Immigration Chest X-Ray in Ajax: A Step-by-Step IRCC Guide

A common belief among people starting an immigration medical exam is that the chest X-ray is a separate hurdle, something you arrange entirely on your own and then try to fit into your application. In practice, it is one part of a larger medical examination, and the person who guides that examination is your panel physician. Understanding that one idea makes the whole process feel much less confusing.

This guide walks through the chest X-ray portion step by step, in general terms, for people in Ajax, Pickering, Whitby and the wider Durham Region who have been asked to complete an immigration medical exam for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It explains what typically happens, what to bring to Rossland Diagnostic Clinic, and where to turn with questions.

An important note before we begin: we are a diagnostic imaging clinic, not an immigration authority or adviser. We cannot give legal or immigration advice, and we cannot tell you anything about timelines, fees or the outcome of an application. For questions about your case, please speak with your panel physician or contact IRCC directly.

The big picture

Before the steps, it helps to know who does what.

• IRCC decides whether an immigration medical exam is required and sets the rules for how it is done.
• A panel physician is a doctor approved by IRCC to perform immigration medical exams. They carry out the examination and coordinate the parts that make it up.
• A chest X-ray is commonly part of that exam. If your panel physician asks for one, it is taken at an imaging facility.
• eMedical is the secure online system used to submit exam information, including chest X-ray images and results.

As an imaging clinic, our role is the chest X-ray itself and its secure upload through eMedical. Everything else sits with your panel physician and IRCC.

Seven steps, from instructions to upload

Step 1: Receive your instructions

Your immigration medical exam usually begins when you receive instructions indicating that a medical exam is required. Read those instructions carefully. They come from IRCC or through your application process, and they are the authoritative source on what you need to do.

If anything in them is unclear, ask IRCC or the person or organization helping you with your application. We are not able to interpret immigration instructions on your behalf.

Step 2: See a panel physician

Only an IRCC-approved panel physician can perform an immigration medical exam. During your visit, the panel physician will carry out the medical examination and let you know which additional tests are needed. A chest X-ray is often one of them.

The panel physician will typically give you paperwork for the X-ray and explain where it can be done. Keep this paperwork safe. You will need it at the imaging clinic.

Step 3: Arrange your chest X-ray

Once you know an X-ray is needed, contact the imaging clinic your panel physician has directed you to, or one that can complete IRCC chest X-rays and upload them through eMedical. At Rossland Diagnostic Clinic in Ajax, you can call us at 905-426-3111 to ask about availability.

When you call, it helps to say clearly that you need an immigration chest X-ray for an IRCC medical exam, so our staff can make sure the right process is followed.

Step 4: Gather what to bring

Coming prepared helps the visit go smoothly. Please bring:

1. Identification. Bring the identification requested in your instructions or by your panel physician. Identity is checked carefully for immigration exams, so make sure your documents are valid and that the name matches your paperwork.
2. Paperwork from your panel physician. Bring every page you were given for the X-ray.
3. Any other documents you were told to bring. If you were given a reference number or form, have it with you.

If you are unsure whether you have the right documents, check with your panel physician before your visit. It is much easier to sort out a missing document in advance than at the front desk.

What to wear

For a chest X-ray, metal can show up on the image and interfere with what needs to be seen. Clothing without metal zippers, snaps or underwire around the chest is helpful, and you may be asked to remove jewellery or change into a gown. Our staff will let you know what is needed on the day.

Step 5: Have the X-ray taken

The chest X-ray itself is quick. A technologist will position you, usually standing, against the imaging plate. You will be asked to stay still and take a deep breath and hold it for a moment while the image is captured. Sometimes more than one view is taken.

X-rays use a low dose of radiation, and a chest X-ray is a routine, common imaging test. If you are or might be pregnant, tell the technologist before the exam. In that situation, please also speak with your panel physician about how to proceed, since it may affect how your medical exam is handled.

Our digital X-ray equipment produces images that can be stored and shared electronically, which is what makes secure online submission possible.

Step 6: Images are uploaded through eMedical

After your X-ray, the images and related information are uploaded through the eMedical system to your case. This is a secure, electronic process. You do not need to carry films or a CD to your panel physician or mail anything to IRCC for this part.

We cannot tell you when your exam as a whole will be reviewed or when you will hear about your application. Those steps are outside the imaging clinic’s role. Our post on how eMedical sends your immigration X-ray results explains this part in a little more detail.

Step 7: Follow up with your panel physician or IRCC

Once your X-ray is complete, the next steps depend on your case. Your panel physician may need to finish other parts of your exam, or there may be nothing more for you to do. Sometimes additional information is requested.

If you have questions about where things stand, contact your panel physician or IRCC. They are the people who can see your full file and give you accurate information.

What the visit looks like at our Ajax clinic

For many applicants, this may be one of their first experiences with health care in Canada, so it can help to picture the visit from start to finish.

When you arrive, you check in at the front desk. Staff will ask what exam you are here for, look at your identification and review the paperwork from your panel physician. If something is missing or does not match, they will explain what is needed.

You may then wait briefly before a technologist calls your name. In a private area, you may be asked to remove jewellery and any clothing with metal around the chest, and to change into a gown if needed. The technologist will explain each step before it happens, position you for the X-ray and ask you to hold your breath for a moment. If you have questions or feel unsure at any point, simply ask.

Once the images are taken, you can get dressed and leave. There is nothing for you to carry to your panel physician from this visit.

Common points of confusion

“Can I use an X-ray I already had?”

Immigration medical exams follow specific requirements, and an X-ray done for another reason may not meet them. Ask your panel physician rather than assuming.

“Will the clinic tell me if my X-ray is normal?”

Our role is to perform the X-ray and submit it through eMedical. Questions about findings or how they relate to your immigration medical exam should go to your panel physician.

“How long will the process take?”

We cannot answer this. Timelines depend on many factors outside our control. IRCC and your panel physician are the right sources.

“Do I need a referral from my family doctor?”

For an immigration chest X-ray, the paperwork you need comes from your panel physician. Bring what they gave you.

Helpful tips for a smooth visit

• Double-check that the name on your ID matches your paperwork exactly.
• Arrive a few minutes early so there is time to check documents.
• Wear comfortable clothing without metal around the chest area.
• Bring a translator or a trusted family member if you would find it helpful, and mention this when you call.
• Keep copies of all your documents in a folder so nothing gets misplaced.

If your family is also new to the area and needs other imaging later, such as walk-in digital X-ray or ultrasound, it can be reassuring to know where your local clinic is.

Finding us

Rossland Diagnostic Clinic is at Unit 102, 300 Rossland Road East, Ajax, ON L1Z 0M1. There is free parking, and the clinic has ground-floor access. We are open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm, and Saturday, 8:00am to 3:30pm. We are closed on Sundays.

Booking your immigration chest X-ray

If your panel physician has asked you to complete a chest X-ray, you can learn more on our immigration chest X-ray page. To ask about availability, call us at 905-426-3111 or request an appointment. Please remember to bring your identification and your panel physician’s paperwork.