Upfront Medical Exam for Canada Immigration and Visas

If you are planning to immigrate to Canada (especially under the Express Entry Program), you can apply for the upfront medical exam to help you in your Immigration process.

Unquestionably, the results from your upfront medical exam will certify if you are medically fit to immigrate to Canada for any reason.

That is why, in this article, we have stated all the necessary information you need on the upfront medical exam and how to go about your medical results. So don’t miss out on a section!

What is the IRCC medical examination report?

IRCC medical examination report is a report of medical fitness that is required by immigrants anywhere in the world before the authorization of their immigration to Canada.

You will need to take an upfront medical exam and get a medical examination report if you are planning to visit Canada for a period that is more than six months, if you plan to work in healthcare, or if in your application for permanent residence.

Taking an upfront medical exam is essential for your immigration process because it exposes your health status and prevents the spread of diseases.

However, you might not need to take the upfront medical exam if you are visiting for less than six months.

Uses of medical exams in visa application

Without a doubt, the purpose of the medical examination is to expose applicants that are having some inadmissible health conditions to the immigration services and the department of state.

The health-related issues that will prevent admission into Canada are infections with a communicable disease that is of public health significance. Likewise, a mental or physical disorder with associated harmful behavior or drug use, i.e., drug abuse.

If you fail to present documentation of vaccination against preventable diseases, you might not be admissible to Canada.

The following are the communicable diseases that are of significance to public health and may prevent applicants from migrating to Canada.

Syphilis
Hansen’s disease or leprosy
Gonorrhea
Tuberculosis

However, quarantinable diseases include

Diphtheria
Cholera
Measles
Infectious tuberculosis
Smallpox, plague
Viral hemorrhagic fever (such as Marburg, Lassa, and ebola)
Smallpox
Yellow fever
Influenza
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (such as the Middle East respiratory syndrome, Covid-19, and SARS)

As part of the medical examination for immigration, you are advised to get vaccinated (depending on your age) against the following diseases that can be prevented with vaccine: Polio, mumps, tetanus, diphtheria toxoids, COVID-19, measles, Haemophilus influenza type B, pertussis, rotavirus, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rubella, varicella, pneumococcal pneumonia, and influenza.

However, if you are in the United States and want to adjust your status for permanent residency, you are required to vaccinate against the aforementioned vaccine-preventable diseases.

How to obtain an upfront medical exam

Without a doubt, Canada is a medical-report-required country. So, if you are to submit a medical report, you will have to take an upfront medical exam to prove your health status. Take the following steps if you intend to do an upfront medical exam.

Firstly, you should contact the IRCC website for the official list to locate the panel physician that is close to you.

Secondly, call and book an appointment. Ensure that you inform your panel physician that you are going to do an upfront medical exam. Hence, you do not have an RMA form.

Afterward, take the following documents and some other required documents that the physician will require

Any evidence of your medical history
Passport or another official ID card
A list of your medications
Lenses or eyeglasses (if you wear them)
Four immigration photographs in exceptional situations

Note that you may need to go through X-rays, lab tests, and some other tests besides the physical exams.

Regardless of your health status, your physician will give you the following documents

IMM 1017B Upfront Medical Report form
Information printout sheet.

Unquestionably, you will have to upload the two documents if you intend to apply online. However, if you apply on paper or at a port entry, you may present the hard copies.

How to send medical exam results to immigration

To send your upfront medical exam result to immigration, the panel physician in some countries will send the result directly to the Canadian embassy. However, in some other countries, the doctor will hand over the medical results and an x-ray to the applicants in a sealed envelope, which the applicant must take along to the interview center.

Note that if your immigration upfront medical examination exam is within the United States, the civil surgeon will give you a Report of Medical Examination, completed form I-693, and your medical record in a sealed envelope. Significantly, it would help if you did not open the envelope, no matter the condition.

You must apply to adjust your status and medical exam along with form I-485. But if you already filled out the adjustment of the Status application, you can submit the envelope at the USCIS green card interview.

Upfront medical exam appointments

To book an appointment for the upfront medical exam, you will have to contact a doctor that is approved by the outsourcing and can do the immigration medical exam. The doctor is often called a panel physician.

Note that there are many panel physicians all over the world, so you can find and choose the one closest to you. Importantly, you cannot use your family doctor if they are not on the list of approved panel physicians.

You can choose any physician from anywhere in the world, even if they are in the country where you live, but you must pay for the medical exam. The costs differ with each doctor so you must fix it!

After booking an appointment with your medical panel physician, you must find out what you need to bring along for the upfront medical exam.

What is the validity period for upfront medical results?

Without a doubt, your upfront medical exams result for your immigration are generally valid for one year. It is noteworthy that form I-693 is valid when a civil surgeon signs it within 60 days before the date you apply for the underlying immigration benefits. And also, the l USCIS adjudicates the application in 12 months after the date the civil surgeon signs.

Upfront medical exam requirements

Interestingly, there are upfront medical exam requirements for temporary residence and permanent residents.

Requirements for temporary residents

If you are a temporary resident, i.e., either visitor, student, or worker, you can check for your medical requirements below.

#Students

As a student that intends to study in Canada for less than six months, you don’t need to pass the medical examination. However, if you are studying for more than six months, you will need to pass the medical exams.

#Visitors

As a visitor, you don’t need to pass the medical exam. However, if you apply for a Super visa, then you will need to pass the medical exam.

#Workers

If your occupation is related to public health, where public health has to be protected, you will need to pass the upfront medical exam. However, if you want to work in any job that is not related to public health for less than six months, you need not pass the medical exam. But you must pass the medical exam if working for six months or above.

Requirements for permanent residents

Without a doubt, if you plan to reside permanently in Canada, you must pass the medical exam. Also, if you have your family members, dependents, or spouse coming with you, they must also have the medical examination results.

Before applying, the upfront medical exam is an examination that you undergo before IRCC asks you to. However, in partner/spouse sponsoring applications, you cannot do upfront medical exams anymore. Applicants and their dependents will have to wait for instruction from the IRCC before doing the medical exam.

Who needs to do an upfront medical exam?

Unquestionably, the following Canadian applicant has to do an upfront medical exam. However, this list is neither exclusive nor inclusive. So, you might have to consult a professional for official advice.

#1. Express Entry applicants

Express Entry applicants have to do an upfront medical exam. Note that if you’re in Canada or your family members are outside of Canada, you will wait for the immigration authorities to issue the IMM 1017 form. Also, you need to upload a letter of explanation to your profile.

#2. TR to PR pathway

And yes! some applicants may be exempted from the medical exams. But people who intend to remain in Canada for six months or more and have visited or lived in certain countries for six months before moving to Canada must undergo an upfront medical exam.

#3. Work permit applicants

Likewise, work permit applicants in any occupation are subjected to a medical exam.

However, if your visa program or immigration does not qualify you for an upfront medical exam, you can then wait for an official IME letter (IMM 1017).

Frequently Asked Question

How can you fail the upfront medical exam?

You will fail the upfront medical exam if you certify the following

The communicable disease of public health significance.
Failure to show proof of required vaccinations.
Mental or physical disorder with associated harmful behavior.
Addiction or drug abuse

How long will it take to process TR to PR?

It will take between four to five weeks to process your TR to PR.

Conclusion

The upfront medical exam is undeniably required for your immigration and visas to Canada, especially if you’re going on a permanent residence. However, getting and certifying your medical report is better to ensure your application is a success.