Medical inadmissibility rules changes

[sbdiuo]

@sbdiuo-
I understand your situation, you have already gone through a lot and looking forward for a better future in Canada. But the harsh truth is- Canada immigration is always cautious with foreign applicants health condition.
Not sure since i am not from medical field, but an additional review might be requested in your case from a specialist (by the choice of the Immigration medical officer). If its possible, please approach a specialist by self and request for his opinion in long term perspective (10 years and more...). Of course, doctors would not be conclusive since every case is different, but might provide you an overview based on their experience and statistics.

If you are better prepared in your case, you can possibly share the details and disclose all the previous reports to the doctor during second review; and hopefully he/ she shares a positive note regarding your health condition with the IRCC medical officer.

Thanks for the input @SriTLIN! My panel physician requested a prospective opinion from my oncologist (although i did not see what she sent to him). Last night my medical report was done, appearently when the panel physician tried to upload my result, they requested another blood work and he was able to do it with the samples i gave earlier this week.
I have submitted my application last night, and now i am just waiting which is the hardest part.
If they ask any additional test, examinations etc i would be happy since they are not rejecting me right away!

 

[sbdiuo]

Guys my condition is that I am HIV positive and was found positive since September 2017.
I have been put antirrtrovirals since then.
All my blood works were excellent. My CD4 level was 454(which is quite high thanks to God) and viral load 60000(which is not high).
My overall health is fine I developed no side effects related to the medicines and my blood analysis always come with good results. X-ray showed no Tuberculosis. Hep B HepC are negative as syphilis and other STDs as well. On these days I am eligible for viral load analysis and I am sure that I am undetectable. I had a consultation with Canadian lawyer who told me that the cost of my treatment according to BC formulary is 7700CAD.
Should I take report from anti AIds center which delivers treatment and analysis to take it to panel physician? Can panel physician use reference according to that report or he is going to prepare his own report for my condition?
Anyone can explain the procedures of medical exam? Like how it is performed with pre-existing medical condition.

Hi @Outworld . I am no expert or senior in this forum. But i would suggest try to gather as many documents as you can. Panel physician will create his own report (i dont know if they put any subjective opinion in that) but they will definitely ask for your routine physician’s notes, that is what happened to me.
September 2017 is not that old, may be you can gather all the tests and notes since then to show how stable your condition is.

Healthy days to everyone

 

[Outworld]

Hi @Outworld . I am no expert or senior in this forum. But i would suggest try to gather as many documents as you can. Panel physician will create his own report (i dont know if they put any subjective opinion in that) but they will definitely ask for your routine physician’s notes, that is what happened to me.
September 2017 is not that old, may be you can gather all the tests and notes since then to show how stable your condition is.

Healthy days to everyone

@sbdiuo
Thanks for your reply.
I would like to understand the procedure.
Panel physician required opinion from your oncologist and the oncologist provided opinion directly to him or gave the report to you to be given to your panel physician by yourself?

 

[sbdiuo]

@sbdiuo
Thanks for your reply.
I would like to understand the procedure.
Panel physician required opinion from your oncologist and the oncologist provided opinion directly to him or gave the report to you to be given to your panel physician by yourself?

my oncologist sent the notes directly to him, i did not see what she sent. but i asked her to include her prognosis, because this was what panel physician asked for in addition to notes. panel physician just told me that she sent a detailed report about my situation.

 

[SriTLIN]

I don't want to get fairness letter that's why I need to know if they have applied triple threshold rule. If they implemented the changes then I in my case I wouldn't get fairness letter according to my understanding.

@Outworld -

The specialist will only provide the report and recommendations to the immigration medical officer; it is completely up to IMO regarding the final say in a case.
As directed by your lawyer, do gather all the information i.e. reports, history details and anticipated medical expense details. You can ask the specialist doctor to attach the same with his notes.
Unfortunately you cannot overview the facts, that immigration medical officer may look into during an individual case evaluation; if he is satisfied, well and good; or else he will share his view point and the facts/ details in the fairness letter. As per the new rules, the fairness letter has to be provided in plan and simple manner (including all the necessary details) why the officer recommendation is against an applicant immigration, so that applicant can provide a mitigation plan for re-review by IMO.
Do not worry, they are many medical pass cases even after fairness letter process and mitigation plan is shared with the officer. Hope everything turns out to be better in your case.

 

[Outworld]

@Outworld -

The specialist will only provide the report and recommendations to the immigration medical officer; it is completely up to IMO regarding the final say in a case.
As directed by your lawyer, do gather all the information i.e. reports, history details and anticipated medical expense details. You can ask the specialist doctor to attach the same with his notes.
Unfortunately you cannot overview the facts, that immigration medical officer may look into during an individual case evaluation; if he is satisfied, well and good; or else he will share his view point and the facts/ details in the fairness letter. As per the new rules, the fairness letter has to be provided in plan and simple manner (including all the necessary details) why the officer recommendation is against an applicant immigration, so that applicant can provide a mitigation plan for re-review by IMO.
Do not worry, they are many medical pass cases even after fairness letter process and mitigation plan is shared with the officer. Hope everything turns out to be better in your case.

@SriTLIN
Thanks for your active contribution
I would like to understand the stages of medical exam. I make an appointment with panel physician tell him about my medical condition .
Then he may ask for additional testing then he asks for my infectionists notes about my condition then gives me a report for uploading.
At this stage can I additionally attach my infectionist's report/opinion when uploading my medical report? Or other experts' opinions? Or I can do nothing just wait for IMO to finish his review based on panel physicians report and if he or she sends me fairness letter I need to address the questions and bring all supporting documents only in that case?

 

[sbdiuo]

@SriTLIN
Thanks for your active contribution
I would like to understand the stages of medical exam. I make an appointment with panel physician tell him about my medical condition .
Then he may ask for additional testing then he asks for my infectionists notes about my condition then gives me a report for uploading.
At this stage can I additionally attach my infectionist's report/opinion when uploading my medical report? Or other experts' opinions? Or I can do nothing just wait for IMO to finish his review based on panel physicians report and if he or she sends me fairness letter I need to address the questions and bring all supporting documents only in that case?

If i understand correctly, then this is the answer; you will not upload your medical report. Panel physician will give you 1-2 pages of report with no medical info on it, just to confirm that you went to the physician.This is the only thing you are going to upload. Then, after all your tests are done, and your other specialists send the notes/test to your panel physician (if required), then panel physician will prepare the report and upload it to their system. you will not see that in your application, and most of the time you will not be notified unless the physician lets you know (mine informed me via e-mail that he uploded the documents). Panel physicians can also upload any additional documents; such as reports from your other physicians. if you think that (or know) that one of the important documents are missing, not uploaded etc. i think you can mention those in a LOE but i don't know if you can add an additional document.

 

[SriTLIN]

If i understand correctly, then this is the answer; you will not upload your medical report. Panel physician will give you 1-2 pages of report with no medical info on it, just to confirm that you went to the physician.This is the only thing you are going to upload. Then, after all your tests are done, and your other specialists send the notes/test to your panel physician (if required), then panel physician will prepare the report and upload it to their system. you will not see that in your application, and most of the time you will not be notified unless the physician lets you know (mine informed me via e-mail that he uploded the documents). Panel physicians can also upload any additional documents; such as reports from your other physicians. if you think that (or know) that one of the important documents are missing, not uploaded etc. i think you can mention those in a LOE but i don't know if you can add an additional document.

All the above points mentioned by sbdiuo are correct

1. First - You book an appointment for canada PR IME, attend the medical exam at Panel Physician center
2. Panel Physician will upload the initial reports into e-medical/ sends the notes to Visa Office (not so extensive) including any additional previous reports and existing/previous consulting doctor notes applicant shares during initial examination.
3. IRCC IMO will review the applicants medical results, review and pass the medical or sends an additional review request of the applicant to panel physician NOTE: I believe this step is triggered immediately after IRCC IMO receives your medical results (irrespective of your pay your application fees or not), second review information is shared with PP if needed by IRCC IMO; but if it is a pass, you might only see the status once you pay your application processing fees.
4. Panel Physician will contact you and provide the specialist doctor details or books an appointment on your behalf.
5. You attend the specialist, who conducts extensive analysis of your case based on the notes from IRCC IMO. This is where you will have to explain all the details to the doctor and provide your costs factor and other details (if you have not submitted this during initial Panel Physician appointment; most of the applicants will go thru this only during second doctor review during IME)
6. IRCC IMO will review details submitted by the specialist doctor and will make a decision - Pass/ will document all the details and his view point and share the same in a Fairness letter with the applicant.
7. The applicant will generally have a standard time to reply the IRCC IMO with the mitigation plan details. this will trigger re-review of the applicant medical information and the other factors that IMO might have to consider before coming up with a final decision.

I have gone through this before, hence wanted to share the overview details with everyone.
And If there is a case different from the above mentioned scenario(s), i appreciate if you can share the details here. Thanks again everyone.

 

[Javeline]

I would like to share my case, hope the best outcome to me and you as well.
I got MR last week, and I am in medication with chronic hepatitis B. Since last June I started taking Tenofovir once a day; even at the time of starting medication, my liver function test are normal, HbsAg +, HbeAg +(<10 S/CO); anti HbeAg -; viremia load undetectable. Every 3-6 month from that time up to now, I check regularly my virus load and found nothing.
Before going to attend ME, I go to internal medical doctor ( of CIC designated panel physician center) to check again all LFTs and virus load, the specialist suggested me keep on taking tenofovir once a day and a follow up every 6 months due to everything normal and in good quality of life.
Last 11/5/2918; My family go to check our health as appointment with panel physician. All medical reports are disclosed to them, they said they will check my liver function tests only, others now are not required ad per CIC instructions. They will send all of my history reports and in the case CIC need to do more test, they will inform me.
I am now waiting and hoping for the best, and in my mind, I believe that I can benefit with new policy and possibly the reduced cost of tenofovir as the pattern expired in July.
I will update when anything changes!
Hope our dreams come true!
Best regards

 

[Outworld]

I would like to share my case, hope the best outcome to me and you as well.
I got MR last week, and I am in medication with chronic hepatitis B. Since last June I started taking Tenofovir once a day; even at the time of starting medication, my liver function test are normal, HbsAg +, HbeAg +(<10 S/CO); anti HbeAg -; viremia load undetectable. Every 3-6 month from that time up to now, I check regularly my virus load and found nothing.
Before going to attend ME, I go to internal medical doctor ( of CIC designated panel physician center) to check again all LFTs and virus load, the specialist suggested me keep on taking tenofovir once a day and a follow up every 6 months due to everything normal and in good quality of life.
Last 11/5/2918; My family go to check our health as appointment with panel physician. All medical reports are disclosed to them, they said they will check my liver function tests only, others now are not required ad per CIC instructions. They will send all of my history reports and in the case CIC need to do more test, they will inform me.
I am now waiting and hoping for the best, and in my mind, I believe that I can benefit with new policy and possibly the reduced cost of tenofovir as the pattern expired in July.
I will update when anything changes!
Hope our dreams come true!
Best regards

Thanks for sharing.
I wish you the very good luck finger crossed.
Hopefully, you will get pass through. Please let us know the follow-up so we can make assumptions how CIC tackling and implementing new rules!

 

[Outworld]

I would like to share my case, hope the best outcome to me and you as well.
I got MR last week, and I am in medication with chronic hepatitis B. Since last June I started taking Tenofovir once a day; even at the time of starting medication, my liver function test are normal, HbsAg +, HbeAg +(<10 S/CO); anti HbeAg -; viremia load undetectable. Every 3-6 month from that time up to now, I check regularly my virus load and found nothing.
Before going to attend ME, I go to internal medical doctor ( of CIC designated panel physician center) to check again all LFTs and virus load, the specialist suggested me keep on taking tenofovir once a day and a follow up every 6 months due to everything normal and in good quality of life.
Last 11/5/2918; My family go to check our health as appointment with panel physician. All medical reports are disclosed to them, they said they will check my liver function tests only, others now are not required ad per CIC instructions. They will send all of my history reports and in the case CIC need to do more test, they will inform me.
I am now waiting and hoping for the best, and in my mind, I believe that I can benefit with new policy and possibly the reduced cost of tenofovir as the pattern expired in July.
I will update when anything changes!
Hope our dreams come true!
Best regards

Did you apply to Lawyer for representing your
Case?
If yes, did he tell you that the announced changes are in effect? Regarding tripled threshold

 

[Javeline]

No, I don’t hire lawyer! I applied paper-based application on my own!

 

[Outworld]

Hey guys I have been browsing IRCC's Twitter official account and they said that all files currently under considetation would be treated under the rules as well as applications submitted after the changes had been announced. Therefore, I assume new applications will be assessed according the changed rules.
Cheers

 

[Javeline]

Thank you, Outworld.
Actually, from my point of view, I have a solid belief that threshold changing is put into effect at the time of announcement. Just because they want to delay the changing in definition since this is very complicated and can lead to a big effect in federal and governmental health budget. Spending for normal excessive demand is not much but with developmental delay, autism...cost a lot and might get negative opinions that risk politicians in future.
Therefore, threshold can be changed now. But in order to full scale of elimination, long long time it will take !

 

[letsgotocan]

Hello friends,
This forum has been amazing.

I have some questions on the new medical inadmissibility policy changes reported on Apr 16th. My questions are on the same lines as that of the thread opener.

I have submitted my EE profile and I have a decent enough score (>455) with which I believe I may get an ITA in the next draw before June 1st. Since my case may cause a medical admissibility investigation, I want to know if I should withdraw my application till end of May and plan to get the ITA after June 1st in order for my application to be processed under the new policy changes?

While I am assuming that even though the ITA (Invite to apply) is received in May, if I start my application in June IRCC may process the application based on new rule, I do not want to take any chances in this regard. If in any way an ITA in May is going to cause my application to be processed based on pre-April 16th policy, I can very well wait for 2 more weeks to get to ITA.

Could anyone please respond to this, this will do a great help to calm my nerves?

@Outworld
could you please point to the IRCC tweet which explains the applicability of the new policy on all existing applications under processing. Please do not mistake me to be not trusting your word for it, but this whole medical admissibility thing had made me extremely anxious and preoccupied nowadays.