Dr. Cheema's Interview Advice

[dkunkle 2]

Our interview is scheduled for May 9th. My husband has his medical with Dr. Cheema yesterday. He advised Greg to never volunteer any information other than what was asked, which we already knew from our reading here (not that we have anything to hide, because we don't). He asked him if he has ever had a DWI, and if so, don't even bother going to the interview because he would not be approved. (fortunately, neither of us has ever had any driving under the influence mishaps.)

He also said it is difficult to get into the U.S., so he wished us good luck, which worried my husband a bit. Reviews here on the forum from couples who went through a Montreal interview recently have posted that the interview was quite easy so we sure hope that is the case.

The medical consisted of him pushing on my husband's stomach a few times, and then sent him to the clinic down the street for the labwork.

Thought it was strange that the doctor would give such advice about the interview? Did he do this to anyone else here?

The medical consisted of him pushing on my husband's stomach a few times, and then sent him to the clinic down the street for the labwork.

[Teddy B 17,252]

A DWI is not grounds for inadmissability into the US, oddly though it is grounds for inadmissability to Canada.

There are control substance violations that will render a person inadmissable, but a DWI(Driving While Intoxicated) is not on the list under section 212 of the INA.

(2) Criminal and related grounds.-

(A) Conviction of certain crimes.-

(i) In general.-Except as provided in clause (ii), any alien convicted of, or who admits having committed, or who admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements of-

(I) a crime involving moral turpitude (other than a purely political offense) or an attempt or conspiracy to commit such a crime, or

(II) a violation of (or a conspiracy or attempt to violate) any law or regulation of a State, the United States, or a foreign country relating to a controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)), is inadmissible.

(ii) Exception.-Clause (i)(I) shall not apply to an alien who committed only one crime if-

(I) the crime was committed when the alien was under 18 years of age, and the crime was committed (and the alien released from any confinement to a prison or correctional institution imposed for the crime) more than 5 years before the date of application for a visa or other documentation and the date of application for admission to the United States, or

(II) the maximum penalty possible for the crime of which the alien was convicted (or which the alien admits having committed or of which the acts that the alien admits having committed constituted the essential elements) did not exceed imprisonment for one year and, if the alien was convicted of such crime, the alien was not sentenced to a term of imprisonment in excess of 6 months (regardless of the extent to which the sentence was ultimately executed).

(B) Multiple criminal convictions.-Any alien convicted of 2 or more offenses (other than purely political offenses), regardless of whether the conviction was in a single trial or whether the offenses arose from a single scheme of misconduct and regardless of whether the offenses involved moral turpitude, for which the aggregate sentences to confinement ² were 5 years or more is inadmissible.

https://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView/SLB/HTML/SLB/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-29/0-0-0-2006.html#0-0-0-202

Edited April 22, 2016 by Teddy B

[Ontarkie 14,226]

Very strange, and giving bad advice.

[Cliff&Liz 10]

Terrible Advice!!!! Montreal was a breeze. Read my interview Review. Dr. Cheema is an ### for saying that.

[oncefuturealien 45]

I think he tells you to only answer the question he asks because he's in a hurry, mostly. The other part is that if you volunteer something that *might* be relevant, even if it actually isn't in your case, he *has* to go into it.

[PickleChips 56]

Maybe he's upset because he's going to lose money when the interviews in Vancouver stop and he's lashing out

[Allison and James 9]

So has anyone had a DUI and not been approved?

I had one 10 years ago, and in correspondence with Dr. Cheema, I need to bring a personal reference, reference from my boss and one from my doctor regarding abstaining / or my drinking pattern.
The references will back me, and as far as I can tell, the DUI is a medical issue, not an issue that the embassy will get overly concerned about, as long as the doctor signs off on it.

I have never read of someone being turned down based on the DUI, but would love to know what people have encountered.

[oncefuturealien 45]

I only know of a case of a USC guy married to a Canadian who couldn't get Canadian PR for a long time because he had a DUI back in the US. Don't happen to know anyone with that issue heading the other way.

Good luck.

[Ontarkie 14,226]

So has anyone had a DUI and not been approved?

I had one 10 years ago, and in correspondence with Dr. Cheema, I need to bring a personal reference, reference from my boss and one from my doctor regarding abstaining / or my drinking pattern.

The references will back me, and as far as I can tell, the DUI is a medical issue, not an issue that the embassy will get overly concerned about, as long as the doctor signs off on it.

I have never read of someone being turned down based on the DUI, but would love to know what people have encountered.

Yes it has happened.

One person on here years ago had a DUI and he stopped drinking something like 20yr ago and they were denied. He had to prove he was not an alcoholic, they pretty much treated him like he had used drugs.

He eventually got it but it was a long road.

They went and got a lawyer and went the spousal visa route then had to file a waiver.

Edited April 23, 2016 by Ontarkie

[dkunkle 2]

In further discussion with my husband, he clarified and said that Dr. Cheema was actually very nice and was really just making small talk during the medical exam. His asking about DUIs is probably part of his job in the medical history stuff - to make sure a person doesn't have a substance abuse problem, and it sounds like his comment about getting into the U.S. is not a cakewalk was in relation to what he said about people who have DUIs. I just misunderstood the context in which it was said.

Fortunately, we don't have any criminal history of any kind, and in fact my husband doesn't even drink very often. We are looking forward to our inteview and wish the rest of you good luck!

[NikLR 13,227]

Glad to know your husband clarified this for you!