Medical

[Finley]

Hi I was wondering about getting the medical for common law application. Do I need to get a medical in advance or upon request. I booked and appointment today with a doctor near where I live, but then I read up and says I need a panel physician. Why is this? I'm living in galway, Ireland and the only doctors listed are in different cities, Dublin and Cork.

 

[iiiEllie]

If you send it before they request you prevent possible slowdown of your application processing.
They only accept medicals from registered panel physicians, we had to drive 8 hours for my husbands medical, it's pretty common to need to travel for it.
His was also not covered by insurance, and 400$

 

[taffy7]

You are required to have an upfront medical for your application to be processed. You will need to go to a panel physician . They have direct access to the efile that is required for your medical to be submitted.

 

[wowsers]

You do not have to undergo the medical in Ireland: you can take it anywhere. For example you are not far from Shannon airport and there is an airport also in Galway. Ryanair advertise a return flight from Shannon to Manchester UK for only 31 Euros and return flights to lots of other destinations also: be adventurous! Why not a medical in Warsaw for example? I have heard of one Brit going to Romania for his medical. I did mine in BC Canada when on holiday.
Added: I failed to answer your question about the timing of the medical. What Taffy7 says is correct: since you are, I understand, applying under the family sponsorship scheme you are obliged to undergo an upfront medical examination. What iiiEllie states is incorrect. Some people ignore the instructions and wait until they are asked and I accept that some of them get away with it; but the safer course is to obey the rules, get the medical done before you apply and in accordance with the documents check list include in your application bundle the document you will be given by the panel physician.