DSM-5 Diagnostic Codes and ICD-10 Codes Useful in Completing the USCIS Form N-648

Oct 14, 2026

Guidance for medical providers completing USCIS Form N-648, the Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, for naturalization applicants seeking a disability exemption from English and/or civics requirements. Explains the linkage between DSM-5 descriptors and ICD-10 diagnostic codes, emphasizing that physicians must document techniques used, test results, provider conclusions, and provide a DSM descriptor and/or ICD code. Includes a curated list of ICD-10/DSM-referenced conditions relevant to N-648.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

Overview

Purpose of Form N-648

DSM-5 and ICD-10 Relationship

ICD-10/DSM Diagnostic Code List

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Communication Disorders

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

Depressive Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Sleep-Wake Disorders

Somatization Disorder

Major and Mild Neurocognitive Disorders

DSM-5 Diagnostic Codes and ICD-10 Codes Useful in Completing the USCIS Form N-648 Form N-648, the Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, provides an opportunity for naturalization applicants who have a physical, developmental, or mental health disability to naturalize without meeting the English and/or civics requirements. This information is intended to help medical providers complete the USCIS Form N-648 Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions. Advisories from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center give more detailed information about filling out N-648 and the relationship between DSM and the WHO’s International Classification of Disease (ICD-10) “…medical professionals must explain in detail how they used appropriate techniques to establish the impairment including the test they used, the results of the test, and the medical provider’s conclusion drawn from the test results. Form N-648 also requires the diagnosis itself. For mental impairments, doctors must provide a DSM descriptor and/or ICD code, or an explanation of why the code cannot be provided. The “DSM” means the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and current in its fifth edition (DSM-5) . For diagnostic purposes, physicians use diagnosis codes from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, published by the World Health Organization, and usually called the International Classification of Diseases, or ICD. The current edition is ICD-10. The DSM-5 does not have its own diagnostic codes but rather directs to ICD codes, based on the DSM diagnosis.” ( Excerpt: “Assisting Applicants Who have Disabilities by Using Form N-648 Understanding the Disability Exception” Practice Advisory by Melissa Rodgers, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, May 2018 ) Immigrant Legal Resource Center has 2 practice advisories which review the criteria for the N-648 and addresses how medical providers can complete a successful N-648 for naturalization applicants, and covers procedural issues relating to completing and submitting Form N-648. The first practice advisory reviews the criteria for the disability exception. The second practice advisory describes how to complete Form N-648, as well as the procedure for submitting the form. Both advisories available at: Using Form N-648 to Assist Naturalization Applicants with Disabilities Michigan Immigrant Rights Center has produced a 5 min video (posted on YouTube) about what medical professionals need to know: “Citizenship and Disability Video for Medical Professionals” on completing the N-648. It’s a good overview of what the form is looking for: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA8VmbpNock](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA8VmbpNock) [The list below of ICD-10 codes/DSM include select medical conditions useful in completing the N-648.](The list below of ICD-10 codes/DSM include select medical conditions useful in completing the N-648.) Neurodevelopmental Disorders Intellectual Disabilities (formerly Mental Retardation) F70 Mild intellectual disabilities F71 Moderate intellectual disabilities F72 Severe intellectual disabilities F73 Profound intellectual disabilities F78 Other intellectual disabilities F79 Unspecified intellectual disabilities R41 .83 Borderline intellectual functioning Specific Learning Disorders F81 .0 Specific learning disorder, with impairment in reading F81 .81 Specific learning disorder, with impairment in written expression Communication Disorders F80.2 Language disorder F80 .9 Unspecified Communication Disorder Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders F88 Other Specified Neurodevelopmental Disorder F89 Unspecified Neurodevelopmental Disorder Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders Depressive Disorders F32 .9 Major Depressive DO, Single episode, Unspecified F33.9 Major Depressive DO, Recurrent episode, Unspecified F34 .1 Persistent Depres

FAQs

What is USCIS Form N-648 used for?

USCIS Form N-648 is a medical certification that helps disability-based naturalization applicants request an exception from English and/or civics requirements.

How do DSM-5 and ICD-10 relate when completing N-648?

N-648 requires a DSM descriptor and/or an ICD code for mental impairments. DSM-5 itself does not supply its own diagnostic codes and points to ICD codes, which use the current ICD-10 edition.

What information must medical professionals provide in support of an N-648 diagnosis?

Medical professionals must explain the appropriate techniques used to establish the impairment, including the test used, test results, and the provider’s conclusion. The diagnosis itself is also required, with justification if a code cannot be provided.

Oct 14, 2026

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