Furtherance Letter - Specialist

[oceanslands]

Hello all,

I'm required to go to a pulmonary specialist and get a medical report, so that the panel physician can send that to CIC, which I did everything I could and complied, however after everything is done on my part, the specialist is not sending the required medical report, and I tried my best to contact and remind them to send with no success, it's been a long time - 2 months after I seen the specialist. Im wondering if anyone has experienced the same, and whether you guys have any advice for me to resolve this issue?

Thanks in advance for any inputs, much appreciated.

 

[oceanslands]

anyone please give any suggestions?

 

[CdnandTrini]

Hello all,

I'm required to go to a pulmonary specialist and get a medical report, so that the panel physician can send that to CIC, which I did everything I could and complied, however after everything is done on my part, the specialist is not sending the required medical report, and I tried my best to contact and remind them to send with no success, it's been a long time - 2 months after I seen the specialist. Im wondering if anyone has experienced the same, and whether you guys have any advice for me to resolve this issue?

Thanks in advance for any inputs, much appreciated.

I have not experienced this; however, your options may include:

- going in person to the specialist's office (if you have not already tried this) and asking for a copy of your results (very firmly and assertively). In other words, make a scene if you need to and do not leave that office until you have proof that they have sent your results. You are entitled to your own medical records and although they do need to be sent directly, the mere fact of you showing up may prompt the correct action to be taken.

- writing/e-mailing immigration explaining the problem/delay and cc'ing the specialist's office. You could do this again as a "prompt" for them to take action

- seeing another specialist asap and requesting they expedite your results

Good luck.

 

[oceanslands]

Thank you so much for replying CdnandTrini.

I have made multiple phone calls for almost a month, however it's not helping, I'm only told they will remind the specialist to do that but because the specialist is busy and all that, they cannot guarantee when he will send the required letter to the panel physician.

I have not stepped in the clinic yet, I was afraid that by making a scene it will make the matter worse, I don't know if it's his duty to send the requested letter (written by the Specialist) to my panel physician, I wonder whether there is any channel in Canada to report these kind of issues at all. It feels like they charge you a lot of money but seems like there is no accountability.

I also asked my panel physician, and advised that seeing another specialist will probably take even longer.

Thanks again for any suggestions/advice

 

[CdnandTrini]

Thank you so much for replying CdnandTrini.

I have made multiple phone calls for almost a month, however it's not helping, I'm only told they will remind the specialist to do that but because the specialist is busy and all that, they cannot guarantee when he will send the required letter to the panel physician.

I have not stepped in the clinic yet, I was afraid that by making a scene it will make the matter worse, I don't know if it's his duty to send the requested letter (written by the Specialist) to my panel physician, I wonder whether there is any channel in Canada to report these kind of issues at all. It feels like they charge you a lot of money but seems like there is no accountability.

I also asked my panel physician, and advised that seeing another specialist will probably take even longer.

Thanks again for any suggestions/advice

You are most welcome. Sounds very frustrating- as only immigration can be :'(. When you say "I don't know if it's his duty to send the requested letter" do you mean the specialist's duty or another doctor who referred you to the specialist? And why can't the panel physician call the specialist directly to expedite matters?

Personally I would still show up at the specialist's office directly and write/e-mail immigration. And while you are waiting it might not hurt to call around to some other doctors and plead your case. You never know who may respond with help. Wishing you luck.

 

[oceanslands]

I meant whether that's the specialist's duty to provide the letter to my panel physician, as CIC asks for a letter from the specialist specifically, without that the case cant be closed. I did write CIC visa office periodically to provide updates (even though CIC never replies me back), hopefully CIC is not going to reject my application due to this delay.

I will book an appointment with the panel physician to see if she can refer me to another specialist at the same time, and see if my panel physician will be able to talk to the specialist directly even though the chance is low.

Thanks again.

 

[wait_so_long]

Strange that the panel physician is not worried about the specialist ruining his/her reputation. If there was a risk of losing or not being able to renew credentials as a panel physician, it might light a fire under them.

 

[CdnandTrini]

Strange that the panel physician is not worried about the specialist ruining his/her reputation. If there was a risk of losing or not being able to renew credentials as a panel physician, it might light a fire under them.

Exactly what I was wondering as well. About the specialist as well as the panel physician. In order to be qualified/selected as a panel physician CIC has certain protocols/standards in place.

oceanslands - maybe you can search some of this criteria and see if there is a separate complaint process for your situation. I would have thought that it is/was the panel physician's responsibility to facilitate getting results to CIC. You mentioned that CIC asks for a letter from the specialist specifically. Did CIC send you a letter directly to take with you, or send the specialist a letter directly or is this a CIC standard form of some kind in one of the guidelines? Also what country are you applying from?

 

[oceanslands]

I believe it's the same process as other furtherance requests, after medical exam, received a furtherance request from CIC through email asking to go to the panel physician, panel physician followed the instructions available in eMedical (instruction to see a specialist and receive a letter from specialist), and sent referral to the Specialist office. Specialist is supposed to send the letter to the panel physician and panel physician will include all the documents and submit to CIC through eMedical. Panel Physician staff has also followed up couple of times with no results, but I would agree that it's the panel physician's responsibility to facilitate getting the results to CIC, however if the Specialist doesn't do anything, the Specialist has no consequences, that seems unfair to the panel physician.

My daughter is sponsoring me in the PGP program, and because I'm in Canada on visitor visa since the application was submitted, my application is being processed in Ottawa and medical exam was also done in Canada.

 

[CdnandTrini]

I believe it's the same process as other furtherance requests, after medical exam, received a furtherance request from CIC through email asking to go to the panel physician, panel physician followed the instructions available in eMedical (instruction to see a specialist and receive a letter from specialist), and sent referral to the Specialist office. Specialist is supposed to send the letter to the panel physician and panel physician will include all the documents and submit to CIC through eMedical. Panel Physician staff has also followed up couple of times with no results, but I would agree that it's the panel physician's responsibility to facilitate getting the results to CIC, however if the Specialist doesn't do anything, the Specialist has no consequences, that seems unfair to the panel physician.

My daughter is sponsoring me in the PGP program, and because I'm in Canada on visitor visa since the application was submitted, my application is being processed in Ottawa and medical exam was also done in Canada.

Yes it does seem unfair to both you and the panel physician (PP) that the specialist has no consequences. But I still think that if the request is all routed through the PP, they need to document their attempts to contact the specialist and keep you and CIC in the loop. Also the PP should at least be referring to specialists who have an understanding that the immigration process is time sensitive and certain procedures need to be followed.

I am sure your case is not the first like this to ever happen and I would think that the PP would have some guidance from CIC as to what to do in a situation like this. At least you are here in Canada with your daughter, that is good. I would suggest you and/or your daughter call CIC and your MP and try to determine what CIC would suggest the next steps be. I would also ask your PP to e-mail CIC and update them about the delay and you get a copy of such a letter or e-mail from the PP and you can also submit it from your end to CIC. Hope you get some clear information to assist you.