QUESTIONS: Medical expiring soon/Due Date approaching

[mrandmrsromero]

Here's the situation:

* Medical expires October 1, 2011
* GCMS “due date” October 11, 2011
* Recent response to MP's inquiry: awaiting background checks from third party
* On Aug 15 Mexico office requested Updated Schedule 1 within 15 days.

Questions:

1.  Is it usual to have the file "due date" set later than the medical expiry date?

2.  If a medical re-do is necessary, how close to expiry will the embassy request it?

3.  If we need to re-do the medical, how much more processing time will this involve?

4.  Is the third party doing background checks typically CSIS?  Would it be a waste of time to write them to ask for a status update?

Thanks!