Medical exam Drug use/self harm.

[8329843mc2398cmx 1]

Hi, This is my first post here so I hope I'm posting in the correct section.

My fiance and I are going to be starting the K-1 visa process shortly (I am in the UK and he is in the US) and I have been looking into the medical exam and I am incredibly anxious having read it and read some stories. I have never actively used drugs however I only ever experimented with marijuana once in the past and have not used it since and have no medical record of any drug abuse/use, how heavily is this going to impact my visa application process? 

I also noticed the question about intentional harm to others/yourself, I have scars on one of my wrists from self harming from 8/9 years ago during an incredibly stressful time and haven't self harmed since, they were never formally looked at, and I have never been diagnosed with any mental health issues and have never had any mentions of concern from my GP.

I'm incredibly anxious that I've screwed myself over from silly past mistakes and that it will be unlikely that I'll be able to get the visa and marry my fiance, I just feel heartbroken about it. Is this going to be detrimental to my application or just possibly delay it to check off any red flags? if anyone has experience.

[Villanelle 4,121]

First if reading stories upsets you then stop doing it! The process is already stressful and theres no need to add additional stress to it. You have two separate issues you mentioned- drug use and self harm. Now the guidelines are universal however in reality they apply them slightly differently depending on where you are getting the medical done. For example in Jamaica admitting to ever using marijuana will get you a one year ban. In the UK its been reported that it wont. Is this fair? No. But its just how the doctors interpret the guidelines. They have some discretion. 

 

You will have to answer the questions honestly. So it will be a yes that youve "tried" drugs in the very distant past. It will then be up to the Dr to decide if you need to do a drug test and or they feel you are addicted/current user and will require additional drug screenings over the course of the next year. In most places (besides those that have a zero tolerance) admitting you used in the very distant past doesnt cause an issue.Typically if the drug test comes back negative they will let it slide and determine you are not a user and no ban or further testing will be needed.

 

For the self harm they most likely will see the scars and require proof from your Dr that you are not a danger to yourself or others. You can bring your medical records showing there was never any concern about it or anything documented about it. Again its going to be up to the Dr on how to handle it. They can require you to see a psych dr to get an eval and as long as that comes back good there is no problem. This will cause a slight delay as youd need to get an appt with the psych dr and wait for the results to be sent back to the Dr. 

 

Neither issue will completely bar you from coming to the US but yes there might be a slight delay. 

[8329843mc2398cmx 1]

1 minute ago, Damara said:

First if reading stories upsets you then stop doing it! The process is already stressful and theres no need to add additional stress to it. You have two separate issues you mentioned- drug use and self harm. Now the guidelines are universal however in reality they apply them slightly differently depending on where you are getting the medical done. For example in Jamaica admitting to ever using marijuana will get you a one year ban. In the UK its been reported that it wont. Is this fair? No. But its just how the doctors interpret the guidelines. They have some discretion. 

 

You will have to answer the questions honestly. So it will be a yes that youve "tried" drugs in the very distant past. It will then be up to the Dr to decide if you need to do a drug test and or they feel you are addicted/current user and will require additional drug screenings over the course of the next year. In most places (besides those that have a zero tolerance) admitting you used in the very distant past doesnt cause an issue.Typically if the drug test comes back negative they will let it slide and determine you are not a user and no ban or further testing will be needed.

 

For the self harm they most likely will see the scars and require proof from your Dr that you are not a danger to yourself or others. You can bring your medical records showing there was never any concern about it or anything documented about it. Again its going to be up to the Dr on how to handle it. They can require you to see a psych dr to get an eval and as long as that comes back good there is no problem. This will cause a slight delay as youd need to get an appt with the psych dr and wait for the results to be sent back to the Dr. 

 

Neither issue will completely bar you from coming to the US but yes there might be a slight delay. 

Thank you so much for the response, I 100% intend on being honest and open about everything (answering both yes to drug use and harm on the medical questionnaire) I definitely want to work with the entire process and system in place than go against it, even if it means delays, it'll be worth it! 

Thank you so much! I'll be talking to my GP and see if they can write a letter of confidence about me not being a harm to myself/others and in terms of my mental health/history of self harm. 

I'm spending my time reading success stories instead and following the steps they took, and it has definitely given me hope. Thanks so much, I'm hoping for the best but also open to bumps and delays along this process, I just want to be sure to do everything by the book. thanks again!

[TBoneTX 43,413]

Thread is moved from the K-1 Process forum to the Embassy/Consulate forum -- topic involves that phase.

[kat10kat2 6]

On 1/28/2018 at 9:03 AM, 8329843mc2398cmx said:

Thank you so much for the response, I 100% intend on being honest and open about everything (answering both yes to drug use and harm on the medical questionnaire) I definitely want to work with the entire process and system in place than go against it, even if it means delays, it'll be worth it! 

Thank you so much! I'll be talking to my GP and see if they can write a letter of confidence about me not being a harm to myself/others and in terms of my mental health/history of self harm. 

I'm spending my time reading success stories instead and following the steps they took, and it has definitely given me hope. Thanks so much, I'm hoping for the best but also open to bumps and delays along this process, I just want to be sure to do everything by the book. thanks again!

Hello! I know its been a long time since this was posted, but what was the response from being honest? My fiance smoked weed when he was in amsterdam. We dont want to deny it, but I dont want him to be banned either. (This is for london medical)