Canada
Canadian Immigration medical exams fall into two general categories:
“Upfront”
For the majority of work, student and visitor visas, upfront medicals allow visa applicants to obtain their medical exams simultaneous with gathering of other documents and clearances for the IRCC visa office.
At the time of their clinic visit, each visa applicant (and family members) will be provided with a personal “UMI” (upfront medical identification) number, issued on an eMedical Information Sheet document which they will subsequently forward to the visa office. This UMI number is the key to connect Immigration Medical exam results to the overall visa application.
(In limited instances, some work, student and visitor visa applicants will have already been issued a 1017B form with an IME (Immigration Medical exam) number, and the medical exam will be submitted under this number rather than a UMI number).
Family Class/EDE
All family class/EDE (“excessive demand exempt”) visa applicants will complete their visa application priorto being asked to schedule their Immigration Medical examination. When given clearance to do so, they will be provided with a 1017B form on which is documented a personal IME (Immigration Medical Examination) number. Examination results will be submitted under this number, which will have already been entered into the eMedical system.
Standardized exam components for all applicants include a medical history and basic physical exam, urinalysis (ages 5 and above), single view chest xray (ages 11 and above) and blood tests (ages 15 and above). Certain preexisting medical conditions may dictate additional limited laboratory testing.
Australia
Australian immigration medicals are performed after preliminary visa application steps have been completed through the Department of Home Affairs, at which time a HAPID number will have been assigned.
Our office will confirm applicant details within eMedical under the HAPID number, and immigration medical exam results will be submitted under this number.
Exam components for Australian visa applicants are specified in advance, and can vary based on the category and duration of the visa being sought. In some cases, only a medical exam and/or chest xray may be required; in others, including most longer term or permanent visa applications, both medical exam and chest xray, as well as limited blood testing may be included. Applicants in healthcare related or child care fields may require supplemental blood tests.
New Zealand
All New Zealand Immigration Medical Examinations are done “Upfront”. Upfront medicals allow visa applicants to obtain their medical exams simultaneous with gathering of other documents and clearances for the INZ visa office.
At the time of their clinic visit, each visa applicant (and family members) will be provided with a personal “NZER” number, issued on an eMedical Information Sheet document which they will subsequently forward to the visa office. This NZER number is the key to connect Immigration Medical exam results to the overall visa application.
Standardized exam components for mostapplicants include a medical history and basic physical exam, urinalysis (ages 5 and above), single view chest xray (ages 11 and above) and a panel of specific blood tests (ages 15 and above). Some short term (less than one year duration) visa applicants may require only a medical exam and/or chest xray. Limited/Partner visa applicants may also require less extensive testing (particularly as related to blood work). Certain preexisting medical conditions may dictate additional limited laboratory testing.
Norwegian Maritime Authority
Merchant Marine examinations done under the auspices of the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) are amongst a group of international certifications required by certain foreign flagged vessels. NMA certifications are considered equivalent and interchangeable with the UK ENG-1 Seafarer Medical Certificate as well as those of some 38 other countries. This distinguishes the NMA certification from the standard US Coast Guard Merchant Marine exam.
NMA certification is issued for a maximum of 2 years.
Dr. Strandberg has been on the panel of NMA examiners since 2012, and attended an NMA recertification course in Bergen, Norway in June 2019.
