Up-front Medical for spousal application

[DaiWelsh]

From the forms it seems for a spousal application I am supposed to do an up-front medical? At the time we started preparing this move the processing time was about 6 months but apparently now London is somewhere over 2 years, while the medical expires in a year.

Is it definitely still the case that I need to get a medical up-front and then presumably another one at some point when it expires (is that when the application is otherwise finished or do I have to renew every year regardless, so potentially 3 or more medicals?).

In case it matters; my wife is Canadian citizen, I am UK citizen, outland PR application starting while I am in UK, will be arriving in Canada in about 3 months, ahead of application being processed.

My guess is the answer is yes I have to do up-front and then again when it expires, but I wanted to see if anyone can confirm or deny before we blow hundreds of pounds on medical #1 ahead of the application form going in.

TIA,

Dai

 

[canadianwoman]

Yes, you are supposed to do the medical before you send in the application. Many London applicants who are UK citizens get processed before a year is up. If not, do not just automatically go for a remedical - sometimes the visa office will extend the validity of the first medical. If not, they will ask you for another one. They would probably ask for the second one shortly before approving you, not right after the first one expires, so it is highly unlikely you would have to do three.

 

[DaiWelsh]

Thanks, pretty much as I expected, good if it will be maximum of two at least

 

[DanSlh]

Thanks, pretty much as I expected, good if it will be maximum of two at least

The processing time shows 29 months because pakistani's applications are going through London.
UK citizens are processed - if straight application - in less than a year.

 

[wowsers]

I wanted to see if anyone can confirm or deny before we blow hundreds of pounds on medical #1 ahead of the application form going in.

Have you considered delaying the application until after you arrive in Canada and getting the upfront medical done in Canada? You can get it done anywhere provided it is done by a panel physician and I suspect it is far cheaper in Canada than in the UK. I did mine in Canada when on vacation there shortly before submitting my application and as I recollect the cost was in the region of C$400. That was admittedly some 3 years ago; so things might have changed. Actually, I never found out how much it would have cost me in the UK but my assumption was and is that it would be more expensive. And with the exchange rate having improved so much in favour of sterling, in real terms it would be now cheaper still to have it done in Canada.

 

[DaiWelsh]

For the record £312 where I am getting it done in UK (basic medical +£50 if you are over 70 and possibly extra if you need Hepatitis tests etc. not sure).

If I wait for medical I will have to wait for PR app and presumably also OWP application and as I need to work from the moment I arrive that is not an option. Thanks for the suggestion though.