Medical K1 worries

[smvilhelm4 0]

I am very worried I am going to be denied the K1 on medical grounds!

I suffered an episode of depression when I was a teenager after the shock of one of my parents taking their own life. I received counselling/CBT and was on anti-depressants for two and a half years. I initially had a bad reaction to these and they made me worse before it got better - they told me to stick with it which I did.

About 8 months after coming off the medication I started to feel a bit low again due to exam stress and family problems/illness. I went back to the doctor who put me back on medication with little supervision and I had another very horrible reaction for the first few weeks. This time it caused me to take a bad overdose of the anti-depressants and I ended up in A+E for the night after calling my friend. I then went home and saw a psychiatrist once who discharged me from any care after about a month because I never went back on medication and just decided to have more counselling to help me cope. I've been well now for over two years I'm just worried my past illness will affect everything negatively.

Please help! Thank you.

[usaanduk 0]

Hi Smvilhelm4,

I'm sorry to hear about your past.

Each case is different but I would think this shouldn't be a problem during your process.

The only way it could be a problem is if the doctors either your personal doctor or the staff at the medical think you have any ongoing issues. If so, you might be ask to do a psychological evaluation at your visa medical.

It might also be worth getting some information from your current doctor and old psychologist regarding you past and if there is no ongoing issues, perhaps getting a letter stating that this is no longer a problem.

But I honestly think you'll be fine.

All the best.

Edited December 4, 2015 by usaanduk

[Sunya and Tim 55]

May I ask what country you are from? It might be helpful to see what the doctors used by the embassy you will be going thru look for. London works pretty much like usaanduk said but I can give you some details they want at Knightsbridge.

[B-2-Z 37]

Sorry to hear about what you've been through, I'm glad you've gotten help to get past it.

I had similar worries as I went to my interview as I've struggled with anxiety and depression for years, and at the time of my medical I had been on & off medication for about 2 years. I took in a note from my family physician explaining what I was taking, why, and that it's 100% controlled and monitored. The clinic suggested taking in a note from the family doctor for anything that could be deemed red flag without an explanation behind it.

I see that you're off medication, but it would still be worth a note from your physician explaining the circumstances behind it, that you've controlled it without medication, it was an isolated incident brought on by things you couldn't control, and that you have a history of reaching out when you need help.

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

This is sort of interesting, I was just talking to my fiancé about how I would be worried about my chances at getting approved for a visa based on a very similar past history with depression. (I'm a USC, so it's not relevant, just was something I was thinking about).

That being said, as long as you have good documentation from your physician that you are currently being treated for the issue and have been relatively stable recently, I can't see it being much of an issue. Especially if the depression wasn't linked to any violent actions towards others or drug/alcohol dependencies, since that is what they are really worried about - not just sadness.

Just come prepared. Have a detailed statement from your doctor ready and be honest! Good luck and I am very glad you are doing better now! As someone who knows how it feels to come back from that sort of thing I see anyone who does it as an inspiration.

[smvilhelm4 0]

Thanks for your replies and support. I am from the UK.

After reading more about things I'm now also worried about having travelled to the U.S. on an ESTA. It was after I'd been discharged from any mental health care for about 6months and I ticked no to the 'do you had a mental or physical' condition because I didn't believe I did at the time and haven't since. I'm frightened they will think I was trying to hide my past mistakes or something!

I didn't think twice about it at the time but now it's making me have doubts so I hope this won't be an issue :/

[Alimanu 77]

Thanks for your replies and support. I am from the UK.

After reading more about things I'm now also worried about having travelled to the U.S. on an ESTA. It was after I'd been discharged from any mental health care for about 6months and I ticked no to the 'do you had a mental or physical' condition because I didn't believe I did at the time and haven't since. I'm frightened they will think I was trying to hide my past mistakes or something!

I didn't think twice about it at the time but now it's making me have doubts so I hope this won't be an issue :/

I think you just chill and go to the medical. You should be fine.

[usaanduk 0]

Thanks for your replies and support. I am from the UK.

After reading more about things I'm now also worried about having travelled to the U.S. on an ESTA. It was after I'd been discharged from any mental health care for about 6months and I ticked no to the 'do you had a mental or physical' condition because I didn't believe I did at the time and haven't since. I'm frightened they will think I was trying to hide my past mistakes or something!

I didn't think twice about it at the time but now it's making me have doubts so I hope this won't be an issue :/

Don't worry you'll be fine, I can give you my experiences if you like, feel free to PM me

[slimbolina 48]

Hi, I'm wondering how you got on since posting this? I'm really interested in hearing your story as it's very identical to my own, although my experience was 11 years ago and had actually forgotten about it having moved on and put all that behind me.

I'm early in the process, waiting for NOA2 but the medical and past history with depression and silly OD is getting me nervous.