Inland Spousal Sponsorship - Furtherance Request + Processing Time Question

[Snibbles]

Quick background: I'm a U.S Citizen married to a Canadian. I'm living in Canada with my spouse currently, under visitor status.

My Canada Post tracking says that all the sponsorship paperwork was received by the Mississiauga CIC Office on October 23rd. I submitted all the spousal sponsorship paperwork along with an upfront medical, upfront background checks (FBI & RCMP), and an OWP application.

Today I received a Furtherance Request for my immigration medical, CIC wants a full psychiatric evaluation within 90 days due to my history of anxiety/depression. My immigration doctor is getting this set up for me.

I was wondering however, while I'm complying with the furtherance, is CIC continuing to move forward with my application? Or does this technically put a "pause" on my whole application? Does Sponsorship approval tend to come after my background check and medical? I haven't even got AOR yet so I'm a little confused with the timeline of occurrences.

Thanks!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Quick background: I'm a U.S Citizen married to a Canadian. I'm living in Canada with my spouse currently, under visitor status.

My Canada Post tracking says that all the sponsorship paperwork was received by the Mississiauga CIC Office on October 23rd. I submitted all the spousal sponsorship paperwork along with an upfront medical, upfront background checks (FBI & RCMP), and an OWP application.

Today I received a Furtherance Request for my immigration medical, CIC wants a full psychiatric evaluation within 90 days due to my history of anxiety/depression. My immigration doctor is getting this set up for me.

I was wondering however, while I'm complying with the furtherance, is CIC continuing to move forward with my application? Or does this technically put a "pause" on my whole application? Does Sponsorship approval tend to come after my background check and medical? I haven't even got AOR yet so I'm a little confused with the timeline of occurrences.

Thanks!

Panel Physicians haven't been allowed to do upfront medicals for spousal sponsorship since the beginning of this year. Applicants are required to wait for IRCC to request it. How did you manage to get one? It is very possible that the office misunderstood that this was for a sponsorship app and processed your medical as non-EDE (Excessive Demand Exempt) instead of EDE. I suggest you find out ASAP.

Regardless, IRCC will continue to process your app. The medical is reviewed separately by a completely different office.

 

[Snibbles]

Panel Physicians haven't been allowed to do upfront medicals for spousal sponsorship since the beginning of this year. Applicants are required to wait for IRCC to request it. How did you manage to get one? It is very possible that the office misunderstood that this was for a sponsorship app and processed your medical as non-EDE (Excessive Demand Exempt) instead of EDE. I suggest you find out ASAP.

Regardless, IRCC will continue to process your app. The medical is reviewed separately by a completely different office.

I had my immigration medical on October 18th and told my doctor that I was submitting my PR/Spousal Sponsorship package the following day, so he printed an E-Medical information sheet with my photograph, barcode & info to include with my package. When he was putting the information sheet together, he told me that I could choose the "Worker" upfront medical type since I was also applying for an OWP (as there was no PR/Sponsorship option, "worker" was the closest second option).

My Info sheet does say "Non-EDE", which may be why I'm being asked to get a psychiatric report. Should I contact my immigration doctor, or "Migration Health Branch" in Ottawa which is where I received the Email from?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I had my immigration medical on October 18th and told my doctor that I was submitting my PR/Spousal Sponsorship package the following day, so he printed an E-Medical information sheet with my photograph, barcode & info to include with my package. When he was putting the information sheet together, he told me that I could choose the "Worker" upfront medical type since I was also applying for an OWP (as there was no PR/Sponsorship option, "worker" was the closest second option).

My Info sheet does say "Non-EDE", which may be why I'm being asked to get a psychiatric report. Should I contact my immigration doctor, or "Migration Health Branch" in Ottawa which is where I received the Email from?

Your Panel Physician screwed up. You should not have been allowed to do the medical upfront and it should not have been classed as non-EDE. Contact the physician's office to inform them of the mistake. Reply to the email to inform them of the mistake and ask whether you are required to do the further tests when you are actually EDE.

Note that this doesn't necessarily mean that you won't have to do the further tests.

 

[Snibbles]

Your Panel Physician screwed up. You should not have been allowed to do the medical upfront and it should not have been classed as non-EDE. Contact the physician's office to inform them of the mistake. Reply to the email to inform them of the mistake and ask whether you are required to do the further tests when you are actually EDE.

Note that this doesn't necessarily mean that you won't have to do the further tests.

I managed to get a hold of IRCC and they looked into the issue. He looked up my files and informed me that in my case regardless of whether my classification is EDE or Non EDE, I would be required to go through with furtherance for a psychiatric evaluation anyhow. It may have something to do with a more recent gender dysphoria diagnosis I'm thinking, since anxiety and depression are relatively common.

I think I'll call them back and see if they can make a note about my medical being EDE rather than Non-EDE. I wouldn't want my inland PR to be refused for "excessive demand", especially without a right to appeal. Which brings me to wonder...if a legitimate mistake such as this EDE/NonEDE issue was made by a doctor or similar on an application and the application is refused due to the error, is that considered a form of appeal if I'm bringing it to their attention?

Thanks for your input by the way!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I managed to get a hold of IRCC and they looked into the issue. He looked up my files and informed me that in my case regardless of whether my classification is EDE or Non EDE, I would be required to go through with furtherance for a psychiatric evaluation anyhow. It may have something to do with a more recent gender dysphoria diagnosis I'm thinking, since anxiety and depression are relatively common.

I think I'll call them back and see if they can make a note about my medical being EDE rather than Non-EDE. I wouldn't want my inland PR to be refused for "excessive demand", especially without a right to appeal. Which brings me to wonder...if a legitimate mistake such as this EDE/NonEDE issue was made by a doctor or similar on an application and the application is refused due to the error, is that considered a form of appeal if I'm bringing it to their attention?

Thanks for your input by the way!

Do you mean that you spoke to the call centre? Don't just go by what they say.

That recent diagnosis could require the further tests regardless of being EDE or not but you should still make sure from the actual Regional Medical Office.

Your app would not be refused for this. Medicals are classed incorrectly quite often. They would realize that you are EDE and process it as such.

 

[Snibbles]

I spoke with the call centre, as my E-mail from Migration Health Branch noted not to reply to it and to contact the call centre for information about my application...I can't find any method of contact for Migration Health Branch.

From what I've gathered from the two calls I made this morning to the IRCC call centre, it looks like the examinations for EDE and non-EDE are identical (physical, eye sight, syphilis, HIV, tuberculosis) and the officer processing my application will make the final call on whether my case is excessive demand or not. The guy on the phone didn't seem to understand that was the whole point, and that I needed to see if I could change my medical to EDE because I'm technically family class rather than economic class so I'm exempt from excessive demand.

At the very least, the first person I spoke with on the phone looked into my file and assured me that the furtherance was not due to excessive demand. Either way, I'll get the psychological assessment done and it does seem like medicals are classified incorrectly pretty often from what I'm reading on others. As long as immigration realizes that I'm actually EDE, I'm good. When I do my psychological assessment, I can ask my physician to make a small note somewhere that I'm family class EDE, just in case.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I spoke with the call centre, as my E-mail from Migration Health Branch noted not to reply to it and to contact the call centre for information about my application...I can't find any method of contact for Migration Health Branch.

From what I've gathered from the two calls I made this morning to the IRCC call centre, it looks like the examinations for EDE and non-EDE are identical (physical, eye sight, syphilis, HIV, tuberculosis) and the officer processing my application will make the final call on whether my case is excessive demand or not. The guy on the phone didn't seem to understand that was the whole point, and that I needed to see if I could change my medical to EDE because I'm technically family class rather than economic class so I'm exempt from excessive demand.

At the very least, the first person I spoke with on the phone looked into my file and assured me that the furtherance was not due to excessive demand. Either way, I'll get the psychological assessment done and it does seem like medicals are classified incorrectly pretty often from what I'm reading on others. As long as immigration realizes that I'm actually EDE, I'm good. When I do my psychological assessment, I can ask my physician to make a small note somewhere that I'm family class EDE, just in case.

Call centre is staffed by barely trained people who often don't understand even basic questions.

Email for RMO: IRCC.MHBGPNMU-UGRMPDDGMS.IRCC@cic.gc.ca

 

[Snibbles]

Call centre is staffed by barely trained people who often don't understand even basic questions.

Email for RMO: IRCC.MHBGPNMU-UGRMPDDGMS.IRCC@cic.gc.ca

Excuse my ignorance but what is "RMO"? Would I just be Emailing them the issue I explained here more or less?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Excuse my ignorance but what is "RMO"? Would I just be Emailing them the issue I explained here more or less?

RMO = Regional Medical Office.

Yes, just explain the situation. It might not make a difference but since you have only just applied, it isn't going to delay your app to get clarification.

 

[Snibbles]

I Emailed the RMO and received this response:

"Dear Client,

Re: Your email from 31-10-2017

We would like to acknowledge the issue you raised on October 31st, 2017 regarding an immigration medical exam you completed where the Panel Physician classified your upfront medical as “worker”. Note that family class FC1 (spouse) requires medical instructions issued by Immigration and you cannot do an upfront medical. As per our system there is no active FC1 application in process. In this case the Panel Physician followed correct procedure. Regarding the furtherance request, it is required to correctly assess your medical exam.

We take very seriously all comments/complaints received regarding our Panel Physician Program and we address all issues brought to our attention.

Thank you for your valuable feedback."


So it looks like regardless, the medical is being processed as "Worker" and has to follow those requirements. However, I'm guessing that when IRCC receives the medical results from RMO later on, they'll just apply them to my case as appropriate (Family Class - Spousal Sponsorship) and will notify me if anything additional needs to be completed.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I Emailed the RMO and received this response:

"Dear Client,

Re: Your email from 31-10-2017

We would like to acknowledge the issue you raised on October 31st, 2017 regarding an immigration medical exam you completed where the Panel Physician classified your upfront medical as “worker”. Note that family class FC1 (spouse) requires medical instructions issued by Immigration and you cannot do an upfront medical. As per our system there is no active FC1 application in process. In this case the Panel Physician followed correct procedure. Regarding the furtherance request, it is required to correctly assess your medical exam.

We take very seriously all comments/complaints received regarding our Panel Physician Program and we address all issues brought to our attention.

Thank you for your valuable feedback."


So it looks like regardless, the medical is being processed as "Worker" and has to follow those requirements. However, I'm guessing that when IRCC receives the medical results from RMO later on, they'll just apply them to my case as appropriate (Family Class - Spousal Sponsorship) and will notify me if anything additional needs to be completed.

Nice to have the clarification.

 

[Snibbles]

Nice to have the clarification.

I have a related question about the order of events. My psych assessment was done today and the report will be forwarded to my panel physician who will forward it to RMO to go with my medical.

Should I personally be receiving anything (results?) from RMO or does RMO directly submit my medical results to attach to my family sponsorship case with IRCC? I'm guessing that IRCC would be interpreting the medical results in regards to my PR case and not RMO?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I have a related question about the order of events. My psych assessment was done today and the report will be forwarded to my panel physician who will forward it to RMO to go with my medical.

Should I personally be receiving anything (results?) from RMO or does RMO directly submit my medical results to attach to my family sponsorship case with IRCC? I'm guessing that IRCC would be interpreting the medical results in regards to my PR case and not RMO?

You would only receive the results if they found something that requires you to seek further medical attention.

The RMO makes all of the decisions on medicals. The VO basically just looks up the medical number in the system and sees pass or fail.

 

[SeniorSpouse]

I in a very similar position as Snibbles in that I'm also applying for PR under Family Sponsorship spouse inland and my medical was also incorrectly coded Non EDE when it should have been coded EDE. I'm also experiencing a furtherance requesting a psych assessment. my US Primary Physician MD entered Anxiety disorder non-specific when prescribing an SSRI for me several years ago. My problem is that the panel physician has not been able to refer me to a psych doc or group that will do an assessment for me. I've inquired with 5 other panel physicians and far only one maybe but no confirmed appointment yet. I'm in the Ottawa/Toronto area. Anyone know of a psych group that will do the RMO requested assessment? I don't need a full workup only an assessment that I am or am not a danger to Canadians. I have no history of psych problems, violence or contact with police, only looking to retire in Canada with my wife of 35 yrs.