MrsMacIver

So, my husband went for his medical exam in London today. We had no worries about this, but now I am freaking out.

Naturally, my husband was completely honest when the doctor performing the exam asked him about any medical issues. He mentioned a knee surgery, a surgery where he had all his teeth extracted, and the fact that about 10 years ago he had been diagnosed with a heart murmur. One of his heart valves has a minor defect, though it has never warranted any medical interventions. The doctor was none too happy about the murmur.

According to my hubby, who has the worst short term memory I have ever seen and cannot recall anything to save his life, the doctor said that he might not get medical clearance because of the murmur. the doctor, according to hubby, said that their was "conflicting medical information." My hubby did not ask for them to clarify further, unfortunately.

The doctor then listened to his heart, but could not hear the murmur herself. She then proceeded to tell my hubby that she would need to consult with a senior doctor, and that clearance might be possible, and that they would call him on Monday.


I guess I'm just freaking out and need some reassurance, but what is the likelihood of a harmless murmur that was recorded 10 years ago, preventing my hubby from getting medical clearance???

SanDiegogirl

I don't think that a murmur diagnosed 10 years ago, which now cannot be heard and which has never caused any medical problem will create difficulties for immigration purposes. How old is hubby?

However what is your husband going to do about health insurance in the US?

I ask since he is entering on a spouse visa not an employment visa. If he needs to obtain private health insurance they can refuse you on just about anything they are not happy with regarding your medical history.

MrsMacIver

My hubby is only 29. I think it would be ridiculous for him to get denied for a murmur that they can't even hear anymore. They said he may need to get a test done to show his heart is ok (which I wouldn't mind doing anyway.)

Luckily, I have pretty good insurance, and I work at a hospital, so we are in good shape.

jeffreyhy

There are specific things that are grounds for denying a visa on medical grounds. I'm pretty sure that a heart murmur is not specifically one of them, but some medical conditions can raise public charge issues.

You might want to review 9 FAM 42.66 Notes, in particular N5 and N8, and also the CDC Instructions to Panel Physicians.

Regards, JEff

celticgrid

I wonder if it less the murmur per se than "conflicting medical information" that might be a problem?

MrsMacIver

That's what I'm worried about. Well, more confused than worried. My husband comes from an island, a VERY small community, and has only had two doctors. I find it hard to believe that the two primary care physicians he's had would somehow create conflicting information in their varies medical findings over the years. I wonder if my husband forgot to mention something, or misreported something due to a misunderstanding.

Maybe it was the fact that his medical records say he has a heart murmur, yet they could not detect one.

I guess I'm not really worried because I know my husband didn't lie about anything, although I would not put it past his faulty memory to miscommunicate or forget something.


Good news is that his interview today went swimmingly. We were missing a piece of paperwork (he somehow forgot to bring some of it, including my W2s from this year), but he is simply going to send it in when he gets home. Beside that, we have only to wait and see if they give him medical clearance.

I'm feeling much better about this, now that the end is in sight.

lansbury

I'm confused. You say he had his medical and interview today. I thought they didn't even schedule the interviews until they had the medical results back. Or is that only if you do DCF in London?

jeffreyhy

Yes, that's only if the I-130 was filed with the USCIS London field office.

If the I-130 is filed with USCIS in the USA the interview is scheduled by the NVC, and the NVC does not collect the medical exam report.

Regards, JEff

lansbury

Thanks JEff, for some reason I had thought all were changed to after the medical. I see in another thread the explanation of why they did both the same day, nice to see the Embassy being accommodating.

jeffreyhy

The consular section is not being accommodating - it's constrained by the process that applies when the petition was filed with USCIS in the USA, which is that the NVC schedules immigrant visa interviews.

After that, yes, the consular section can revise a scheduled interview if the visa applicant requests a change, and can follow it's own procedures in doing so.


Regards, JEff

lansbury

They were - the OP did DCF and the Embassy let them schedule the medical and interview on the same day, because of unusably travel difficulties.

jeffreyhy

Who was the OP? You mean MrsMacIver? Although she's never said, indications are that she lives in the USA and therefore filed her I-130 with USCIS here in the USA.

She's made only 7 posts - in which did she tell us that the I-130 was filed with the USCIS field office in London?

Regards, JEff

lansbury

Do you know I don't think she did.

jeffreyhy

Hopefully she will respond to our discussion and put us out of our misery by confirming where the petition was filed!

Regards, JEff

lansbury

No I think you are right, I was having an AARP or SAGA moment.