Hi Everyone!

We are applying for a prospective marriage visa. The application was lodged on October 13, 2009. We got a preliminary e-mail from the embassy letting us know who our case officer is on October 22 . We sent everything needed except for the medicals (they were not sent because they Visa Information Center told not to do it until asked to). We wrote the office an e-mail letting her know that we were interested in knowing who the panel doctor for Tegucigalpa, Honduras was since the information was not posted online. We also told the case officer that as soon as she let us know, we were going to get the medicals. The CO replied to our e-mail, letting us know the info about the panel doctors in my area but never set a deadline for us to send the medicals.

Is it ok for the COs to ask for medical without a deadline or how does that work? we don't wanna bother the CO too much, because we know they are really busy! But if that's how it works, we need to get the medicals as soon as possible! so confused!

Thanks

Michael and Maria

Hi Everyone!

I created a new thread a few mins ago but it never showed , don't know what happened!

The topic refers to medicals on a propsective marriage visa.

Our application was lodged October 13,2009. We got a preliminary e-mail from the embassy letting us know who our case officer is on october 22. Our application contained all the documents needed expect for the medicals ( they were no sent because the ISAV told us not to until we got asked by our case officer).

We were curious to know who the panel doctor for Tegucigalpa, Honduras is. We checked the DIAC website, but never got the right info. So we decided to contact our CO and asked her about that info. We told her that as soon as we got the information from her we were going to get an appointment with the panel doctor and then send the medicals to her.

Our main concern is sending the medicals if the case officer never set a deadline for us. She just sent the planel doctor info.

Is it normal not to get a deadline? what is the regular process? Do you think the procedure varies from embassy to embassy and/or case officer. what do you think! we are very confused on what to do!

Thanks

Michael and Maria

Edit:
I had answered on your lost one first Michael and so have merged the two.

Aha, O.K...

So, continuing from what I was saying earlier...

Since you are doing a prospective marriage visa, your medical will be a bit different than the Defacto/Spouse i think... maybe you have to do another "bigger" one when you apply for your spouse visa..... hmmmm... feeling a bit mixed up today but anyhoo...

I never got a deadline for my medicals either (again, i also applied to DC)--it can take a while to process the actual medical, and it can take a while to actually get in to see the doctor. Note that if you do have options of doctors, the price is not regulated and is not the same (I ended up having to go to canada for mine, prices ranged from $110 to $400 +) eveywhere, so if you want, do what i did: call all your options and find out the price and earliest available appointment... take the cheapest, closest and earliest one available--the results are the same as these are all panel approved doctors. After your appointment, you can always ask them for a number to contact to see when your stuff has been sent to your CO (dont bother getting the medicals sent to your place, just have it courrierd to your DC CO and get them to quote your file number on the enveloppe). It is also my experience that the CO will NOT contact you when he/she has received it.

I would shoot an e-mail to your CO when you have your medical booked just to advise him/her when you will be getting it done.

The DC people were really nice to me throughout my application, and my CO was always prompt to respond to questions.

Good luck to you two!!!! let us know if you have any other questions!

Hey elkitten!

I think we are going to do what you suggested. I'm going to get an appointment as soon as possible and will send an e-mail to the case officer inmediately! There's only one place near were i can get the medicals, so i'll call tomorrow morning.

Last time that i called the dr he said that he can actually help me gets the results very quick (same day) and then we both go to a DHl to drop of the results. I hope this works perfect!

Thanks for helping and wishing us good luck! WE feel more comfortable now.

We'll sure let you know if we have any doubts!

M&M,
I suppose the first thing you need to decide is was her email back to you actually a direction to have the medical done or just a courtesy reply to yours enquirying as to who the panel doctor was.

Unless she has specifically said go get your medical and have it in by X-X date, then I'd think it has just been a courtesy response.

A lot of people do go and have their medicals done early, even to put in with their applications and that's usually no drama and can speed things along, ie. no time lost in being advised to do it and then getting in to see the Doc and they returning the medical.

They usually allow 28 days for most things where additional information is sought and not sure with medicals as I imagine they are cognisant of the fact that you do need an appointment and some medical services can have waiting time.

A short email just to say "Is it OK if Fiance gets medical done before you actually request her to?" will not take much of her time to answer and that ought to clear it up.

Hey guys,

Just quickley I had a look for you and-- Honduras is considered a High Risk country in the health requirements, so indeed, even if your visa is temporary at the moment, you do have to have a chest x-ray.

look here this will give you more info:

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1163i.pdf

good luck you two!

Hey elkitten...

Wow...you're the best! Thanks a lot for that.

Yeah, unfortunately, it looks like we're in for every test imaginable!

Oh well, it has to be done, there's no two ways about it, so better sooner rather than later.

Thanks again!

Michael and Maria.

P.S. Have you got your passport back yet!? Exciting times!

Hi Wanderer,

Thanks for the tip. We almost sent an email with your suggestion, but then decided to just go ahead and get make the appointment for the Medicals. What we are going to do then is to let the CO know when we are going to get them done, and when we send them.

The idea is that this will cut down the number of emails we send to our CO, so hopefully she doesn't get annoyed by them!

Thanks again,

M+M