It was not a pleasant experience. Nobody paused to let me ask a question - in fact the examining doctor actually cut me off in the middle of a sentence several times, not to mention that she was totally cold and unfriendly the entire time - and I was rushed around from start to finish and was snapped at by everybody I saw if I asked for clarification or just misheard. Worst of all, because I admitted to self-harm as a teenager, I now have to see a psychiatrist before my case can be forwarded to the embassy. I never saw a doctor about this because I don't like doctors and I've had bad experiences with them all through my life; they look at me like a specimen in a petri dish and talk to me like I'm mentally impaired. I feel so overwhelmingly negative about this now. I feel like we're going to be denied. I have an appointment with a psychiatrist on Monday, but I doubt he'll write me the letter and I really can't afford to see him more than once; I don't make a lot of money. What I'm worried about is that I'll have to go into my past medical history; I saw a psychiatrist a few times in my teens just for general angst, and I was never clinically depressed, but according to my GP this guy wrote in my files that I had an alcohol problem, 'even by UK standards', because I, quote, 'enjoyed being drunk and drank faster than my friends'. Which is utterly ridiculous - I've been drunk no more than three times in my entire life and haven't had more than a few beers in the last five years. But of course nobody will believe me. If that surfaces, it looks I lied about the alcohol abuse question. And even if it doesn't, why would this independent psychiatrist write me a letter stating I'm unlikely to self-harm again when he barely knows me?

Please give me some hope, guys, this is the worst I've felt in years. I thought I'd put all this behind me and I'm having to drag it up and relive it all over again.

Just a thought- Is there another Civil Surgeon in your area? Or another one that won't be too much of a hassle to travel to?

I'm wondering if you can make an appointment elsewhere and not bring up some of the things you shouldn't bring up. Then take the results from the new Doctor to your Interview.

Well I don't have to bring up the other psychiatrist visits anyway; they're not related to the self-harm, which was the result of a traumatic family event and not a mental disorder, I just feel like he'll want to see my past records and then drag in all this irrelevant stuff that's going to harm our case. We've been so lucky so far; our I-129F was approved in three weeks - the fastest I've ever seen, and a week after that I had packet 3. Now it seems like it will be for nothing.

For those getting their visas via the UK embassy, the only surgery contracted to do medicals on the embassy's behalf are knightsbridge doctors so visiting another medical practice and bringing their results would not be accepted. Also Kn ightsbridge do not give you your results to take along to your interview rather they send them direct to the Immigrant Visa Unit at the embassy. So I'm afraid your suggestion wouldn't be viable in the OP's case and might rather bring up a red flag by presenting conflicting medical results from that which the embassy has already received.

Barrel-roll, you might want to do a search for previous threads. I'm sure that there has been previous cases of VJ'ers who have been through similar. I know that there have been numerous cases of people suffering from depression and it might be that some of them where referred to see a therapist if they were not already on treatment for it.

The main thing they will want from you is a statement from a psychiatrist that you are no longer a threat to harm yourself or anyone else. As long as you can produce that, you should be OK. I don't believe that they ask for your previous medical records. Try not to panic and definiltely research the threads here on VJ as there have been others with situations similar to yours. Good luck!

Off topic 3 weeks sounds awesome Hope you wont have any troubles due to the psychiatrist visit

But how do I convince someone of that who I've never met before and only intend to visit once? This is the problem.

Has anyone else ever had a one-off consultation and managed to get this letter without references from their GP or medical records? I have the letter from Knightsbridge to give him.

Yes. Search the forum for it.

You just go in and tell the doc you were young and foolish, thinking that whatever it was that was bothering you was so horrible that hurting youself seemed appropriate. But then you realized the error of your ways and would never do such a thing ever again. It shouldn't be that hard to obtain. But do search the forum as I am certain you can finds posts from others in similar situations who can relate specific experiences. It will be worth the effort!

I self harmed when i was a teenager. I was told i would need to see a psych. I arranged to go see one privately, he wrote a report based on what i told him (the truth) and he faxed it to the doctors. The only thing the lady at the consulate asked me was " i guess we all have something hard happen to us at sometime in our life hey" and that was it. I got my visa. Good Luck.

It's standard practice at the UK medical to have to see a psychiatrist if you admit to suicidal thoughts, self harm and a variety of other reasons. There are quite a few members in the UK forum who have had to do this, Linababe being one whose name I can remember (hope she doesn't mind me mentioning her name ). They've all come through it fine so I shouldn't think you have anything to worry about.

I never drank or was suicidal so i can not advise you on that, sorry.

Thanks, guys, this is all very encouraging. I have actually read and re-read every thread pertaining to self-harm, suicide attempts, the medical and visa refusals in the forum - particularly tigretigre's case, which seemed very similar to mine - but a lot of times people post general information rather than specifics. I'm happy to hear that you only had to go once, Lizzy. If you don't mind, could you PM me some information about what your appointment was like so I know what to expect and what I might be asked?

no advice for me to give but I wish you the best of luck! Keep your chin up!

Thank you

If anyone reading this saw a psychiatrist in London, could you leave his name and possibly a contact number in this thread? My appointment is with Dr. Robin E. Lawrence on Harley Street. Anyone had any experience with this guy?

I don't have any advice to give on this either but good luck at the appt!

Like some others have said - i really have no experience to offer but would encourage you to pursue every available road and not to give up!

Good luck and positive thoughts for you.

I just got back in. The appointment was totally fine; he was really nice and seemed satisfied that I'm no threat. He told me he'd be dictating the letter today and that it should be with Knightsbridge by next week. So hopefully that's it - I've passed the medical.

Congratulations

Yep, it sounds all set! I'm glad it turned out there was nothing to be too worried about.

Yay for you

Hope that sorts it out for you. Looks like the doctor for Knightsbridge was just being way overcautious, someone properly trained could see there was no problem at all!

Thanks guys. I just hope the medical stuff is behind me now. This was the one part of the process I was most afraid of. I'll keep you all posted.

Things definitely look better! Thanks for the update.

Now, if you would be so kind as to complete your timeline, it would be very much appreciated! We loves stats here on VJ!! Thanks!

Thanks for letting me know, told you it would be ok, hope i was of some help to you.

Just to let you guys know and to ease the mind of anyone who goes through this in the future, they accepted the psychiatrist's letter and approved my medical early this week.

Excellent news!