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Psychiatric exam / report requested for child

chelseam

Star Member
May 20, 2018
135
53
Hi everyone,

This is my second post today, but completely unrelated to the first one.

Have applied to sponsor my husband. He has an adult dependent child (age 19) living in Peru, non-accompanying for this application, who has been very cooperative with our application.

After her medical exam, she was asked to go back. They told her she needs a psychiatric report/exam. I asked her if she knows why (it was a total shock for us), to better have an idea. She replied to me that she disclosed to the doctor that she has attempted suicide. I've been crying all morning. We had NO IDEA. Our plan is for her to join us in the future, and now we want that even more.

Could this be something we should be worried about, for the application? (Obviously we're worried about the bigger issue even more). Could both my husband and his daughter be refused? Does anyone have any experience with something similar?

Thanks in advance!
 

evdm

Hero Member
Jun 16, 2017
650
360
I cannot readily find an official source to back this up, but I believe that it is rare for a spouse/partner or dependent child to be refused on medical grounds and that for these two categories only the excessive demand clause is not applied in refusals. However, if there is an issue relating to public health and safety for either a communicable disease or a mental disorder then there are grounds for denial.

The psychiatric evaluation would have to show that there is a danger to public health for your husband's child to be refused. I am not an expert but as a complete layperson I would say that a single suicide attempt would not be considered a serious threat to public health.

That being said, I do hope that your husband's child is getting the help and support that's best for them and that they are in a better mental state currently.
 

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,553
7,205
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
Hi everyone,

This is my second post today, but completely unrelated to the first one.

Have applied to sponsor my husband. He has an adult dependent child (age 19) living in Peru, non-accompanying for this application, who has been very cooperative with our application.

After her medical exam, she was asked to go back. They told her she needs a psychiatric report/exam. I asked her if she knows why (it was a total shock for us), to better have an idea. She replied to me that she disclosed to the doctor that she has attempted suicide. I've been crying all morning. We had NO IDEA. Our plan is for her to join us in the future, and now we want that even more.

Could this be something we should be worried about, for the application? (Obviously we're worried about the bigger issue even more). Could both my husband and his daughter be refused? Does anyone have any experience with something similar?

Thanks in advance!
Hi

No, it is not something to worry about for the app.

Your husband can only sponsor her while she is under 22 years old, so if you are wanting her to come to Canada in future, be aware of that short window.
 

chelseam

Star Member
May 20, 2018
135
53
Hi

No, it is not something to worry about for the app.

Your husband can only sponsor her while she is under 22 years old, so if you are wanting her to come to Canada in future, be aware of that short window.
Thanks so much for your reply! Yes, indeed it's a really short window, and time can go by too quickly, especially when you're disorganized like me. We'll have to be on top of that.
 

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,553
7,205
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
Thanks so much for your reply! Yes, indeed it's a really short window, and time can go by too quickly, especially when you're disorganized like me. We'll have to be on top of that.
It is easier to just include her as accompanying
 

chelseam

Star Member
May 20, 2018
135
53
I cannot readily find an official source to back this up, but I believe that it is rare for a spouse/partner or dependent child to be refused on medical grounds and that for these two categories only the excessive demand clause is not applied in refusals. However, if there is an issue relating to public health and safety for either a communicable disease or a mental disorder then there are grounds for denial.

The psychiatric evaluation would have to show that there is a danger to public health for your husband's child to be refused. I am not an expert but as a complete layperson I would say that a single suicide attempt would not be considered a serious threat to public health.

That being said, I do hope that your husband's child is getting the help and support that's best for them and that they are in a better mental state currently.
Thanks for your reply! I have hope now.

Yes, I really hope she's getting the support best for her. We have to take this seriously.
 

chelseam

Star Member
May 20, 2018
135
53
It is easier to just include her as accompanying
Is it possible to change that mid application? And if so, how long would she have til she would have to travel? I left Canada a long time ago, and we'll be starting from zero, so it would be hard to take her until we're settled with housing and jobs.
 

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,553
7,205
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
Is it possible to change that mid application? And if so, how long would she have til she would have to travel? I left Canada a long time ago, and we'll be starting from zero, so it would be hard to take her until we're settled with housing and jobs.
Yes, it can be changed at any point before the Principal Applicant lands.

She would have to land before the COPR expires, generally a year from the medical date. She could then return home and would have 3 years to return. After 3 years, she would no longer be in compliance with the RO.
 

chelseam

Star Member
May 20, 2018
135
53
Yes, it can be changed at any point before the Principal Applicant lands.

She would have to land before the COPR expires, generally a year from the medical date. She could then return home and would have 3 years to return. After 3 years, she would no longer be in compliance with the RO.

Oh, I see! That's a good idea. And if we change her to accompanying, there wouldn't be any risk of refusal because of me not having an income in Canada, but being responsible for several people (we have two children as well)?
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,594
13,523
There is no income requirement but you have to show hoe you will support yourselves without government help. Given that you are not employed you may have to prove how you will support yourselves.
 

chelseam

Star Member
May 20, 2018
135
53
There is no income requirement but you have to show hoe you will support yourselves without government help. Given that you are not employed you may have to prove how you will support yourselves.
Thanks for your reply! Hmmm, that will be tricky. We sent in screen shots of jobs that both of us could apply to in Canada, and proof of our panting & decorating business here in the UK (he's the painter, I do the admin). But I don't know if that would be enough.
 

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,553
7,205
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
Thanks for your reply! Hmmm, that will be tricky. We sent in screen shots of jobs that both of us could apply to in Canada, and proof of our panting & decorating business here in the UK (he's the painter, I do the admin). But I don't know if that would be enough.
The fact that you have your own business in the UK should be sufficient to show that you will be able to support yourselves in Canada.
 
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canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,594
13,523
Thanks for your reply! Hmmm, that will be tricky. We sent in screen shots of jobs that both of us could apply to in Canada, and proof of our panting & decorating business here in the UK (he's the painter, I do the admin). But I don't know if that would be enough.
Previous savings that the family has is also a possibility as well as showing Canadian family support if necessary.
 

chelseam

Star Member
May 20, 2018
135
53
@canuck78 @canuck_in_uk @evdm Hi! I don't know how I didn't see your last replies in this thread. I want to thank you all so very much for your help. We've finished all the paperwork for changing my husband's daughter to accompanying. It took all this time because of the LVO telling us to contact Missisauga, and vice versa. Finally it's sorted. Now we wait for the response.
I just wanted to share with you something incredible. Thank you to the requested psychiatric report, she was able to let out / disclose the cause of the suicide attempt, an incident from childhood that she had kept secret all these years. No one knew. She shared this info with my husband, and they've now become closer, and talk in a more profound way, and their relationship is deeper. It's sad what she's been through, and so many years ago. But better we know now than never. All thanks to Canadian immigration requirements.
Anyway, thanks for your help. I also see your helpful replies to other people in various threads. You're all STARS.
 
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