Medical Exam timing?

[wanabecanadian]

Just a quick question about the validity / expiry date for medicals. I tried reading the guide and search this forum but was not able to get a straight answer. So my question is:

My spouse did her medicals on 10/feb/2012 and we are planning to launch the application in 2 weeks. She is an American citizen and we do not live together as yet hence are applying through the outland route. I understand the medical exam results are valid for 1 year. If I were to apply for sponsoring my spouse within that 1 year (whether the first month or 6 months since medical exam), does it matter? I am not sure how long the results need to be valid for? upto the time the application is launched or does it have to be valid for the entire length the application is in process? please advice.

What do you suggest? Should we go ahead and submit the application?

thanks

 

[CharlieD10]

You need to submit your application within a year of that medical, or else the medical must be re-done. A valid medical is an essential component of a complete spousal application. Ideally, you should do the medical LAST because of its limited validity.

Going through Buffalo it is possible to have your application finalized before the year expires, provided you submit the application soon after doing the medical. If the medical expires during processing (as did mine), you will be instructed to re-do them, as the validity of a visa is tied to the validity of the medical exam and the validity of the applicant's passport, whichever expires first (usually the medical).

 

[DCGelfling]

May as well submit ASAP. The meds need to still be valid when they issue the visa. Sometimes they make you redo them if the process takes too long, other times they extend the validity of the original exam. I have no idea why they choose which option, though.

 

[CharlieD10]

May as well submit ASAP. The meds need to still be valid when they issue the visa. Sometimes they make you redo them if the process takes too long, other times they extend the validity of the original exam. I have no idea why they choose which option, though.

The validity may be extended IF the applicant has not been out of Canada since the application was submitted.

 

[DCGelfling]

The validity may be extended IF the applicant has not been out of Canada since the application was submitted.

Aha. I'd never noticed that was the commonality among the posts about extended meds I've seen, thanks.