| 19. | What is a ‘communicable disease of public health significance’? |
| | | | | A ‘communicable disease of public health significance’ is defined in the HHS regulations that cover
the required medical exam for immigration purposes and includes the following nine infectious medical conditions: | | | | | |
| • | Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) |  |
| • | Tuberculosis (TB) | |
| • | Leprosy | | | •
| Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) | | | • |
Syphilis (infectious state) | | | • |
Chancroid (STD, similar to syphilis and herpes) | | | • |
Gonorrhea | | | • | Granuloma inguinale (STD, donovanosis) |
| | • | Lymphogranuloma (STD, chlamydia) |
| | | | | | Note: Most communicable diseases are easily treatable.
If the medical tests are positive for a communicable disease, the Civil Surgeon will recommend a course of treatment. Some medical conditions are not easily treatable. However, you may still receive Adjustment of Status by filing a waiver application. |
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| 20. | How can I apply for a medical waiver? | | | | | |
The waiver may be granted according to the terms and conditions (which can include posting a bond) determined necessary by the USCIS in consultation with public health officials, based on the nature of the medical condition. | | | |
| | | • | If you are applying for Adjustment of Status in the U.S., you must file Form
I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Excludability, including payment of fee, with the USCIS office considering your Adjustment of Status application | | | •
| If you are applying for an immigrant visa at a U.S. Consular post abroad, you must submit your waiver application to the Consular post that is considering your immigrant visa application. The Consular post will send your waiver application to the overseas USCIS office in that jurisdiction for a decision. If you are applying for
admission as a Refugee, or for Adjustment of Status at least one year following your initial admission as a Refugee or the grant of Asylum, you may be granted a waiver for humanitarian reasons, to assure family unity, or when it is otherwise in the public interest. You must file Form I-602, Application by Refugee for Waiver of Ground of Excludability, but you are not required to pay a fee. |
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