Health Question on Visa Waiver Form

[jazzlover]

Hi from a newbie jazz lover who wants to revisit New York.

I visited for the first time in September 2004 and was unprepared for the question about mental and physical illnesses on the visa waiver form. I had had what I was told was treatment-resistant depression following the terminal illness and death of my father. I was given the form in the departure lounge and asked the staff at Virgin's desk there - who told me to answer "no" to the health question. I did so and nobody queried this at JFK. I had my medication split between my hand luggage and my suitcase.

Now for the snag - later that year my diagnosis was raised to bipolar II affective disorder, in remission. My treatment remains the same and I remain well, as I was when I first visited New York. I now want to go back next spring and wonder what to do about the form. I don't like lying and am reluctant to do so, but if I don't and am asked why I said "no" last time, will they believe the answer - that I thought it was grief, and not illness? I have found out that I may be allowed in if I carry letters from my GP/specialist to say I am no threat to others or to myself, but I reckon I could still be turned back at JFK.

Would it be better to apply for a B2 visa and explain matters to the officer, and give him/her medical reports?

I bloody hate having this worry hanging over me as I would be very upset if not allowed into the USA again, and it would be one more thing that stigma and misdiagnosis have robbed me of.

Any advice, please?

[SYH]

just because you said no last time doesn't mean it has to be no the second time
if the answer was going to be the same always then why would they bother asking you every time you come to the states.
and frankly no one is cross checking the last landing card at the moment you are handing in the next one.

[jazzlover]

Many thanks for this. I guess I imagined they would somehow be able to check my medical records - on reflection, of course not since they are confidential. I'll run it past my GP and specialist as well, since it's more than likely they've had other bipolar patients holidaying in the US.

It's hard to explain to others who don't have bipolar just how stigma can affect us, but it's a reality and it's worse than the illness, which I understand very well and have learnt to manage.

[Marco 72]

From the US Embassy website:

"Travelers with mental illnesses can travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program provided that their condition does not render them a danger to themselves or others. They may wish to carry letter from their doctor to that effect to facilitate their entry into the United States."

(see the Visa Waiver Wizard). You should be ok as long as your doctors don't think you are a danger to yourself or others. Just ask them to provide you with a letter stating this.

As SYH said, the previous "no" should not be a problem. People can be healthy at one time, and ill at another.

If you are really worried about being turned back, you may consider flying from Dublin or Shannon, where you can pre clear US immigration before boarding your flight.

[jazzlover]

Thanks - will think about going via Dublin as it would be a nice place to visit anyway.