Netherlands

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

I'm not completely sure where they all check the bloodsample for but one of the things is HIV. I would have liked to know what my Hepatitus B titer is because I never got that checked but since it's not required they won't check for it : ( If the doctor doesn't contact you in about a week after the medical everything is ok (so they only let you know when something is wrong), but you don't get any form or something for it. At the interview they will give the x-rays back to keep for yourself. So as long as everything is ok you don't hear anything.

Letty

Ok cool.. Was a bit curious about those things

I also just checked my vaccination history, guess I will also need the BMR and the Hep B.. even tho it is not required, I have heard they might ask you to do this when you're in the states and that might cost a bit more, I don't know the prices for sure tho... The third DTP shot I got about 1.5 years ago just before I went to China for a while along with Hep A and typhoid. The others are exactly the same as you had (DKTP, DTP, measles and such).

I'm quite stressy lately because of a lot of things (like the slow CSC, probs at my current job and such) and because of that I am also a bit overworried for my medical exam.. I am constantly thinking 'what if'.. that's basically why I asked you about it.. I'm thinking to go to the GGD before the actual exam to let me check up on things so I know beforehand if I will be ok or not (even tho ppl around me say I shouldn't worry, I still worry lol.. I'm such a worrier).

[carpe diem 2]

Hello,

Nice to see this Dutch thread, including someone with my sister's name (Marieke!). I have already met Darkhorse in the February filers thread, but otherwise haven't encountered any Dutchies here on the forums.

So... Does anybody know what the Dutch soccer team is up to these days? I'll probably go watch some Eurocup games with hundreds of other orange-clad countrymates here in NYC but have no idea what to expect from "onze jongens." Oh well, it will be fun, no matter what.

[letty 1]

Hi Jeroen en Michelle,

I really wouldn't be worried about the medical. I completely understand where you're talking about, I was more nervous about the medical than I will be about the interview. My bloodpressure is way to high (always have been and all this stress doesn't really make it much better) and I know it's a big issue in the States.

The medical is really not to check if you're healthy or not. It only takes 10 minutes (although I was at the doctor for 1.15 min, mostly waiting time). First they filled out a checklist and one of the questions was if I had high bloodpressure. I lied about it so on the form for the consulate it is filled that I don't have high bloodpressure. After the checklist he measured it and ofcourse found out that it was way to high but he never chanced it on the form : )

I got the Hepatites B through the GGD. I wasn't sure if I needed it and since I work in the medical field it was reimbursed by my employer. It probably would be cheaper to get the shots through the GGD but it takes 6 months total (between the first and last shot). I'm pretty sure you're good with the DTP since you already had your booster 1.5 year ago.

You better get a medical check done at the huisarts instead of the GGD if it makes you feel more comfortable. Just tell him you want him to do: lichamelijk onderzoek en longgeluiden and he knows what to do and it will be the same thing as at the medical. It probably helps you to relax so I don't think it should be a problem, and it will be paid by your health insurance : )

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

Hi Letty,

Thanks for the head-ups!

The 'huisarts' is indeed cheaper I think.. He also checked me a little while ago on a lot of stuff (mainly because I had some vague complaints which could be a sign of a bad working thyroid and/or bad working liver), he gave me a bloodcheck on those things and a general bloodcheck.. the result was that I was completely ok, didn't have much of a high bloodpressure even and he also checked on my lungs and such. Everything was ok according to him, the complaints that I have about my body were all in my head so to speak.

Like said, I guess I shouldn't worry so much haha. Oh well, I will be glad when we finally get notice for the interview and medical exam so we finally can go on with the whole process

I will let my mind go over the Hepatites B shots, I will be in my country for a couple of more months at least (I think I wont be moving before october or maybe even november :S) so I might be able to get that thing done before I move to the states

[imtay 0]

I had my medical yesterday, and thanks to everyone here, I knew what to expect. Dr. Schulte was quite nice and friendly, and the whole checkup lasted less than 15 minutes. Most of the time was spent waiting or filling out the forms. I was lacking a DPT booster so was administered that after the quick physical. They did take a vial of blood to check for SOA, etc. I had an abnormally fast heartbeat rate which the doctor commented upon, but told that I needn't worry for it could be due to a number of things (least of all being without my shirt in the examination room heh). I walked quickly to Jan van Goyenkade to get the XRay, and was done within 1,5 hours from the start of the medical examination.

PS Hep B isn't required for adults in my age range (20s), but I did start the immunization process at my local GGD, and took the Reispas to prove it . Cheers!

[jackybeertje 0]

Hi Jeroen, good to see you here as well ;-)

Good to see some new faces on here, it has been quiet for a while.

[imtay 0]

Just preparing myself ahead of time... How did you guys move your stuff to the US? Did you employ a movers to do the same? Or ship it to your addy in the states? If so could anyone recommend how to go about the same?

Cheers.

[imtay 0]

-edit- double post oops

Edited April 29, 2008 by imtay

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

Hi Jeroen, good to see you here as well ;-)

Good to see some new faces on here, it has been quiet for a while.

Hi Jacky.. that has been a while since i last talked to you, didn't know you were also registered here.

How's things lately? Did you also have probs on your rock with that nasty vog coming from Kilauea last week? Even tho you're a bit more downwind, I don't know for sure if you had it there also.

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

Just preparing myself ahead of time... How did you guys move your stuff to the US? Did you employ a movers to do the same? Or ship it to your addy in the states? If so could anyone recommend how to go about the same?

Cheers.

I didn't move yet but I will sell most of my belongings on Ebay and/or Marktplaats (been doing that for a bit already but mostly on the stuff that I wont use anyways).

I will wait with the big stuff, like my electronics, furniture and such, until I have the visa in my hands.. imagine they deny it and I sold everything, that'd be a bad situation :S

The only stuff which I take with me is important papers, some books, a few collector item CD's/DVD's, pictures, clothes and such. If I cannot take it with me in suitcases (the plan is to have my fiance here before I move over so she can carry some of my stuff in her suitcases hehe) then I will simply mail it to our address in the States (and maybe I will take it with me a year later or so when I go back for a couple of weeks... it's the plan to go back to my home country at least once a year so in time I should be able to get everything there).

Thing is, shipping is really costly (well, according to what I read on the dutch forums allesinamerika.com (not sure if thats the right url but it should be close)) and since my SO has already everything it'll be a waste to ship the stuff only to have it twice hehe (and what she doesn't have will be bought (which we kinda also did a bit already lol)).

[letty 1]

Since a few weeks I start to ship my stuff over by regular mail (TPG) in moving boxes (they are pretty solid). Between 10 and 20 kg you pay about E 55.- whenever you sent it by sea mail and it takes about 4 to 5 week. On the TPG-site you can find all information about it.

I had a few estimates made by international moving companies here but I found it way to expensive. I will move to Texas and this are the prices I was given by all the companies:

500 euro's (2 m3)/850 euro's (4 m3) from my home around Utrecht to loading it into a seacontainer

400 (2 m3)/500 euro's (4 m3) euro's transportation across the ocean

1000 (2 m3)/1200 (4 cm3) euro's from the port (Houston) to my new home about 100 miles away.

Like you can see, it is very expensive to have your items moved from the port of entry to where you live. So I though I was smart to see if there is an option to pick it up myself at the port. I'm glad I read the blue-print (kleine lettertjes) very well, because I found out you have to pay all sort of taxes and other charges.(bijv. douaneheffingen, invoerrechten, X-ray scans, havengeld, loodshuur). At first it looked cheap but probably you end up paying a lot more this way.

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

1200 (4 cm3) euro's

that has to be a typo, no?

[jackybeertje 0]

Hi Jeroen, good to see you here as well ;-)

Good to see some new faces on here, it has been quiet for a while.

Hi Jacky.. that has been a while since i last talked to you, didn't know you were also registered here.

How's things lately? Did you also have probs on your rock with that nasty vog coming from Kilauea last week? Even tho you're a bit more downwind, I don't know for sure if you had it there also.

Yeah we have the vog here as well, but it doesn't really bother me.

I have been kind of busy with building my busyness and work. O yeah and hubby and kid ;-)

[jackybeertje 0]

Just preparing myself ahead of time... How did you guys move your stuff to the US? Did you employ a movers to do the same? Or ship it to your addy in the states? If so could anyone recommend how to go about the same?

Cheers.

I only took some personal items and stuff for my son, so I shipped everything by tpg. I sended it by sea mail. Took forever and except for 1 box everything came the way I had sent it. If you only going to sent small stuff do it by tpg and if you have the money I would do it by air mail.

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

Yeah we have the vog here as well, but it doesn't really bother me.

I have been kind of busy with building my busyness and work. O yeah and hubby and kid ;-)

Ah thats cool.. I was like reading the news about the vog and was like 'oh my, I hope I wont get breathing troubles' lol... Michelle didn't feel so well because of the heat that came along with it.

Yeah been reading about you setting up your own business, that's pretty cool! I hope it will all work out nicely for you

How's the hub and son doing anyways?