IME Frequently Asked Questions
Here IME Clinic Inc has compiled FAQs from our patients from across British Columbia including our locations in Vancouver, Surrey, Coquitlam, Langley & more
You will find the answers to our client’s most frequently asked questions about Immigration Medical Exams and their process.
Click on the questions below to get the answer
The blood test checks for blood-borne infections such as HIV and Syphilis. If anything abnormal is found, you will be contacted to do further tests. With treatable conditions like Syphilis, you can take medication and later retake your IME.
Only people of age 15 or older needs to do the blood test.
Yes, you can take an IME before you start the application process. This is an upfront medical exam. However, your IME is only valid for 12 months, whether you take it before or after starting the application.
The chest X-Ray checks for Tuberculosis. If the panel physician finds anything abnormal, they will contact you to do further tests.
Only people of age 11 or older needs to do the Chest X-rays.
You need Medical Surveillance if:
- On your immigration medical exam, an IRCC physician assessed that you have inactive tuberculosis (TB) and you’re already in Canada. OR
- You’ve been contacted and informed you need medical surveillance by the Public Health Liaison Unit of IRCC.
Yes, you need to book an appointment with the panel physician for the first part of your Immigration Medical Exam. Then, you will get a referral for more testing at x-ray and blood labs. Please call to verify walk-in protocols due to COVID-19.
Yes. You must pay for all fees related to the Immigration Medical Exam i.e. $200 for kids and $240 for adults. This includes Only the Physical Examination Fee.
Please note you will be required to pay additional fees for the X-rays and Blood tests.
The fees are not covered by MSP or other insurance.
No, the Panel Physician does not make the final decision on your admissibility or inadmissibility. The Panel Physician only gathers medical information during the physical examination and add it to your medical records. After you are done with the blood work and the X-Rays, the PP submit your case to your immigration application.
The immigration officers will then decide if you are medically admissible or inadmissible. They can return your medical case and ask for further tests.
Medical inadmissibility rules for excessive demand do not apply to refugees and their dependants, protected persons, or sponsors of the family (dependent children, spouses, common-law partners).
Importantly, if the government determines you are medically inadmissible, you will receive a procedural fairness letter explaining why. However, you will be allowed to respond and give more information before a final decision is made.
You do not need to prepare anything for the immigration medical exam, the blood work or the chest X-Rays. For the urinalysis, you will need to drink water before the appointment to provide a urine sample at the testing time.
Refugees and asylum seekers are exempt from paying fees. However, this is only for the first visit. Thus, if the applicant misses the 30-day period of submitting, they will need to pay for the exam and further testing out of pocket.
If you are pregnant during an IME, you have a few options:
- You can have the x-ray now, using a special protective shield covering the abdomen. Consult your panel physician for advice.
- Or, you can choose to defer the chest x-ray. The following steps apply:
- eMedical will inform IRCC when a chest x-ray is deferred.
- The panel physician will complete all other components of the IME and submit it to eMedical.
- The medical report will not be processed until the x-ray examination is completed.
- Finally, the whole examination can be postponed until after birth.
- If you are pregnant and need to book an appointment with us for an IME, we recommend that you wait and take your IME after birth.
The urinalysis checks for kidney diseases and diabetes. If the panel physician finds anything abnormal, they will contact you to do further tests.
Only people of age 5 or older needs to do the urinalysis.
Firstly, if you have already started an application, you need to come to your Immigration Medical Exam with the IMM1017 form. You do not need to upload anything. The Panel Physician will record your medical results on eMedical that will be directly linked to your application.
However, if you are doing an upfront medical exam, you will need to upload the documents yourself. The Panel Physician will give you the IME Information Sheet that you can upload to your application.
In conclusion, you should always keep a physical copy of all records as proof of your medical exam.
Documents To Bring:
Passport (In the event that you do not have your passport with you, another form of photo id issued by the government of Canada will be accepted)
IMM1017 Form (Not required for an Upfront Medical Exam)
Acknowledgement of Claim for Refugee Applicants (and Refugee Protection Claimant Document if available)
The physical exam will consist of several parts. First, you will fill out a medical history questionnaire regarding any previous or existing medical conditions, as well as the medications you are taking. Second, you will undergo a physical examination and health assessment. The doctor will check your:
- Weight
- Height
- Hearing and vision
- Blood pressure
- Pulse
- Heart and lungs
- Abdomen
- Limb movement
- Skin
An Immigration Medical Exam (IME) is a series of medical examinations a panel physician performs to determine whether or not someone is medically admissible to come to Canada.
eMedical is a web system that IRCC operates for the electronic collection of immigration medical exam reports. This system allows panel physicians to submit their examination results right away. Therefore, it reduces the amount of documentation the applicant must keep and upload.
Medical surveillance is a medical check-up for a person newly arrived in Canada, to check that their inactive tuberculosis (TB) hasn’t progressed to active TB disease. Moreover, medical surveillance is required for anyone who was assessed as having inactive TB on their immigration medical examination (IME). It ensures that proper treatment can be provided, which helps protect the health and safety of you, your family and your community. Lastly, Inactive TB is the only medical condition for which medical surveillance is required.
Processing time: For any immigration-related concerns, please contact IRCC directly, or check the status of your application online. The Panel Physicians are not suitable to answer those questions and have no power over your application.
IME Clinic Inc does NOT provide the service of medical surveillance, therefore please DO NOT book your medical surveillance appointment with us.
The Public Health Liaison Unit at IRCC must have provided you with instructions on where and when to book. For any further queries please email the Public Health Liaison Unit. Provide your full name and unique client identifier (UCI) number in your email.
Jobs in Canada that require an Immigration Medical Exam are ones that bring you in close contact with people (such as health care workers, medicine, or caregiving) or agriculture.
IME (Immigration Medical Exam) is for applicants from these countries applying for either permanent residency or temporary residency status. Permanent residency allows someone to stay an indefinite amount of time in Canada without becoming a Canadian citizen. The temporary residency allows someone to stay a definite amount of time. This is the case for study permit, work permit and/or Super Visas.
If you plan to stay in Canada for 6 months or less, you generally do not need an IME unless you plan to work certain jobs.
These were some of the most IME FAQs from our clients in Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Langley and other parts of the Lower Mainland, BC. We hope you found our answers useful. However, if you require further information on the Immigration Medical Exam process, please look at our Immigration Resources. Furthermore, you can also find useful information on our IME Guide.
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Please feel free to get in touch with us via Email if you require an answer to a question you couldn’t find in our FAQs selection. We will happily answer all your queries related to Immigration Medical Exam and its process. Moreover, we would add your question to our Frequently Asked Questions selection for the benefit of our other clients.