Interview letter... Does this mean I passed the medical panel?

[Sooooon 11]

Hi

So I was referred to a specialist psych by the medical people at knightsbridge. I attended a few weeks later, I think it went okay but the doctor said he couldnt make any promises as it's up to an embassy medical panel that will view his notes. They supposedly got the report last week to come to a verdict over eligibility. This morning I got the interview letter! Does this mean they decided i am okay to continue the visa process or am I going to pay and go to the interview with the possibility that they already decided no? Surely if it was a flat out no they wouldn't waste my resources and theirs... right? Just wondering when I can stop worrying that it's a big fat no rather than a good chance. My medical was in june so I've been stuck on high level worry mode since then.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Interesting! I would take that as a very good sign. London claims it will not schedule interviews until it's in receipt of all your DS forms and your medical results.

The medical people aren't particularly known for keeping people up to date, and generally no news is considered good news, when dealing with them.

If you want to be sure about what happened - you can try calling the knightsbridge doctors and find out if your file got couriered to the embassy? To be honest, I'd just assume all is good and get ready for your interview.

Exciting. When is it?

[Sooooon 11]

Yeah when I opened the letter I breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn't a denial letter. Do they send denial letters at this stage? I spoke to the medical people on tuesday, that same day they forwarded the letter on to the embassy, they have no more info beyond that since it's not their area of involvement. I searched for info on the specifics of these stages but there isnt any. I have no idea when the choice is made, whether its by knightsbridge panel or people at the embassy, if they notify you beforehand of the verdict of medical class. This whole process is cryptic, A lot of being left in the dark, my sympathies for all the future applicants who have to go through that not knowing and waiting in suspended hope that we all have already endured.

[Sooooon 11]

Oh it's september 12th, i did ask for an august appt when i sent the readiness form since my fiances grandma is not long for this world. So 6 more weeks till this is over, could be worse.

Either way I can't wait to be done, life has been on hold for over a year now.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi

So I was referred to a specialist psych by the medical people at knightsbridge. I attended a few weeks later, I think it went okay but the doctor said he couldnt make any promises as it's up to an embassy medical panel that will view his notes. They supposedly got the report last week to come to a verdict over eligibility. This morning I got the interview letter! Does this mean they decided i am okay to continue the visa process or am I going to pay and go to the interview with the possibility that they already decided no? Surely if it was a flat out no they wouldn't waste my resources and theirs... right? Just wondering when I can stop worrying that it's a big fat no rather than a good chance. My medical was in june so I've been stuck on high level worry mode since then.

The medical panel the psych referred to is Knightsbridge clinic. The doctor must decide if it is a Class A or Class B mental condition and write that on the report. He obviously felt there was a mental condition but could not decide without further input from a medical expert in the field of psychiatry.

It is the embassy which decides actual admissibility under the law based on whether it was Class A or Class B. You won't know until you show up at the interview. Knightsbridge keeps no files on you so calling them would not reveal your report. The embassy will not be evaluating your case until the interviewer looks at the file while you are stood at his window.

Class A and Class B Medical Conditions

Class A medical conditions are inadmissible conditions and include an applicant who is determined to have -

A current physical or mental disorder with associated harmful behavior

A past physical or mental disorder with associated harmful behavior if the harmful behavior is likely

to recur or to lead to other harmful behavior in the future

Drug (substance) abuse or addiction (dependence)

Class B medical conditions are not inadmissible medical conditions and include any applicant who is determined to have a physical or mental abnormality, disease, or disability serious in degree or nature amounting to a substantial departure from well-being.

[Boiler 45,403]

Everybody get a Consulate Interview.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Forgot to say, you could also be determined to have neither Class A or Class B after they psych report.

[Sooooon 11]

Forgot to say, you could also be determined to have neither Class A or Class B after they psych report.

I was told that this week my report was sent to a panel of doctors at the embassy who decided and then my interview would be assigned, obviously the dude in the booth could still say no but i was told it was the panel who decided the classification. That sucks that I still have to pay and attend interview if they've decided no. I studied up and should be class B but my diagnosis of PTSD with neuro problems is a tricky area, the report was favorable in terms of displaying remission for 2+ years but the doctor couldn't state absolutes of 'unlikely to reoccur' since the nature of the disorder is to be triggered out of the blue. I've not seen another case like this from all my searching so really have zero idea what the verdict is.

[Sooooon 11]

huh maybe i should remember to update this with the verdict for future people in the same position.

[nobbie 105]

I do not claim to know but surely as they have scheduled an interview it must be ok. Even though this whole process is way over the top, I cannot see them getting you in just to say, no, you have failed the medical.

[lost_at_sea 995]

huh maybe i should remember to update this with the verdict for future people in the same position.

Yes, please do.

It seems like such cruel and unusual punishment to have you pay the visa fee and await an interview if they already know you failed the medical.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Yes, please do.

It seems like such cruel and unusual punishment to have you pay the visa fee and await an interview if they already know you failed the medical.

"They" do not already know. The file sits unadjudicated.

Sooon--There are no doctors at the embassy who are also consulate officers. All medicals are contracted out to Panel Physicians. The Panel Physician for London is Knightsbridge Clinic. They just report your health. The guys at ACPO provide your police record but they don't say "this woman is denied a visa because she was in prison." Only the officer at the embassy makes a visa decision. Information is gathered and nobody decides until the officer reads it at the interview and asks you questions. There are even waivers that can be applied for. But you have to have a formal interview and decision before a waiver will be accepted. Even people who are 1000% sure they are not eligible for a visa, must go through the process to interview just so they are eligible to file the appeal for waiver.

[Sooooon 11]

Update:

I was approved. Interview was incredibly short and sweet, 5 minutes in total including the time to take prints and ask a few questions about fiance. In utter shock about the quickness, ease and lack of questions, I asked about the medical and my eligibility and it seems it had already been decided prior to interview so she didnt need to go over it again.

no exaggeration when i say it was a breeze. i was interviewed by a friendly girl and we were having banter about house prices. it was just like bam! 'welcome to the us, your visa has been approved'

hopefully this gives some of you guys hope, i was convinced i'd be denied and made other plans. as the specialist told me, as long a you have around 2 years of remission, you'll be fine.

[soapface 16]

Congrats! You must be so relieved.

[Sooooon 11]

yeah, it was a nice treat after a 421 day wait. doesnt feel real yet, for it to have been so easy, im sure they are going to lose my passport or something. its never this easy for us