K1 Visa Medical

[KiTu 38]

Now that I have had the psychiatric assessment I can tell you all about it!

So Monday 6th March I had my medical and of course I had to tick the boxes stating that I had suffered Mental Illness, had self-harmed, attempted suicide and been hospitalised due to it (I was not however an inpatient on a psychiatric ward).

I have extensive scarring from 12 years of doing it, and it is too obvious to hide. my thoughts to you? Even if you think it will go against you, be honest! You cannot hide this kind of thing..
If you have had a mental illness and/or self-harmed etc. make sure to take with you:

• A letter from your GP detailing your diagnosis, any past, present or future treatment, what medication you are taking/have taken (if any) and when, whether they consider you to be at risk of harm to yourself or others.

• Your own statement about your struggles – again, be honest.

• Previous records of any psychiatric care – write-ups from the psychiatrist, referral letters from your GP – you can get these from your GP.

• I also took a letter from a friend who is a nurse and whether that carried any weight I'm not sure, but the psych noted it.

If you are not currently under any psychiatric care, be prepared to be told that you may need to have a psychiatric assessment. DO NOT PANIC! This is just procedure and for them to ensure that you really are as well as you say you are – and to have a professional opinion.
 

Also, if/where you have stopped any medication for depression/anxiety etc. be prepared to be asked WHY you stopped taking it. Then be prepared to answer WHY you aren’t under psychiatric care now. Also be prepared for them to ask you how long you suffered, how you feel now and please, please, please be ready for the doctor to roll up your sleeves and check for scars.. I wasn’t ready for this and it made me uncomfortable. It would have been good bedside manner to just tell me what she was about to do, but I guess they feel they have an obligation and a right to just do it.

I got a call three days after my medical (9th March), from the physician who saw me, to tell me that I would need to make an appointment with Dr Shanahan at Nightingale Hospital. I asked if I have to go and see him or can I see another independent psychiatrist, and she said that I have to book with him.
I called Nightingale straight away and got an appointment for Tuesday 14th March.

The Psychiatric Assessment

My appointment was at 13:30 – the building you are looking for is Number 7 Lisson Grove.
The nearest tube station is Marylebone, it will cost you around £2-£3 on an Oyster card. Out of the station, turn right and walk along Melcombe Place, past the taxi rank. Cross the road and you will see Harewood Row pretty much in front of you. Walk down Harewood Row to the end. Cross the zebra crossing and turn left. Number 7 is on the right, just a few short yards from the zebra crossing. Press the buzzer – the door will be opened for you without you even announcing who you are.

I went to reception, told the receptionist who I was there to see and she asked if it was my first time there, when I said yes she handed me a form to fill in – this is just a sheet for you to fill in your contact details and how the assessment will be paid for. They will send you an invoice. (I will update this when I receive mine to give an idea of how long it takes!) Hand the form back to the receptionist.
I waited (I was 20 mins early) and a minute or two after 1.30 the receptionist handed me back my form and said to hand it to Dr Shanahan in room 210 on the second floor.

I knocked on the door and Dr Shanahan said to come in, in quite a jovial tone. He shook my hand and said to take a seat. He explained why I was there and what he does (as Knightsbridge does not really explain anything about him - luckily I had done my research!)
Dr Shanahan is a really nice guy. Irish, softly spoken and generally a nice person to talk to. He asked first about my fiance, asking his name and how we met etc - I think he uses this partly as an opportunity to prep me for the interview, too. He asked how we met, what he does for a living, what our relationship is like etc. and the visits we have made to each other.
He then asked if I have met his family and if he has met mine. I said yes to meeting his but no to meeting mine and he asked why, so I explained about my family not being very close etc. and that’s what got us onto talking about my past. He recalled that I had experienced a difficult childhood and lived with some not very pleasant people. He asked about it and then got onto the self harm etc. When did I start, for how long, when did I get help and who was it etc. He asked about therapists, whether I had experienced good or bad therapy and I said both - he even went to his computer to check over the notes and pick anything significant out. He asked about the recent meds and why I had started and stopped taking them. So I explained and he simplified my stopping reason with ‘they did what they had to do?’ Yup.
He made a couple of jokes which made things a lot easier, and he showed a genuine interest in the non-psych stuff. He asked why I am not under psych care now and I explained that I don’t need it, it doesn’t cross my mind anymore.

He stumped me at one point by asking what I would tell my younger, troubled self. I had to think for a moment, which was fine - there was no pressure whatsoever. And then later on he asked what is different now to back then.

At the end, he told me what he was going to put in his letter and to put it vaguely, it was that he would put in a positive recommendation.
I had been so worried that this guy would be difficult to deal with and would grill me and try to trip me up, but he didn’t - AT ALL. He is funny, charming and really just wants to help you. I know it is nerve racking when somebody says ‘you will have to see a psychiatrist/go for a psychiatric assessment’ but please, don’t fret. Dr Shanahan is one of the few gems in the psychiatric world and he will see what he needs to see - and that is who you are now.

So that was Tuesday, it’s now Thursday. Knightsbridge received his recommendation and are now checking it ready for sending to the Embassy. That was a 24 (plus a few) hour turn around. Now Knightsbridge will take up to 48 hours to do their bit and send it off to the Embassy.

So, I reiterate. Do not panic if the panel physician tells you that you have to see a psychiatrist! Dr Shanahan is their go-to Psychiatrist who specialises in drug and alcohol abuse and he is medical director of Nightingale Hospital - you will be in safe hands

 

If you have any questions related to this, please feel free to message and ask me - it's a daunting experience leading up to it and I absolutely appreciate that.

[SparklePony 238]

High-five to you for overcoming your hurdles and fighting to stay alive. It's not an easy road.

 

I also know someone who had to do a psych evaluation because of self-harming in my home country and it went very smoothly, from what I was told. They just really want to make sure you're ok.

[KiTu 38]

On 16/03/2017 at 6:18 PM, SparklePony said:

High-five to you for overcoming your hurdles and fighting to stay alive. It's not an easy road.

 

I also know someone who had to do a psych evaluation because of self-harming in my home country and it went very smoothly, from what I was told. They just really want to make sure you're ok.

Thank you! It was a long road but it has been worth it

 

We finally got that magic ISSUED today!

 

The assessment only delayed us by one day - Dr Shanahan sent the report to Knightsbridge Thursday morning and it was sent to the London Embassy on Friday and received Monday morning (20th). We got the issuance today yay!