Can I Request Medical Exam Extension?

[Cheeseburger]

I submitted our application for spousal sponsorship coming up on two months ago. Meaning I am near step 1 completion (Well, hopefully. It has gone from 1 month processing time to 2 months since I submitted). But I sent in our application a few months after I received my physical. So by the time step 2 starts, my physical will only be valid for another 6 months. I would rather not be required to spend another $500 on a new physical (this process sure isn't cheap) and so I was wondering if calling at some point and requesting an extension or something would help. I read that some times extensions will be given, so I don't know if calling and explaining my situation might help in receiving one. May I ask your opinions? Is the 6 months my physical will be valid by the time step 2 starts enough time? Or will I most definitely be asked to get a new physical? Is there any way to request it be extended? Would a phone call help/hurt?

Thanks for any opinions/ideas you may have.

 

[Alurra71]

You can't request an extension. When it comes time for step 2 to be completed and your COPR to be issued your VO will either ask to extend your medical or you will be required to do another. You don't get a say or a choice in the matter. Sorry.

 

[Cheeseburger]

In that case if you HAD to guess. What do you think my chances are? Would you say 90% I am going to need to get a new one? Also is there a way to speak to my VO? I know you can't formally request an extension but we are all human beings and perhaps speaking to the person making the decision could sway them.

 

[Alurra71]

In that case if you HAD to guess. What do you think my chances are? Would you say 90% I am going to need to get a new one? Also is there a way to speak to my VO? I know you can't formally request an extension but we are all human beings and perhaps speaking to the person making the decision could sway them.

No, there is no way to speak directly with your VO unless they mistakenly send you their information (seen it once on here VO send email with direct contact information on it). Depends on where you are from and where your office is? If you are US, then likely they will just extend the medical to be valid to encompass your landing. Not many US get remeds. Anywhere else, it really is up for grabs because it depends on the time to process all the way through.

 

[screech339]

I got the impression that those who applied "inland" get the privilege of having their medical result extended, at the CIC agent's discretion. And those who applied "outland" won't get this benefit since "outland" tends to be much shorter over "inland". If the applicant applied "outland", I think chances are that the VO agent will ask for a new medical exam.

 

[Alurra71]

I got the impression that those who applied "inland" get the privilege of having their medical result extended, at the CIC agent's discretion. And those who applied "outland" won't get this benefit since "outland" tends to be much shorter over "inland". If the applicant applied "outland", I think chances are that the VO agent will ask for a new medical exam.

Thank you Screech. Your input is always valued

 

[Cheeseburger]

I am from the US and we are doing it outland. So I guess that means I will be needing to redo it. :/

 

[Alurra71]

I am from the US and we are doing it outland. So I guess that means I will be needing to redo it. :/

Because you are from the US your file will process rather quickly. I think if the only thing holding you back is a valid medical they will likely extend it and issue you a COPR to land without issue. I have yet to see anyone from the US that has to redo a medical unless their application has taken an unusually long time to process.

 

[rhcohen2014]

I got the impression that those who applied "inland" get the privilege of having their medical result extended, at the CIC agent's discretion. And those who applied "outland" won't get this benefit since "outland" tends to be much shorter over "inland". If the applicant applied "outland", I think chances are that the VO agent will ask for a new medical exam.

i am under the impression the visa officer can request the extension for any applicaiton, whether inland or outland. someone recently posted the immigration code about it. i believe it says something about the medical exam needing to be within 15 months in order to do this. it seems quite common for visa-exempt outland applicants to have their medicals extended, if needed, as i have yet to read anything about us citizens needing to retake the exam or have issues landing becuase of an expired medical.