Cost of Medical Exam in Canada?

[Taetag girl 0]

Hello all,

Just wondering if any fellow Canadians can help us out with factoring in the cost of the medical exams with our cr1 budget? Our interview will be in Montreal. Is the cost of the medical included with the cost of the interview or is is additional? I assume we will need to pay for three as we are petitioning for me and two children.

Thanks for any info!

[Saylin 1,605]

Hello all,

Just wondering if any fellow Canadians can help us out with factoring in the cost of the medical exams with our cr1 budget? Our interview will be in Montreal. Is the cost of the medical included with the cost of the interview or is is additional? I assume we will need to pay for three as we are petitioning for me and two children.

Thanks for any info!

For IR-1/CR-1 applicants, there is no interview fee.

As for the medical, it varies by panel physician, but usually around $200-$300. Additional fees if you're missing vaccines. For my medical (at Medisys in Montreal), it cost ~$230. It's $215 base price, but I was missing the flu shot (unbeknownst to me as I thought flu season was over ), which added about $20.

[Taetag girl 0]

For IR-1/CR-1 applicants, there is no interview fee.

As for the medical, it varies by panel physician, but usually around $200-$300. Additional fees if you're missing vaccines. For my medical (at Medisys in Montreal), it cost ~$230. It's $215 base price, but I was missing the flu shot (unbeknownst to me as I thought flu season was over ), which added about $20.

WOW. So for me and two little people we are talking $700-$900 just for the medical exams? And there is no way to get the medical done with your own family doctor? Can I knock the price down by at least getting some of the shots done with my doctor first and providing the records?

[CanLee 5]

WOW. So for me and two little people we are talking $700-$900 just for the medical exams? And there is no way to get the medical done with your own family doctor? Can I knock the price down by at least getting some of the shots done with my doctor first and providing the records?

Medical exam has to be done by authorized MD's http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3739.html

Shots can be done anywhere. Just ensure you have record of them upon arrival for your exam.

[Saylin 1,605]

WOW. So for me and two little people we are talking $700-$900 just for the medical exams? And there is no way to get the medical done with your own family doctor? Can I knock the price down by at least getting some of the shots done with my doctor first and providing the records?

Like CanLee said, the medical has to be done by an approved panel physician. There's currently 4 I believe in Canada: 2 in Vancouver, 1 in Toronto, and 1 in Montreal. But yes, you can get your shots done ahead of time. I actually recommend this as, if you need shots at the medical, they're going to cost a lot more than if you get them done at a family doctor or clinic.

[Taetag girl 0]

Okay. Thanks very much everyone.

[Rooh 1]

Like CanLee said, the medical has to be done by an approved panel physician. There's currently 4 I believe in Canada: 2 in Vancouver, 1 in Toronto, and 1 in Montreal. But yes, you can get your shots done ahead of time. I actually recommend this as, if you need shots at the medical, they're going to cost a lot more than if you get them done at a family doctor or clinic.

So OHIP doesn't cover this?

[Saylin 1,605]

So OHIP doesn't cover this?

It might cover vaccinations taken before the medical, but no, it doesn't cover the medical.

As stated here http://www.panelphysicians.com/Pages/ExamCosts.htm : "The cost of the medical examination, blood testing and x-ray is NOT a benefit of Canadian Provincial government health insurance plans. You may be able to obtain reimbursement from private insurance or your sponsoring employer."

[Taetag girl 0]

It might cover vaccinations taken before the medical, but no, it doesn't cover the medical.

As stated here http://www.panelphysicians.com/Pages/ExamCosts.htm : "The cost of the medical examination, blood testing and x-ray is NOT a benefit of Canadian Provincial government health insurance plans. You may be able to obtain reimbursement from private insurance or your sponsoring employer."

Hey Saylin,

I know this is now getting off topic but I noticed on your signature that you were denied entry to visit your husband both times you tried after you got married. Can you tell me what happened? I am a little nervous... he and I were married in August and we are planning a trip next month to visit for Thanksgiving and Christmas and then return Jan 5th. So we are planning to be there from Nov 15th-Jan 5th including travel time. I am concerned about crossing the border and being denied entry since now they know we are married. I have a post about it here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/393039-visiting-the-us-before-filing-for-cr1-but-after-marriage/page__p__5755399__fromsearch__1#entry5755399 Any thoughts?

[Saylin 1,605]

Hey Saylin,

I know this is now getting off topic but I noticed on your signature that you were denied entry to visit your husband both times you tried after you got married. Can you tell me what happened? I am a little nervous... he and I were married in August and we are planning a trip next month to visit for Thanksgiving and Christmas and then return Jan 5th. So we are planning to be there from Nov 15th-Jan 5th including travel time. I am concerned about crossing the border and being denied entry since now they know we are married. I have a post about it here: http://www.visajourn..._1#entry5755399 Any thoughts?

First time was my own fault. I was naive about the system and knew nothing about how green cards worked. After the officer explained what to do (file I-130 petition and all), we immediately mailed off our petition. About a week later, I wanted to visit my husband. I bought a flight (think it was just for 2 weeks) leaving from within the US (domestic flights were cheaper than flying international), so my dad drove me down to the border. The officer I unfortunately got was a real #######, to say the least. He kept saying I was not allowed to visit whatsoever, not until I got my visa. He was also giving me false information about a K3, and so on. He concluded the conversation with warning me that if I were to go elsewhere to try to cross the border and tell another story (????), that I could be banned from the US. So, I decided not to chance it, thus, my husband came up to visit me instead (which was more inconvenient, unfortunately) 5 times while I was "stuck" in Canada. My advice: just bring lots of evidence of strong ties to Canada and that you'll be returning when you say you will. And just hope you get a good officer. Cause no matter how much evidence you have, if you get that one bad officer (like I did) who doesn't give a damn about anything and woke up on the wrong side of the bed, you can still get denied as the officer's have the ultimate power of letting people in, whether you're legally allowed to visit or not.

[EmilyS 11]

I just came across this topic, hopefully someone can answer my question...I don't know which shots I've had and don't have any records of it, I don't think I even had any of the shots listed in the medical exam section...so what's going to happen? they're going to make me get each and single one of them??

[Saylin 1,605]

I just came across this topic, hopefully someone can answer my question...I don't know which shots I've had and don't have any records of it, I don't think I even had any of the shots listed in the medical exam section...so what's going to happen? they're going to make me get each and single one of them??

Your best bet would to get a antibody titers blood test done. It tests the anti-bodies in your system to see which shots you've had. You would then bring this test with you to the medical as proof of your immunity. Find a doctor asap to get this done. Whatever you don't have immunity for, get the shots done asap as well. Getting this done ahead of the medical will save you $$$ as they'll more than likely charge up the @ss to get it done at the panel physician.

[EmilyS 11]

Your best bet would to get a antibody titers blood test done. It tests the anti-bodies in your system to see which shots you've had. You would then bring this test with you to the medical as proof of your immunity. Find a doctor asap to get this done. Whatever you don't have immunity for, get the shots done asap as well. Getting this done ahead of the medical will save you $$$ as they'll more than likely charge up the @ss to get it done at the panel physician.

ok, so after getting this test done, will the shots I will be needing be covered by OHIP? or would I have to pay for them?!

Edited December 23, 2012 by EmilyS

[Saylin 1,605]

ok, so after getting this test done, will the shots I will be needing be covered by OHIP? or would I have to pay for them?!

No idea *lived in Quebec*

[EmilyS 11]

No idea *lived in Quebec*

lol GREAT!! as far as I know shots are not covered in Ontario except for flu shots I think! This journey gets better and better everyday! everyday I find out about something new something that I have to pay more $$$ for.