applicant is healthy enough to not bring undue costs on the American health system.

What to Expect During the Medical Examination

The medical examination is effectively a basic checkup where a doctor examines the applicant’s current health and health history. These doctors are designated by the United States Department of State. Applicants can find a list of these doctors on the DoS website. Other doctors cannot be used for a visa application medical examination.

There are a number of vaccinations which must be taken in order to be admitted into the United States. The vaccinations are:

  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Influenza and Influenza type b
  • Measles
  • Meningococcal
  • Mumps
  • Pneumococcal
  • Pertussis
  • Polio
  • Rotavirus
  • Rubella
  • Tetanus
  • Varicella

If the applicant does not have medical records recording these vaccinations, they may have to be re-administered. Waivers for these vaccinations are typically only given if there is a medical reason for not administering the vaccine.

Applicants will be expected to provide their passport and the visa appointment letter to the doctor at the time of the examination.

Other tests that may be conducted include:

  • Chest x-ray photography
  • Mental health review
  • Syphilis blood tests
  • Tuberculosis tests

While the doctor is administering a certain kind of physical examination, they are under no obligation to fully examine the applicant. They do not need to, and probably will not, address any other medical issues other than those pertaining to what is required by U.S. immigration law.