Previous Alcohol Dependancy / Mental Health Issues

[goldylox 0]

I feel really sad that i have to write this, and bare my soul to all on VJ and make myself vulnerable. This is what is now keeping me awake and making me trawl the internet to find the answers. Just been reading up on stuff and feeling like there will be no hope now. I am just waiting for my case to be closed and next step my medical. I have just sent in my daughters I130 as well. Here goes....

I have been in Alcoholics Anoymous for 17 years. I had a relapse for a few months about 7 years ago and a bit of a breakdown due to the fact my partner was killed in a car crash. I have been on Anti depressants since then. I have been sober again for nearly 6 years. SO in my medical files it will probably say all this. My doctor at my last visit recommended that i come off the anti depressants because he felt i was better. I am sure he would have no trouble writing a letter to this effect saying that i am of no harm to myself or anyone else.

I attend meetings regulary i have a sponser who is a qualified counsellor who has helped me over the past 6 years. I also work in forensic mental health as a keyworker/holistic therapist. My boss is more than happy to do me a character reference stating that i manage the service on occassions. I work alongside Psychiatrists, Psych nurses ect. I have a secure 6 year work history.

My daughter also has a bit of history she got drunk, took an overdose and self harmed when she was 16 and admitted to hospital because she was a minor to have a Psych assesment. I attended a few days later to see a social worker and Psychiatrist and they discharged her saying she was ok. She had gone through being bullied at school. She is now 18 and doing well. She actually said to me that she did feel unhappy and it all seemed like a good idea at the time, and learned that doing that was not a good way to move forward. She rarely drinks now and got 13 GCSE's.

I hope someone can help me. I am virtually tearing my hair out and thinking its all over now....... There is no way i am ever gonna get to my husband. And its been quite emotional writing all this because its all in the past, and i live positively and in the solution now.

[Boiler 45,660]

I do not see a problem.

[Blessing+faith 1]

Dont stress,there is nothing to worry about, you can't use that physician they will give you a list on the Immigrent visa website where you will go when the time comes, all you need to do is be HONEST and take all the letters with that you mentioned above, and have a little faith...good luck

[goldylox 0]

Thank you for your reassurance guys .... i was reading sooooo much negative stuff about denials and waivers and hardship stories it made me really really panic.... I just pray it all goes well ..

[goldylox 0]

i just found this and thought i would post it incase anyone else out there finds this post.... I found it on Immigration Lawyers Cavanaugh Law website dated August 2010, and please correct it if it is wrong. From this i understand as long as you have been clean and sober and can get a clean bill of health from your doctor/psychiatrist stating these facts you are good to go?

CDC Revises Immigration Drug Abuse Policy

In a move that has been applauded by immigration advocates and addiction professionals, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently lifted the immigration ban for some green card applications that have been found to have drug use issues.

Perhaps in response to the numerous complaints lodged by those applicants who found themselves caught by the bizarre “one toke and out for three years” rule, the CDC has revised its rules on drug use and reduced the “drug free” wait time from three years to one year.

Determining Remission in the Immigration Context

While remission from substance-related disorders had been deemed to be at least three years from the most recent drug use, doctors are now permitted by the CDC to find remission after only one year. This mirrors the one-year remission period defined in the APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The DSM defines remission as a period of at least 12 months during which no drug use has occurred. In order to determine if there has been sustained remission, doctors are urged to examine evidence regarding the applicant’s participation in a drug treatment program. For those who were found to be inadmissible due to an alcohol-related DUI, doctors can find remission based on as assessment of harmful behavior associated with alcohol use.

Alcohol Abuse in the Immigration Context

Whether applying for a green card or a non-immigrant visa, immigration applicants who have a history of alcohol-related incidents, such as DUI (driving under the influence) will likely find themselves referred to medical professionals to determine if there is evidence of alcohol dependence. Consular officials will refer applicants who have one alcohol-related incident within the preceding five years, two or more alcohol-related incidents within the preceding 10 years, or if there is any other reason for the consular office to believe that there could be an alcohol problem.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

You and your daughter are going to have to clear the medical exam before you face the embassy. The police report is taken there and if they see arrests involving alcohol, that clues them in when evaluating for dependency problems.

For you a letter from your doctor may be good enough. It often is. I've also known them to want to call your doctor or have something sent directly from the doctor. In some cases I've seen the Knightsbridge doctors require a private psych exam to determine if there are addictions or other issues (depression, alcoholism, addiction). I seem to remember the person saying it cost them 750 pounds. So worse case for the medical could be psych exams and the delay getting those before you are cleared for an interview appointment. Just be preparing yourself mentally for possible costs and delays so you won't be shocked if it comes to that. Here are the actual guidelines they go by for Physical or Mental Disorders with Associated Harmful Behaviors and Substance-related Disorders.

http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/panel/mental-panel-technical-instructions.html

Have a frank discussion with the Knightsbridge doctor about his evaluation and what will be on your exam results going to the embassy.

[goldylox 0]

Hi Nich

thanks for posting. I really appreciate your honesty. My whole world just collapsed today but hopefully we will get through it. I like to be organised and know whats in front of me. I was speaking to my daughter earlier one was a reprimand and the other was a caution.

I have made an appointment for us to go see our GP next week, so hopefully we can discuss everything there and get a letter. I also have a letter from the tax office saying i have been working for the past 6 years, along with a few character references from professionals at work.

When you say have a frank discussion do you mean just come out and ask him what he has put on the file?

Even if it takes another few months it will all be worth the wait. Do you think i should take waiver forms for both me and my daughter to interview just incase?

Just when you thought you were nearly there

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

When you say have a frank discussion do you mean just come out and ask him what he has put on the file?

Well you will no doubt be discussing the issue with him. Instead of coming home and posting on VJ- "what do you think he wrote about me on the forms?", just ask him. Ask him if he believes you're sober, whatever, or if he will be reporting anything damaging that might delay your visa. I like to get info straight from the horse's mouth.

Even if it takes another few months it will all be worth the wait. Do you think i should take waiver forms for both me and my daughter to interview just incase?

I don't know enough about waivers to even comment.

Another thing. You should have something for the interview concerning your daughter's offenses. A subject access report or memorandum of conviction. I'm not British so don't really know what those are exactly. See this thread http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/325913-police-certificate-court-report/

I have read that the US doesn't have "cautions" so if you did something that got you a fine or a night in jail, the US government wants to see a report saying exactly what it was and how it was handled. I think it means cautions count with the US government even thought most Brits seem to think they don't count. Just throwing that on with no specific source to back it up.

[Mike&Rach 0]

I really don't see a problem if you have been sober 6 years and your GP has mentioned taking you off anti-depressants. Just ask him for a letter stating that and the same thing for your daughter and that should be fine for your medical.

I really don't see a problem if you have been sober 6 years and your GP has mentioned taking you off anti-depressants. Just ask him for a letter stating that and the same thing for your daughter and that should be fine for your medical.

[goldylox 0]

thank you Mike and Nich ... i am soooo glad i found this site and people like you guys who are willing to share experience and hope ... It makes such a difference than doing it all alone x x x Thank God for VJ.com

[goldylox 0]

i have one last question guys that is bugging me (I am sorry, i am finally getting my head round it all i think ) and i know you will probably want to me on the head but..... my daughter was arrested just after her 18th birthday in May this year for being drunk and holding fake ID which was her friends, they let her off with a caution. I know this will come up on her police report. Do you think that she will get a years ban at interview for this? Even though we have all the necessary backup letters from doctors ect?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

i have one last question guys that is bugging me (I am sorry, i am finally getting my head round it all i think ) and i know you will probably want to me on the head but..... my daughter was arrested just after her 18th birthday in May this year for being drunk and holding fake ID which was her friends, they let her off with a caution. I know this will come up on her police report. Do you think that she will get a years ban at interview for this? Even though we have all the necessary backup letters from doctors ect?

Crime is a different category nothing to do with what the doctor says. If it's a Crime Involving Moral Turpituse CIMT, then you've got more serious issues for her at the embassy. Fraud is a CIMT and I think a fake id is fraud. Don't know alot about that but I know a VJ member whose fiance switched tax disks on his car as a teen. Bot were disks he paid for but the car with the valid disk didn't run so he put that disk on the car that had an expired disk. He was caught. The crime was considered fraud and thus a CIMT by the US. Seemede like an innocent teenage thing, but it cropped up 20 years later when he wanted to immigrate.

[Robert&Karen 264]

From what I see you have issues but they can be explained. The death of a partner is an intensely stressful situation and if you ended up in a less than perfect position because of it, hey we have all been there. As for your daughter's actions at 16 years of age, well her age says it all. You went into the flames and came out the other end.

I see nothing criminal here. A police cert will not likely have these incidents listed. You are being completely honest, you have reason and appear of sound mind.

Don't give up!

[qwerty1974 11]

From what I can see you're at least being open and honest about this. That MUST count for something. I'd just get all of the documentation you can supporting your case and hope for the best- what else can you do? Best of luck and I really hope you achieve some peace of mind and the outcome you so clearly want