@aubreydave - good idea na i-settle yong utang para pag nag explain sa CO, at least kita nya na you did something about it and hopefully ma produce mo din yung med cert, etc.
DIAC is familiar with cases like this. Since 80's pa ang mga pinoy na tnt pagnahuli nagpapa-withdraw sa atm card nila mga 5-10K na cash advance so upon deportation may baon na hindi na babayaran. And I'm sure ginagawa din ito ng ibang lahi,
Start with a clean slate para hindi ka ma-categorize with these kind of people. As we know may power din talaga ang CO, dapat wala silang makitang butas. But they also listen kung may justifiable reason. Good luck.