Pregnant Wife and Medical X-rays, etc.

[kdavid3]

I've studied the medical topics and did not see that anyone had asked this question.

 

My wife is 5.5 months pregnant with our second child. We're anticipating that she'll be around 7 to 8 months when we go to GZ for her interview.

 

As she's pregnant, there are some examination procedures she can't do (e.g. x-rays), and some which should be handled with care (e.g. not taking too much blood).

 

Any idea how will this affect the procession of our case?

[Randy W]

Yes - no problem!

 

http://candleforlove.com/forums/topic/37582-health-check-emergency-help/

 

The consulate will accept the packet from the medical exam as is. The Immigrations Officers at the POE rarely (if ever) ask to see the x-ray.

[Randy W]

As a side note NOT to encourage you to get one, but my wife used her immigrations x-ray from 2005 just last week . She has abdominal lesions which the doctors were able to reference in the old x-ray to determine that they are benign (haven't grown in the last 8 years).

[kdavid3]

Thanks for your quick reply, Randy.

 

However, I'm still a little confused. According to the link you provided:

 

22. I’m pregnant and can’t have the X-rays that are required for the medical exam. What can I do?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) mandates that women who are both pregnant and required to have a medical examination in connection with the issuance of a visa must have a chest x-ray examination conducted. Pregnant women will have to provide the panel physician with consent to conduct the chest x-ray. For the health of the applicant and her unborn child, CDC instructs panel physicians and laboratories to provide abdominal and pelvic protection with double layer, wrap-around lead shields for pregnant women receiving chest radiographs. If you do not want to have an X-ray while pregnant you can wait until after the birth of your child, but you can not be issued a US Immigrant Visa until you have an X-ray and complete the medical examination.

 

 

While the POE rarely (or never) checks the x-ray, based on what I understand from the above, we need to have it for the GZ interview, correct?

 

In other words, she must still do the x-ray before she gets the visa. Is this correct?

[Randy W]

Thanks for your quick reply, Randy.

 

However, I'm still a little confused. According to the link you provided:

 

22. I’m pregnant and can’t have the X-rays that are required for the medical exam. What can I do?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) mandates that women who are both pregnant and required to have a medical examination in connection with the issuance of a visa must have a chest x-ray examination conducted. Pregnant women will have to provide the panel physician with consent to conduct the chest x-ray. For the health of the applicant and her unborn child, CDC instructs panel physicians and laboratories to provide abdominal and pelvic protection with double layer, wrap-around lead shields for pregnant women receiving chest radiographs. If you do not want to have an X-ray while pregnant you can wait until after the birth of your child, but you can not be issued a US Immigrant Visa until you have an X-ray and complete the medical examination.

 

 

While the POE rarely (or never) checks the x-ray, based on what I understand from the above, we need to have it for the GZ interview, correct?

 

In other words, she must still do the x-ray before she gets the visa. Is this correct?

 

 

No - you DO NOT need the x-ray for the interview. They MAY delay the visa until you can get the x-ray. I don't think we've heard of this happening to anyone.

 

You WON'T need the x-ray at the POE, either.

 

The original poster in the link got her visa without having had the x-ray.

 

So it's a judgement call there, based on whatever is convenient for your situation. You can go to the interview and risk maybe getting an RFE (white or blue slipped) for the x-ray (unlikely), or you can delay the interview until after the baby is born, at which point you will need the exit visa and possibly a separate air fare for the baby.

 

The lesson learned from the link? - DON'T ASK. Simply proceed with your own plans.

[dnoblett]

What the X-Rays are used for is to look for signs of TB, there are other tests they can perform to determine this in-place of an X-Ray

[kdavid3]

Great. Thanks again, Randy.

 

It appears less risky to not do the x-ray.

 

Not doing the x-ray now would be a minor inconvenience when compared to any harm which could be done to the baby.

 

We'll skip it and let everyone know how it turns out.

[kdavid3]

FYI:

 

We've contacted the centers which administer the physicals and they're telling us that the x-ray is mandatory.

 

Additionally, they've told us that x-rays are discouraged for women in their first trimester. However, as we're in our third, there are no risks.