No DMP nearby - what to do?

[ufa]

Hi, I'm just beginning to go through all of the application procedures for sponsoring my husband from an island nation in the pacific. This site has already been tremendously helpful in just getting my spirits up about the whole thing.... but i still have a lot of problems, I'm wondering if anyone has dealt with the issue of having to travel internationally to get the medical exam?

There are no DMPs in my husbands country, and the remoteness of his country mean he will need both a visa (potentially costing up to $500 CAD) and a $500 flight just to get to NZ (nearest country with a DMP) where he can get the medical exam. On top of that, he has three dependant children from a previous relationship that will not be accompanying him to Canada, but we want to ensure that we could sponsor them at a later date. That means we could end up spending $4000 just on travel to get everyone a medical exam!

Another option, at least for my husband, would be to come to Canada to have the exam. That flight would cost upwards of $2000 CAD, but he does not need a visa for Canada. If he came here for the exam, could he then just stay until he received his PR? Would that mean i have to go through an 'inland' application?

Another option I'm wondering about is paying for DMP to travel instead - has anyone been able to arrange this? Or will the x-rays and blood work have to be done in certified laboratories?

Any help / advice would be extremely helpful. We may be in luck that the children should all be moving to NZ soon, but then i'm still left with figuring out how to get my husband the exam.

Help?

Ideas?

Previous Experience???

 

[rjessome]

This is a new problem that I haven't seen before, at least in the past 3 years. PMM and Leon have been around longer so they might be able to give you more information.

Getting the medical done is not optional, as you seem very well aware. So your husband and his children will all need to be examined. It sounds like the cheapest option would be your first suggestion of the visa and travel to NZ. If hubby travels to Canada now, he would be considered a visitor and must (if asked) prove the the border staff that he will return to his home country at the end of his stay. If his intention is NOT to do this, but apply inland while here, he may have difficulty doing that without lieing (not a good idea). And the children would still have to be examined anyway so you and he would have to cover the costs of their travel and visas for the medical exams.

I've never heard of a DMP doing any travelling but that's not to say it isn't possible. You might want to call some DMPs and ask about this. However, I suspect that this would be significantly more expensive because the doctor would have to be paid for ALL of their time away from their practice. I would call the embassy where your husband's application would be processed to find out what should be done for citizens of his country. The embassy might just say "he must go to the nearest DMP" and that will be it OR they may have special procedures for these circumstances. It's worth calling around to find out if there are any options/answers for you.

Very curious to see how this turns out. Best of luck.

 

[Baloo]

Another option, at least for my husband, would be to come to Canada to have the exam.
That flight would cost upwards of $2000 CAD, but he does not need a visa for Canada. If he came here for the exam, could he then just stay until he received his PR? Would that mean i have to go through an 'inland' application?

Another option I'm wondering about is paying for DMP to travel instead - has anyone been able to arrange this? Or will the x-rays and blood work have to be done in certified laboratories?

Sadly the medial is mandatory.
As he does not need a visa, he could come to Canada for the medical. I did not take my medical in my home country, it cost me less in Canada.
Paying a DMP is either not available or so expensive it is likely to cost more than your previous option of $4000.
At the point of entry the IO will decide how long, or if he can enter Canada (every visitor gets the same deal).
If he is in Canada it does not mean that you have to take the "inland route".

For many people there are disadvantages to going inland, check the following thread for some info' or search the site.
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t40460.0.html

 

[ufa]

Thanks to both! I've got a giant list of questions I'll address to CIC tomorrow and follow up with a call to some DMPs in NZ and the Sydney office (that's where his application will go).

Worst part is that my husband just left Canada, and if we had been on top of things a little more we would have had the medical exam for him done before he went back.

Thanks also for the link to the other thread - that started to answer my questions about inland/outland apps.

I'll keep this thread updated on our progress with the Medical Exams.

 

[Baloo]

Good luck.

 

[waitingintz]

Hi ufa

I don't have a helpful suggestion for you but a friend of mine did have the same situation. They had to spend a lot of money for her husband to travel to another country plus visas etc so that he could get his medical (and then they had to appeal a refusal and do it all over again because the first medical expired!) So - not that helpful - but no, you are not alone in this situation... it does happen.

Unfortunately it's just bad luck to be in a place where there is no DMP but I don't think there's any chance of getting around it because even if the physician is willing to travel to you I would think the lab needs to be approved in some way as well so you wouldn't be able to get your tests analyzed.

As for him waiting it out in Canada - could be worth a shot. But as stated, he'd still need a return ticket and may end up having to go back before the PR comes through.

Sounds like a very costly trip to the doctor for your husband and his kids! Best of luck.

 

[ufa]

There may be hope yet !!!

I just spoke to the Canadian Visa office and they suggested that I should be able to find a doctor in my husband's country who can be qualified as a DMP.... need to contact the Sydney office to get details and requirements. Here's hoping it works

I'll fill you in again when we get in touch with the Sydney office, but things are looking up today

 

[Baloo]

That would be a good option.

 

[Siouxie]

All the details on "how to be a DMP" ....

http://www.cic.gc.ca/English/department/partner/dmp/index.asp

http://www.cic.gc.ca/English/department/partner/dmp/new.asp#tphp%20idtphp

It includes information about Designated Medical Practitioners (DMP) responsibilities and duties, professional conduct, ethics and conflict of interest, and is intended to improve the immigration medical system.

DMP Acceptance of Appointment and Application for Appointment as a DMP form

All DMPs formally accept the roles and responsibilities laid out in the revised DMP Handbook. The form must be filled out by all DMPs and forwarded to CIC headquarters. The form is located in Appendix XIV of the DMP Handbook linked above.

Another element of this new DMP framework involves collecting key information regarding the medical practice, radiology and pathology clinics used by DMPs, in addition to their official language competencies. In order to conduct Canadian immigration medical exams, all DMPs have to complete the Application for Appointment as a DMP form which is located in Appendix XIII of the revised DMP Handbook linked below.

DMP handbook: http://www.cic.gc.ca/English/resources/publications/dmp-handbook/index.asp

 

[ufa]

More to update...

The response from the Sydney office seems to say that the application can be submitted without the medical exams, and that once they receive it they will send him a special form for the medicals that can then be taken to any doctor!

Things keep getting simpler! (And cheaper )

 

[Baloo]

More to update...

The response from the Sydney office seems to say that the application can be submitted without the medical exams, and that once they receive it they will send him a special form for the medicals that can then be taken to any doctor!

Things keep getting simpler! (And cheaper )

Thanks for the update.

 

[rjessome]

More to update...

The response from the Sydney office seems to say that the application can be submitted without the medical exams, and that once they receive it they will send him a special form for the medicals that can then be taken to any doctor!

Things keep getting simpler! (And cheaper )

See if you can get that in writing from Sydney and/or make sure you explain that fully in your cover letter. You don't want CPC Mississauga bouncing your application back to you for being incomplete. Good luck.