The mental health screening on the I-693 is a brief verbal interview, not a psychiatric evaluation. The Civil Surgeon asks about current symptoms and history. What’s reportable to USCIS is narrower than most applicants fear.
What USCIS considers a Class A mental disorder
A mental disorder is only Class A (inadmissible without a waiver) if it’s associated with harmful behavior — recent past or current — that has caused or is likely to cause harm to yourself, others, or property.
What is NOT reportable
- Past depression or anxiety that’s been treated and resolved
- Therapy or counseling that didn’t involve harmful behavior
- Antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication taken for non-harmful conditions
- Past hospitalization for non-violent reasons
Be honest
USCIS does not require you to disclose every counseling session. But you must be truthful about anything that’s specifically asked. Misrepresentation on the I-693 is a separate ground of inadmissibility — much more serious than the underlying condition would have been.
You can review what the rest of the visit involves on our I-693 exam service page.