Immigration Update! As of 9/1/21 the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS) has revised the laboratory screening test requirements for immigrants. Individuals who are applying for “adjustment of status” are subject to new screening criteria for syphilis (usually Rapid Plasma Reagin a.k.a. “RPR” test by blood) and gonorrhea (usually Nucleic Acid Amplification Test a.k.a. “NAAT” by urine) with some exceptions.  Under the new guidelines, applicants UNDER the age of 18 years (0-17) or over the age of 44 years (45 and older) do NOT require screening for EITHER disease. Applicants from age 18-24 years require testing for BOTH syphilis and gonorrhea. Applicants from age 25-44 years require screening ONLY for syphilis. The requirement for screening for tuberculosis (Interferon-Gamma Release Assay a.k.a. IGRA – QuantiFERON or T-SPOT.TB test by blood) remains UNCHANGED and is required of all applicants over the age of two (2) years. The Civil Surgeon cannot sign and date the Form I-693 (Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record) for immigrants until these screening requirements and any potential treatment requirements have been met.  Call us with any questions about this new screening schedule.