Hi, my wife is apply for a Permanent Residence, she is pregnant about 4 months can she do chest x-ray test?

Question

hi, my wife is applying for a Permanent Residence, she lives in China and she is pregnant now, the fetus is about 4 months old, as eveone know the x-ray is harmful for the fetus, but the x-ray test is mandatory last step before she will granted for the visa, we have already passed the interview. Now, the consulate in HongKong mailed the x-ray test form, said we can either do it after the baby is delivered or when is the clinic is appropriate to do so. EDC August 31.2008, i don磘 know what is EDC mean, is it meant expected date of childbirth or what, but my wife's expect date of birth should be at Dec 31.2008, some of the people said, the counsulate will ask to undergo the x-ray test when the fetus is 5months old. My concern now is i dont know if my wife should do the x-ray now or later, if she is done the x-ray on her August 31, the fetus is about 5 months old, will she still able to have time to get the baby to born in Canada, because in Hongkong it takes about 2-5 months to get the visa. if at that time, my wife wouldn't be allowed for the airplane, and i don't want to risk my baby's safety to do the x-ray test. Are there any other people have the same situation as me, and how you guys suggest me should do?

Answer 1

I was in exactly your wife's position.  I refused to have an x-ray early in pregnancy and got Canadian immigration to accept one that had been taken a year earlier for another reason (which they promptly lost).  Later (well past the most vulnerable time) I agreed to do the x-ray but the guy at the consulate in New York said "No way, this baby is going to be a Canadian and we aren't taking any chances".

I don't know what he did but I was approved without a chest x-ray, so I suggest you write to the consulate in Hong Kong and explain the situation.   Include information from your wife's doctor too.  Consular officials have quite a lot of discretion.  Make sure that your letter has correct spelling and proper grammar.

Good luck

Answer 2

Any sane Dr. who actually CARES, will not do an X Ray unless it is medically necessary to do so.  Such as when I was 36 weeks pregnant, I fell on my side and twisted my ankle...I ended up spraining it, but the Dr. wanted to be 100% sure there wasn't anything broken.  THAT is an example of medically necessary.  Getting an x-ray to clear a person for residence is not medically necessary for that persons health.

I would wait till the baby is born.

Answer 3

They can do x-rays on pregnant women.  They use a lead shield to protect the fetus.  Besides, they are doing a chest x-ray, so only the chest is exposed to the x-rays.  She does need to inform them that she is pregnant.  But go & get it done.  Quit stressing unnecessarily.

Answer 4

I was about 3 1/2 months pregnant when I went to have my immigration medical done.  The x-rays were not done until after I delivered the baby. However, in my case, I did my medical at the beginning of my process and so I had time to wait.

While some doctors will say it it ok to have a chest x-ray while pregnant, most will not do it unless it is medically necessary.  Also, some countries will not allow you to do the x-rays while pregnant and insist that you wait (as in my case) because of their liability to the unborn child.  I do not know where China stands on this issue but it is something you need to ask about.  

Good Luck to you and your wife.

Answer 5

Well, she needs to tell the panel physician that she's pregnant. Aside from the x-ray, there are various innoculations pregnant women shouldn't get. However, it won't be a problem as long as the doctor knows about it.