Failed the medical - how long until a decision comes?

[MidAtlanticMerge 9]

My husband's medical was just over a week before the embassy interview. He failed the medical, but the doctor didn't send that information before his embassy interview, so we and the embassy didn't know. The embassy asked why the medical results weren't in and my husband said 'due to testing'. I don't think the embassy connected the dots that being tested probably means he failed the medical, so they pre-approved him. Later that day we got the call that he failed the test.

So my first question... I was under the impression that when you pass the embassy interview they take your passport and then within a few days or a week insert the visa and courier it to you. However my husband says when he left the embassy, with pre approval, they told him 2-3 weeks. Anyone have any idea why?

Second question... When the doctor called to say that my husband had failed his test, he said he'd escalate the case and someone would decide how many months before he can reply. Possibly 3, 6 or 12 months. We don't know if we start from the beginning or just from the point of the medical. We also don't know how long it takes for a decision to be made? Does anyone know?

For background info, the medical was late Feb and the interview was the second week of March.

Thanks for any information. This has been so incredibly disappointing and hard to handle. We seem to have no information and I feel so blind, just waiting.

[Georgia16 2,858]

They said weeks because they need the medical first thats why he was only pre-approved. Now he won't be approved with the failed medical.

Was it because of drugs? It's hard to help when we don't know why he failed the test. Of course you should only answer of you want.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

The standard for a drug failure is 1 year assuming it is no a substance that creates a ban. For illness you must be treated and cleared first so it depends on the illness.

[MidAtlanticMerge 9]

It was for drug use - marijuana, nothing else.

I was expecting a 1 year ban based off of online research. So I was surprised that the doctor told him it may be 3, 6 or 12. Our lawyers are wondering if it depends on how much they found in the drug test, or how much he admitted to using.

I just want a decision so we can mentally accept it and prepare.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

I'd prepare for a year, hope for less.

[MidAtlanticMerge 9]

I'd prepare for a year, hope for less.

I am trying to do just that.

Even expecting a year is hard though, bc we are confused about the re-application process. Do we start from scratch? That will add at least 12 months. So we'd be looking at 2 years.

Or do we apply for a new police certificate and start from the medical? That should only add a month or so to however long the ban is.

Edited March 24, 2016 by MidAtlanticMerge

[Transborderwife 4,666]

I am trying to do just that.

Even expecting a year is hard though, bc we are confused about the re-application process. Do we start from scratch? That will add at least 12 months. So we'd be looking at 2 years.

Or do we apply for a new police certificate and start from the medical? That should only add a month or so to however long the bad is.

I think it's a new application but I believe that you can reapply during the ban

[MidAtlanticMerge 9]

I think it's a new application but I believe that you can reapply during the ban

Really? That is interesting. Do you by chance recall where you heard that?

Our lawyers are really being useless - might be time to find ones with more experience in this sort of thing.

[Georgia16 2,858]

Try and write failed medical in the search bar you'll see many have failed it too in UK/England do to drugs try and see their timeline and maybe you'll get an idea if they had to start over and so on...

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Really? That is interesting. Do you by chance recall where you heard that?

Our lawyers are really being useless - might be time to find ones with more experience in this sort of thing.

I believe that I've seen it on vj but I'm not 100% certain. Nothing can happen with the application approval wise before the ban is up, but I do believe that you can at least start the process. If I'm wrong absolutely someone please correct me.

[TBoneTX 45,298]

Thread is moved from the CR-1 Process forum to the CR-1 Case Progress subforum.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Something I recall from a failed drug screening UK thread is somebody thought they simply had to wait out their time or for Knightsbridge clinic to give them further instructions. Actually they were supposed to be having regular drug screenings monthly at their own expense and scheduling at a lab local to them. When their wait time was up, they had no evidence of being clean for the entire duration so had to start the wait time anew and do it correctly. He should ask Knightsbridge clinic for clarity on what they expect of him before he comes for a new exam. Ask the source because they have the answer on what it will take to pass a medical exam.

[MidAtlanticMerge 9]

Something I recall from a failed drug screening UK thread is somebody thought they simply had to wait out their time or for Knightsbridge clinic to give them further instructions. Actually they were supposed to be having regular drug screenings monthly at their own expense and scheduling at a lab local to them. When their wait time was up, they had no evidence of being clean for the entire duration so had to start the wait time anew and do it correctly. He should ask Knightsbridge clinic for clarity on what they expect of him before he comes for a new exam. Ask the source because they have the answer on what it will take to pass a medical exam.

Wow - that is alarming. Knightsbridge has been pretty unhelpful with the information flow so far so I am actually not surprised that the original poster was also confused.

Thanks for this info. You could have saved us from falling into the same problem.

[dwheels76 5,468]

Wow - that is alarming. Knightsbridge has been pretty unhelpful with the information flow so far so I am actually not surprised that the original poster was also confused.

Thanks for this info. You could have saved us from falling into the same problem.

I went and did an advance search for you this document was posted for someone who was going though Knightsbridge.

http://www.cdc.gov/i...ealth-pp-ti.pdf

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Wow - that is alarming. Knightsbridge has been pretty unhelpful with the information flow so far so I am actually not surprised that the original poster was also confused.

Thanks for this info. You could have saved us from falling into the same problem.

He needs to be proactive and find out what they expect from him to show he is no longer addicted or has a substance abuse disorder. Their technical instructions say it should be given to him in writing so ask for it. What does he have to provide and for how long? Treatment in drug re-hab? Monthly medical reports submitted showing no substance use? For how long before they consider his condition in remission and no longer a Class A (inadmissible) condition? They are required to spell it out based on their diagnosis.