Medical exam- when and where would you recommend?

[GnC2010 2]

I am Canadian, living in Calgary at the moment while we wait for my K3 Visa to come through. NOA1 April 8 from CSC.

I am wondering if I can get my medical exam done now or do I need to wait for the NOA2 or something else first?

And, can anyone recommend which city/Dr. to go to in Canada? It is my understanding there aren't any authorized doctors in Calgary anymore, so I am debating between Vancouver (closer) or Montreal (never been there and looks super cool).

Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this for me.

[Darnell 8,479]

If I were in your shoes, I'd review http://www.visajourney.com/news/2010/02/07/department-of-state-to-close-k-3-visas-if-i-129f-and-i-130-petitions-approved-and-received-together/

and then wait for NVC to do something, after that I-129F approval notice arrives (give it about 2 to 4 weeks after the approval notice from USCIS) .

When it's clear the K-3 is headed across the border to Canada, then that's a good sign to worry about the medical interview.

If you are hoping for a K-4 visa for any children - strongly suggest to yer USC spouse to file new I-130s on the children, soonish.

Good Luck !!

Edited August 26, 2010 by Darnell

[canadian_wife 1,831]

http://www.consular.canada.usembassy.gov/usa_immigration_medical_canada.pdf

Correct! There are only 4 doctors in Canada now, 1 in Vacouver, 1 in Toronto, and 2 in Montreal.

You cannot book your medical without a packet 3 for a K visa or your interview for your Cr-1. They won't take you unless you have one of those things.

Just so you know, expect your K-3 to be administratively closed at NVC - they've been doing that since Feb. of this year

Good luck

[missads 59]

I am Canadian, living in Calgary at the moment while we wait for my K3 Visa to come through. NOA1 April 8 from CSC.

...

Are you sure you have applied for a K-3 visa (Form I-129F)? Your time line indicates filing of only an I-130, which is for a IR-1/CR-1 visa

If you haven't filed the 129F, I wouldn't recommend doing it at this point. Your I-130 NOA1 date is already close to the current priority dates (March end - early April)

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/monthly_filers.php?visa=3&form=2&scenter=1&option=3&sortby=2

One thing you might want to work on is immunizations / vaccines ... you should be able to find the list of vaccines required at the Montreal embassy website.

[jken 2]

keep in mind when you file for your aos, that if your medical results are more than one year at that time, you will need to do it again in the us...so not too early before your interview date. correct me if i am wrong!

[soon2batexan 3]

I know Vancouver process K-1s, but I'm not sure about K-3s. My understanding is that you if you live in a province west of Manitoba, you'll be sent to Vancouver unless it's for a family-based immigrant visa (immediate relative such as spouse).

That's correct, you'll have to wait until you get your packet 3 from the Consulate to schedule your interview, but if you know where your case will be sent, you can check with the clinic to see what vaccinations are required. You can take care of those here in Calgary either at the community health centre of a travel clinic. I think for age 26 - 49, you need an updated MMR and Tdap shot. Woking Medical Clinic in Vancouver (www.wokingmedical.com) requires Adacel when you are vaccinated against tetanus as it contains a booster for pertussis. If you've already had a tetanus shot you won't need another one (for example, TD). Once you get your updated shots, you'll need a copy of your vaccination record. Usually the clinic can print one, but if not, you can call health link to request it.

Personally, given the distance, I'd recommend having your medical done in the same city you're interviewing in..it's easier that way. If your case gets sent to Vancouver, have your medical there. Same goes for Montreal. No sense traveling if you don't have to (I'm from Calgary as well, and recently made the trip to Van for my K-1 medical/interview).

All the best with everything!

[AB2CO 1]

I am also in Calgary, waiting for my CR-1 interview in Montreal.

As far as the medical goes, I had originally thought I would get my medical done in Montreal . . . just go out to Montreal a day or two before the interview.

But . . . it seems both the doctors in Montreal have a multi-day turn-around on getting the results back to you, while the BC doctor gets the results in your hand the same day. Since I can't afford to sit around in Montreal for about a week, I am going to do a daytrip to Vancouver when it's time to get my medical . . . fly into Vancouver on a Tuesday evening, get the medical done (they only schedule immigration medicals on Wednesday according to their website) and fly back home on Wednesday evening (with the results in hand). Still a pain to have to travel for the medical, but I'll miss a lot less work that way.

As soon2batexan mentions, you might want to get started on making sure your covered for all the required vaccinations . . . you'll need to take proof of the shots or blood tests to prove immunity.

[GnC2010 2]

Thank you to everyone for your replies.

Thank you for clarifying- it seems we filed for the CR1 visa, not the K3 as previously mentioned. My apologies for any confusion.

The idea of waiting to find out which city I will need to interview in totally makes sense. However, we have been told (by someone on the Military helpline) that it is unlikely I would need an interview since I am applying from out of country and we are already married... Does anyone have any info about that?

Also, thank you for the info about immunizations. I will look into that asap. Argh... no idea where my records are!

[Inky 1,111]

lol? you cant get the visa in your passport without an interview. You will be interviewing in montreal since you filed for a CR-1. Military helpline is only good for military help not general visa help.

[GnC2010 2]

I had a feeling that no interview thing was too good to be true lol. Thanks for the reality check.

[Inky 1,111]

I had a feeling that no interview thing was too good to be true lol. Thanks for the reality check.

Lol its ok, the military helpline knows some stuff but doesnt have accurate info on everything. We went back and forth with them quite a bit during our process. My husband delt with some pretty rude people at their call center too for being a help line for military people!

Interview is really not as scary as it seems either. Its pretty anti-climactic as well, no bells and whistles. A few easy questions and then a general answer by them taking your passport and saying you will get it in the mail in a few weeks.

[GnC2010 2]

Lol its ok, the military helpline knows some stuff but doesnt have accurate info on everything. We went back and forth with them quite a bit during our process. My husband delt with some pretty rude people at their call center too for being a help line for military people!

Interview is really not as scary as it seems either. Its pretty anti-climactic as well, no bells and whistles. A few easy questions and then a general answer by them taking your passport and saying you will get it in the mail in a few weeks.

Sorry to hear you had some rude people. Glad to hear about the interview.

[GnC2010 2]

I am also in Calgary, waiting for my CR-1 interview in Montreal.

As far as the medical goes, I had originally thought I would get my medical done in Montreal . . . just go out to Montreal a day or two before the interview.

But . . . it seems both the doctors in Montreal have a multi-day turn-around on getting the results back to you, while the BC doctor gets the results in your hand the same day. Since I can't afford to sit around in Montreal for about a week, I am going to do a daytrip to Vancouver when it's time to get my medical . . . fly into Vancouver on a Tuesday evening, get the medical done (they only schedule immigration medicals on Wednesday according to their website) and fly back home on Wednesday evening (with the results in hand). Still a pain to have to travel for the medical, but I'll miss a lot less work that way.

As soon2batexan mentions, you might want to get started on making sure your covered for all the required vaccinations . . . you'll need to take proof of the shots or blood tests to prove immunity.

Hi AB2CO: How long have you waited/will you have to wait for your interview? I note the average is 4 months or so...

[AB2CO 1]

Hi AB2CO: How long have you waited/will you have to wait for your interview? I note the average is 4 months or so...

We filed the I-130 in mid-November 2009, got to "case complete" at the NVC on June 28 2010 . . . and the waiting began . . .

It appears folks that reached case complete earlier this year (up to about mid-April?) were getting interview dates about 8 - 10 weeks after their case complete date. After that, things seem to have ground to a halt . . . there are several folks with case complete dates earlier than mine that are still waiting to have an interview date assigned (and according to the NVC, September interviews have already been set). So if I get an October interview, it will be nearly 4 months between case complete and the interview, about 11 months from filing to interview.

Hopefully Montreal will start to make some progress on what I hear is chronic slowness that has turned into a virtual standstill, and your wait will be shorter.

[GnC2010 2]

We filed the I-130 in mid-November 2009, got to "case complete" at the NVC on June 28 2010 . . . and the waiting began . . .

It appears folks that reached case complete earlier this year (up to about mid-April?) were getting interview dates about 8 - 10 weeks after their case complete date. After that, things seem to have ground to a halt . . . there are several folks with case complete dates earlier than mine that are still waiting to have an interview date assigned (and according to the NVC, September interviews have already been set). So if I get an October interview, it will be nearly 4 months between case complete and the interview, about 11 months from filing to interview.

Hopefully Montreal will start to make some progress on what I hear is chronic slowness that has turned into a virtual standstill, and your wait will be shorter.

Oh wow, I am very sorry to hear that (both for you and for me)! Prior to learning about this site just last week, my hubby and I had the (blind) hope that I could be moving down there in late September. Ignorance really is bliss. I have learned so much here the last few days, which is helpful, overwhelming, and crushing. We have already been apart for 13 months due to some logistical issues prior to our wedding. Anyways, thank you for the info, and good luck with your case.