Upfront Immigration Medical Examination (IME) for Express Entry
IRCC restarted Invitations to Apply (ITA) for Express Entry on July 6, 2022. They later sent emails about Upfront Immigration Medical Examination to all Express Entry applicants. Let’s discuss this matter in detail.
Table of contents
What is an Immigration Medical Examination (IME)
When you immigrate to Canada, you must have an Immigration Medical Examination (IME). Moreover, some temporary residents may also need IMEs. Of course, the rationale is to ensure you are not inadmissible to Canada for health reasons. Panel physicians are a group of IRCC-licensed doctors that conduct these IMEs. Read the following article for more information on medical inadmissibility in Canada:
What is an Upfront Immigration Medical Examination (IME)
You usually receive an IME letter and then visit a panel physician. However, in certain circumstances, panel physicians may run IMEs without an IME letter. We call such IMEs upfront. Of course, you may read the following article for more information:
The changes in the Express Entry system
Before July 7, 2022, only those Express Entry applicants who resided in Canada had to do Upfront Immigration Medical Examination. However, IRCC changed this policy. They now expect even outside-Canada applicants to do the examination. Here is the text we received:
As of July 7, 2022, if you receive an invitation to apply (ITA), an upfront Immigration Medical Examination (IME) is required as part of your application, whether you are in Canada or outside of Canada. Your family members, must also have their IME results, even if they aren’t coming with you.
Source: IRCC mass email.
Let us help!
If you are facing medical inadmissibility to Canada, fill out the following form. Please book a consultation session with me for questions about upfront Immigration Medical Examinations or other matters. Moreover, I offer mentorship sessions for licensed practitioners. Alternatively, you may fill out our assessment form.
Read this in Spanish
Share it!
Would you please fill out our free assessment form if you wish to visit or move to Canada? We will review it for free, but we will contact you only if we find an opportunity for you. Alternatively, you may book a consultation session. Consultation sessions are not free, but you will receive formal immigration advice from a licensed practitioner.
Al Parsai, LLM, MA, DTM, RCIC
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Adjunct Professor – Queen’s University – Faculty of Law
Ashton College Instructor – Immigration Consulting
Author – 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada
Fill our Free Canada Immigration Assessment Form in your language!
