K1 Mental Health and London Medical?

[Sammieyyyyy 0]

I filed for the K1 November 2019 and in June 2020 I had a breakdown caused by external triggers in which I self harmed and got referred to a psychologist who went on to diagnose me with eupd/bpd. 

 

I am hoping to be discharged from the psychologist in two weeks time and the my next check in.

 

i also have scars from self harm in 2014 which was the last time I’d self harmed before the breakdown and they were unreported to my gp.

 

as of right now I’m completely stable and steady, and haven’t so much as thought about self harming since then. I have had a steady full time job since March 2020 and before then I held a job full time since September 2018, the only reason I changed jobs was because I was made redundant in february 2020. I take medication each night and both of the medications are the lowest doses of them. 

 

i know I will need a letter from my GP saying I’m not at risk to myself or others with my diagnosis and treatments and if I’m not discharged from my psychologist in two weeks I will get the same letter from them.

 

is there anything else I need to do to make this go as smoothly as it can so I can be reunited with my fiancée?

Edited January 7, 2021 by Sammieyyyyy

[databit 328]

1) Have you or your fiancé researched if the medications you take are available in the US? Many are not, or they may not be generic and can be frightfully expensive!

2) If they are available, are they affordable to you if you can't get insurance right away, or if the insurance company refuses, which they are allowed to do, to cover the cost?

3) Have arrangements been made to secure a psychiatrist (in the US, a psychologist cannot prescribe medication) to continue therapy and the medications? In many areas, appointments are running many months ahead, or they require a referral from a primary care provider, adding even more time to the process.

 

Being able to show documentation of pre-arrangement for continuity of care would be a good thing to add.

 

Edited January 7, 2021 by databit

[Sammieyyyyy 0]

3 minutes ago, databit said:

1) Have you or your fiancé researched if the medications you take are available in the US? Many are not, or they may not be generic and can be frightfully expensive!

2) If they are available, are they affordable to you if you can't get insurance right away, or if the insurance company refuses, which they are allowed to do, to cover the cost?

3) Have arrangements been made to secure a psychiatrist (in the US, a psychologist cannot prescribe medication) to continue therapy and the medications? In many areas, appointments are running many months ahead, or they require a referral from a primary care provider, adding even more time to the process.

 

Being able to show documentation of pre-arrangement for continuity of care would be a good thing to add.

 

Hi! 
 

I have researched and they are both available in the states, though one is in a different name. 

im not sure about the cost yet, I still need to look into that 

 

as I’m not receiving counselling/therapy of any kind [the psych is just there for med reviews] would I need a psychiatrist in the states? 

[databit 328]

Sometimes a primary care doctor will prescribe them, but sometimes they will not, and will refer you to a psychiatrist. 

 

I cannot imagine a psychiatrist that will simply prescribe to you without a complete initial assessment, and a therapy session or two at least as a follow-up. 

 

Note that because of the abuse potential, US doctors are now very leery to prescribe benzodiazepines or other tranquilizers, and probably never would based on your word alone, so be sure to get copies of your psych records and prescriptions to bring to the US. Also you can usually get a 90-day supply to bring with you (customs doesn't want to see more than that).

Edited January 7, 2021 by databit

[Greenbaum 12,259]

2 hours ago, Sammieyyyyy said:

I filed for the K1 November 2019 and in June 2020 I had a breakdown caused by external triggers in which I self harmed and got referred to a psychologist who went on to diagnose me with eupd/bpd. 

 

I am hoping to be discharged from the psychologist in two weeks time and the my next check in.

 

i also have scars from self harm in 2014 which was the last time I’d self harmed before the breakdown and they were unreported to my gp.

 

as of right now I’m completely stable and steady, and haven’t so much as thought about self harming since then. I have had a steady full time job since March 2020 and before then I held a job full time since September 2018, the only reason I changed jobs was because I was made redundant in february 2020. I take medication each night and both of the medications are the lowest doses of them. 

 

i know I will need a letter from my GP saying I’m not at risk to myself or others with my diagnosis and treatments and if I’m not discharged from my psychologist in two weeks I will get the same letter from them.

 

is there anything else I need to do to make this go as smoothly as it can so I can be reunited with my fiancée?

You will be evaluated by an appointment with the medical center's psychologist who will interview you and go over your documents. If they feel it's ok for you to proceed then you will have your medical approved and most likely barring any other "problem" unearthed during the interview, then you should have a visa. Good luck and stay engaged in the process. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

On 1/7/2021 at 12:13 PM, Sammieyyyyy said:

know I will need a letter from my GP saying I’m not at risk to myself or others with my diagnosis and treatments and if I’m not discharged from my psychologist in two weeks I will get the same letter from them.

 That’s basically what many others in London have had. Evaluation by a Visa Medicals staff psychiatrist is usually only when the beneficiary can’t produce documentation from a doctor who already knows the beneficiary as a patient. 

Edited January 8, 2021 by Wuozopo

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.