GP won't give medical records - currently living outside of the UK

[millie1991 0]

Hi everyone, 

 

So we were recently approved and I now have my medical and interview coming up next month - so excited to be at this stage! 

 

But running into a bit of a snag with an unhelpful GP surgery and hoping anyone can offer some expertise. 

 

I did seek help for mental issues five years ago. I visited A&E at a particularly low point in my life and was assessed and given a working diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and prescribed medication. Since then I have really gotten to a great place with my mental health, I take medication and have honestly never felt more balanced and healthier. After we started the K1 process I took a temporary job opportunity to relocate to Canada and so have been working here, but am travelling back to the UK to see family and to finish my interview process. 

 

My GP in the UK has provided a summary (which includes this diagnosis and having mental health issues in 2019) but won't provide any further records as I'm not currently in the UK, which is endlessly frustrating! 

 

I have seen a doctor in Canada twice over the last 8 months to prescribe me my medication, she has written a letter for me saying that she has assessed me, I am stable and I'm not a risk to myself or others. I see a psychotherapist for talking therapy biweekly who has also done the same for me. Visa Medicals said they didn't see an issue that these letters are from non UK practitioners, but I still feel nervous that I can't provide more details of the incident 5 years ago. Does anyone have any advice on any other things I could do so it would make up for not having further info from the GP on issues from 5 years ago? 

 

Thanks so much in advance!

 

 

[smilingstone 197]

I think given the context of you not currently living in the UK, it seems completely fine that a Canadian doctor assess you and write whatever is needed for your medical - especially as Visa Medicals themselves have said that this is fine.

 

However, I would think that it would likely be beneficial to you to demonstrate some kind of pre-planning for health insurance once you are in the US. Considering that you were diagnosed with a long-term illness that requires medication for the foreseeable future, you will need to show that you will be able to put something in place to continue that treatment. Otherwise the assumption may be that you will become a public charge, which is grounds for inadmissibility. 

 

Does your USC have health insurance that you will be able to be included on once married?

[SL2024 72]

22 hours ago, millie1991 said:

Hi everyone, 

 

So we were recently approved and I now have my medical and interview coming up next month - so excited to be at this stage! 

 

But running into a bit of a snag with an unhelpful GP surgery and hoping anyone can offer some expertise. 

 

I did seek help for mental issues five years ago. I visited A&E at a particularly low point in my life and was assessed and given a working diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and prescribed medication. Since then I have really gotten to a great place with my mental health, I take medication and have honestly never felt more balanced and healthier. After we started the K1 process I took a temporary job opportunity to relocate to Canada and so have been working here, but am travelling back to the UK to see family and to finish my interview process. 

 

My GP in the UK has provided a summary (which includes this diagnosis and having mental health issues in 2019) but won't provide any further records as I'm not currently in the UK, which is endlessly frustrating! 

 

I have seen a doctor in Canada twice over the last 8 months to prescribe me my medication, she has written a letter for me saying that she has assessed me, I am stable and I'm not a risk to myself or others. I see a psychotherapist for talking therapy biweekly who has also done the same for me. Visa Medicals said they didn't see an issue that these letters are from non UK practitioners, but I still feel nervous that I can't provide more details of the incident 5 years ago. Does anyone have any advice on any other things I could do so it would make up for not having further info from the GP on issues from 5 years ago? 

 

Thanks so much in advance!

 

 

 

Can the GP Surgery not email your GP Care Summary, Vaccination Records and Specialist Reports over to you? I rang up my GP Surgery and asked them if they were able to print them off and also print my full medical records just in case for me to collect which I felt was easier but email was an option that they did mention to me as well. They did say to me it would take up to 30 days to do it as I am sure they have other requests to do but I think it was 1-2 weeks before the records were ready to collect or to be sent by email.

[millie1991 0]

On 7/23/2024 at 5:58 AM, smilingstone said:

I think given the context of you not currently living in the UK, it seems completely fine that a Canadian doctor assess you and write whatever is needed for your medical - especially as Visa Medicals themselves have said that this is fine.

 

However, I would think that it would likely be beneficial to you to demonstrate some kind of pre-planning for health insurance once you are in the US. Considering that you were diagnosed with a long-term illness that requires medication for the foreseeable future, you will need to show that you will be able to put something in place to continue that treatment. Otherwise the assumption may be that you will become a public charge, which is grounds for inadmissibility. 

 

Does your USC have health insurance that you will be able to be included on once married?

This is actually a great idea, thank you! I have reached out to a psychiatrist in my fiance's city who has confirmed she is taking on patients and would be happy to treat me for medication and treatment once I'm in the US, so will print that off and take it to the medical with me! And yes, my fiance is an attorney and I will be on his insurance once we're married so can also bring evidence of that policy. Thanks - really great suggestions. 

[millie1991 0]

16 hours ago, SL2024 said:

 

Can the GP Surgery not email your GP Care Summary, Vaccination Records and Specialist Reports over to you? I rang up my GP Surgery and asked them if they were able to print them off and also print my full medical records just in case for me to collect which I felt was easier but email was an option that they did mention to me as well. They did say to me it would take up to 30 days to do it as I am sure they have other requests to do but I think it was 1-2 weeks before the records were ready to collect or to be sent by email.

I have my summary that lists my BPD as an active condition but considering the last mental health incident was in 2019 it doesn't show on my summary as that was now 5 years ago. So think they'll need some further info on what happened, prognosis and treatment from what I'm aware of. 

[Lee Thacket 29]

1 hour ago, millie1991 said:

I have my summary that lists my BPD as an active condition but considering the last mental health incident was in 2019 it doesn't show on my summary as that was now 5 years ago. So think they'll need some further info on what happened, prognosis and treatment from what I'm aware of. 

 

You will be fine. You're not a danger to yourself or others. You're managing your condition and you have support to ensure you do not become a public charge.

[millie1991 0]

1 minute ago, Lee Thacket said:

 

You will be fine. You're not a danger to yourself or others. You're managing your condition and you have support to ensure you do not become a public charge.

Thank you, I really appreciate that reassurance! Just trying to be overprepared I think

[Lee Thacket 29]

23 minutes ago, millie1991 said:

Thank you, I really appreciate that reassurance! Just trying to be overprepared I think

 

It is the most underwhelming medical I have ever had.

[SL2024 72]

6 hours ago, millie1991 said:

I have my summary that lists my BPD as an active condition but considering the last mental health incident was in 2019 it doesn't show on my summary as that was now 5 years ago. So think they'll need some further info on what happened, prognosis and treatment from what I'm aware of. 

 

So have they only given you the Patient Care Summary? Have they given you Vaccination Record and any Specialist/Consultant Reports?

[SL2024 72]

3 hours ago, SL2024 said:

 

So have they only given you the Patient Care Summary? Have they given you Vaccination Record and any Specialist/Consultant Reports?

 

Which state are you applying to move to? (Not that it affects you in terms of this post but just curious as couldn’t see on your profile)

[millie1991 0]

12 hours ago, SL2024 said:

 

Which state are you applying to move to? (Not that it affects you in terms of this post but just curious as couldn’t see on your profile)

California