Since Dec. 9, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services modified one of the requirements for migrants to access green cards, which according to lawyers was causing many complications for those who wished to begin the process.

 

This new change is due to the fact that during the first years of the Trump administration a rule known as the '60-day rule' was imposed. Any person applying for permanent residence in the United States must submit a Form I-693, in which a doctor certified by the U.S. government must sign a certification indicating that, after a thorough examination of the person, the migrant does not have any illness that would invalidate him or her from remaining in U.S. territory. In addition, the government requires proof of full immunization. 

 

The 60-day rule indicated that such a form was only valid if the doctor had signed it exclusively during the 60 days prior to the evaluation of the residency application papers.

 

As just announced by the Biden administration, this rule will no longer be valid, and will remain so until at least Sept. 30, 2022.

"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related processing delays, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has experienced delays in all aspects of its operations. We understand that applicants have also experienced complications beyond their control, including delays in completing the immigration medical form," reads the announcement of the new rule on the official USCIS website.

 

"To address these problems, USCIS is temporarily lifting the requirement that the physician must have signed the I-693 form within 60 days before the immigrant submits the documentation," the statement adds.

 

The new rule that went into effect indicates that the form is valid for two years from the time a physician signs it to continue the process.