Medical: What constitutes a fail?

[scotinmass 588]

I've read of someone failing with very high blood pressure. I have always had high blood pressure so this worried me when I went for my medical in London. Obviously the stress and worry made my blood pressure higher. When the doctor checked it she exclaimed "Wow!" Then she asked me if I was stressed. I took this to be a bad sign! It was extremely high. I had only just started taking meds for it and I convinced her I would go back to my doctor and get the dose increased and work at it till it was under control. This seemed to satisfy her. I needed to get a diphtheria and tetanus booster and the MMR. Then I passed subject to the results of the blood test. One other thing you can fail for is alcoholism. I assume that if you fail and it's for something that can be fixed they will give you the chance to fix it and get another medical. If it is something that can't be fixed you won't be able to get a visa.

[K&E2009 71]

I've read of someone failing with very high blood pressure. I have always had high blood pressure so this worried me when I went for my medical in London. Obviously the stress and worry made my blood pressure higher. When the doctor checked it she exclaimed "Wow!" Then she asked me if I was stressed. I took this to be a bad sign! It was extremely high. I had only just started taking meds for it and I convinced her I would go back to my doctor and get the dose increased and work at it till it was under control. This seemed to satisfy her. I needed to get a diphtheria and tetanus booster and the MMR. Then I passed subject to the results of the blood test. One other thing you can fail for is alcoholism. I assume that if you fail and it's for something that can be fixed they will give you the chance to fix it and get another medical. If it is something that can't be fixed you won't be able to get a visa.

Friend of mine went for the medical here, Doctor told him he had high blood pressure. Didn't fail him though. That's not something you can be failed on, as far as I know.

High Blood Pressure, is one of THE most common health issues in the World!

Edited January 8, 2012 by Widsy97

[scotinmass 588]

This is the post I read just before I took my medical.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/203817-help-medical-denied/

[K&E2009 71]

This is the post I read just before I took my medical.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/203817-help-medical-denied/

That seems stupid!

If my doctor on Tuesday decides to slap a 'denied due to high bp' on my papers, there will be serious words!

High bp is in my family, mother, grandfather, cousins etc.

My own gp told me that one day in the future, I will need treatment for it. But currently I'm 26 years old, of average weight, and don't think I need it yet...

[mido79 0]

i have question related to pregnancy is the x-ray have to be done or can be waived for pregnancy safety? and if they waved the x-ray does this mean the medical is incomplete and the beneficiary will not get her interview for that reason?? thank for all your advise

[K&E2009 71]

i have question related to pregnancy is the x-ray have to be done or can be waived for pregnancy safety? and if they waved the x-ray does this mean the medical is incomplete and the beneficiary will not get her interview for that reason?? thank for all your advise

If the applicant is pregnant must she have a chest x-ray?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires that women who are pregnant and required to have a medical examination in connection with the issuance of a visa, and are examined in a country currently using the 2007 TB Technical Instructions must have a chest x-ray examination conducted. Pregnant women will have to provide the panel physician with consent to conduct the chest x-ray. For the health of the applicant and her unborn child, CDC instructs panel physicians and laboratories to provide abdominal and pelvic protection with double layer, wrap-around lead shields when they receive the chest radiographs. This requirement does not apply to countries using the 1991 TB Technical Instructions which allow for an exemption of the chest x-ray requirement for pregnant women. Pregnant applicants who do not wish to have the X-ray will be granted a temporary exemption when they provide written certification of pregnancy signed by their personal physician or obstetrician.

I stole that answer from this site: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3745.html#_What_if_the_1

[JohnandWendyB 21]

They also ask about past drug use......which is a fail.

It is my understanding, perhaps I am wrong, that it depends on the drug use. If it was long ago history, under age, proof of treatment, etc. Those things make a huge difference. It used to be automatic fail but I thought I had read if it was over 3 years ago you should be ok or if it was an underage use-as long as no conviction of something, you should be ok. You will be asked about it but you would not necessarily fail.

[mido79 0]

If the applicant is pregnant must she have a chest x-ray?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires that women who are pregnant and required to have a medical examination in connection with the issuance of a visa, and are examined in a country currently using the 2007 TB Technical Instructions must have a chest x-ray examination conducted. Pregnant women will have to provide the panel physician with consent to conduct the chest x-ray. For the health of the applicant and her unborn child, CDC instructs panel physicians and laboratories to provide abdominal and pelvic protection with double layer, wrap-around lead shields when they receive the chest radiographs. This requirement does not apply to countries using the 1991 TB Technical Instructions which allow for an exemption of the chest x-ray requirement for pregnant women. Pregnant applicants who do not wish to have the X-ray will be granted a temporary exemption when they provide written certification of pregnancy signed by their personal physician or obstetrician.

I stole that answer from this site: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3745.html#_What_if_the_1

how i would know which country follow the 2007 TB Technical Instructions or the 1991 TB Technical Instructions ?? any source for info. plz?

[JohnandWendyB 21]

That seems stupid!

If my doctor on Tuesday decides to slap a 'denied due to high bp' on my papers, there will be serious words!

High bp is in my family, mother, grandfather, cousins etc.

My own gp told me that one day in the future, I will need treatment for it. But currently I'm 26 years old, of average weight, and don't think I need it yet...

You don't currently have a high bp, just genetics for it? If it was high I would think they would be treating it. Perhaps it is borderline. You might be able to get by with breathing slowly, deeply, thinking calm, relaxing thoughts. Either way, I don't think it would hold you back? I think the disease issue is more of a problem or finding yourself needing expensive medical treatment very soon that might make it likely you need assistance. This is just me speculating, though... Not real knowledge for sure.

[Travis and Meghan 24]

It is my understanding, perhaps I am wrong, that it depends on the drug use. If it was long ago history, under age, proof of treatment, etc. Those things make a huge difference. It used to be automatic fail but I thought I had read if it was over 3 years ago you should be ok or if it was an underage use-as long as no conviction of something, you should be ok. You will be asked about it but you would not necessarily fail.

Sometimes people who admit to past drug use will be drug tested and then made to come back in six months or more for another drug test before the medical is approved

[JohnandWendyB 21]

Sometimes people who admit to past drug use will be drug tested and then made to come back in six months or more for another drug test before the medical is approved

I read that in a previous post, too, but people argued against it, as well. Wish there was a way to tell if someone is expressing opinion or experience.

[Travis and Meghan 24]

Mmmm, i don't know that from experience but from reading about it in an old post earlier last year. I think when it comes to drug use though that every situation is a little different and there's probably a few possible outcomes.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I read that in a previous post, too, but people argued against it, as well. Wish there was a way to tell if someone is expressing opinion or experience.

From previous posts people won't be drug tested. You admit drug use and you will need to see a psychiatrist or someone like that to determine whether your drug use is bad enough that you should be denied.

[JohnandWendyB 21]

From previous posts people won't be drug tested. You admit drug use and you will need to see a psychiatrist or someone like that to determine whether your drug use is bad enough that you should be denied.

I know someone who had this issue come up and they did not even get asked about it. The situation was that the beneficiary had to turn in medical records that mentioned he used ecstacy when he was a kid. This is the difficult part of the forum. People fail to mention whether their post is opinion, speculation, or experience. I have seen all kinds of conflicting information on this site. I tend to look for certain people's answers because they seem to be more reliable, well-thought-out, most people who also seem to know alot about the process seem to agree with them, etc. I really wish this site would organize posts according to what stage you are working on in the various visas so all the past posts about the topic could be easily accessed. I sometimes have to try numerous different combinations of keywords to get what I am looking for. And, of course, policies change constantly. Sorry, Widsy, I know this kind of got hijacked from the actual topic to a side topic.

[Inky 1,110]

how i would know which country follow the 2007 TB Technical Instructions or the 1991 TB Technical Instructions ?? any source for info. plz?

If you are pregnant they put a lead vest over your stomach and lower boddy. They are only doing an Xray of your upper chest area.