The Medical
The purpose of this is to assure the Canadian Government and its people that we (the applicants) are in sound health and will not put a burden on the economy and/or health system or endanger the health of Canadian citizens.
Who has to have the medical?
Every applicant and their dependents (regardless of whether the dependents are accompanying them or not) must have a medical. In other words, if you are divorced and your ex-spouse has custody of the children and will not be accompanying you, the children still need to have a medical. Non-dependent children over the age of 18 who will not be accompanying you do not have to have the medical but expect to be asked about it and expect to have to explain. Maybe even provide a letter from the adult offspring. If one member on the application fails the medical, then the entire application fails.
What does it involve?
The medical itself is just like any regular medical check up with a few extras. Please note: this is just a general description and your experience may vary.
They will more than likely look at or do the following:
take a full medical history
weight
height
blood pressure - mildly elevated blood pressure is not a problem and considering the stress you are under probably expected
general blood test - these days I believe this includes an HIV/AIDS test
general urine test - diabetes etc. Controlled diabetes is not a bar to immigration
general reflexes
general examination of spine and abdomen
ask about hearing and eyesight - note if you need glasses or hearing aids this is not a problem. Deafness and blindness are not a bar provided you can prove that you can are employable
listen to your heart and lungs. Note asthma is not a bar but they may ask for extra tests. They are extremely fussy about our lungs. TB is a very big issue.
Every applicant/dependent over the age of 11 has to have a chest x-ray. Please consider this fact if you are pregnant, you may have to delay the medical until after the baby's birth. Many doctors will do a chest x-ray on a pregnant mother these days. I am told that it is no more dangerous than a dental x-ray or flying. I do not know the stats though so don;t take my word as gospel. It is up to you and your doctors. The medicals take a minimum of several weeks to be approved. The final decision is made by the Canadian government and not by the designated medical practitioner. Most airlines will not permit women who are more then seven months pregnant to fly. So you are going to be cutting it fine if you do decide to go ahead and x-ray the pregnant mother. If you wait until the baby is born you then add that dependent to your application. This usually does not delay things too much provided everything else has been approved.
Also, if approved, the Landing Paper will be dated for the anniversary of your medical, so although you are given a fairly limited time frame to get the medical done - about 60 days - count ahead one year and see when the deadline will be for landing.....you may want to delay until after the end of the tax year for instance...or perhaps after the end of the school year.....
(Source Whichweb.net)
