Won't let my fiance schedule his medical in london

[Kristy S 13]

we have his case number for the embassy already, so he called to set up the medical for 6 weeks from now just in case they are very back logged, and they are telling him he needs to have a police certificate with him when he shows for it, and yet he is unable to order one for himself. I didn't see that mentioned on any of the guides? can anyone give me info on this please?

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

we have his case number for the embassy already, so he called to set up the medical for 6 weeks from now just in case they are very back logged, and they are telling him he needs to have a police certificate with him when he shows for it, and yet he is unable to order one for himself. I didn't see that mentioned on any of the guides? can anyone give me info on this please?

I've never heard of the police certificate being required for the medical. However, it's definitely required for the visa interview. The VJ guides don't go into detail about the visa application requirements because these differ from one consulate to another. The beneficiary receives instructions from the consulate about what forms and documents will be needed.

The US Embassy London webpage about the medical doesn't mention anything about needing police certificates to schedule or attend the medical:

http://london.usembassy.gov/immigrant-visas/medical-examination.html

The Q&A the embassy publishes about the medical also doesn't mention police certificates:

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/cons-visa/iv_medical_letter.pdf

However, the website does mention the police certificates are required for the interview:

http://london.usembassy.gov/interview_documents.html

You said he can't order a police certificate for himself. Why not?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

we have his case number for the embassy already, so he called to set up the medical for 6 weeks from now just in case they are very back logged, and they are telling him he needs to have a police certificate with him when he shows for it, and yet he is unable to order one for himself. I didn't see that mentioned on any of the guides? can anyone give me info on this please?

That's the first I've heard about the Knightsbridge doctors wanting to see a police certificate in several years of following UK K1 visas so don't know what to say about that.

BUT he does order his own police certificate from ACPO. Click here. He will need passport photos signed off by somebody who knows him. There's a list of who can sign in the instructions. They come quickly so probably no need to pay to expedite. Meanwhile he could visit his NHS doctor and get an MMR shot, Flu shot, whatever they give for DTP (Td or Tdap, DT, DTP, DTaP), and perhaps some documentation (if they will) that he had chickenpox. Chickenpox will get you out of having the Varicella shot. He doesn't have to get all those for the visa, but they will be required once he gets to the US and files for the green card. Nice to have that covered early and possibly free on NHS.

[Kristy S 13]

That's the first I've heard about the Knightsbridge doctors wanting to see a police certificate in several years of following UK K1 visas so don't know what to say about that.

BUT he does order his own police certificate from ACPO. Click here. He will need passport photos signed off by somebody who knows him. There's a list of who can sign in the instructions. They come quickly so probably no need to pay to expedite. Meanwhile he could visit his NHS doctor and get an MMR shot, Flu shot, whatever they give for DTP (Td or Tdap, DT, DTP, DTaP), and perhaps some documentation (if they will) that he had chickenpox. Chickenpox will get you out of having the Varicella shot. He doesn't have to get all those for the visa, but they will be required once he gets to the US and files for the green card. Nice to have that covered early and possibly free on NHS.

yeah, he already has the shot lined up for next tuesday, going to get the dtap since it's been like 20 years since he's had any of those either separately or combined. he has already had his mmr and had chicken pox when he was a toddler. does he have to set up his own medical do you think? or could i just call and set it up for him. he tends to just believe people when they tell him he can't do something, i have no problem telling them they are misinformed and to set the appt and then we'll worry about the unneeded certificate on the day of the medical.

I've never heard of the police certificate being required for the medical. However, it's definitely required for the visa interview. The VJ guides don't go into detail about the visa application requirements because these differ from one consulate to another. The beneficiary receives instructions from the consulate about what forms and documents will be needed.

The US Embassy London webpage about the medical doesn't mention anything about needing police certificates to schedule or attend the medical:

http://london.usembassy.gov/immigrant-visas/medical-examination.html

The Q&A the embassy publishes about the medical also doesn't mention police certificates:

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/unitedkingdom/164203/cons-visa/iv_medical_letter.pdf

However, the website does mention the police certificates are required for the interview:

http://london.usembassy.gov/interview_documents.html

You said he can't order a police certificate for himself. Why not?

yeah, i had gone through all those sites as soon as he told me they said no, i told him it was ####### and they were lying, lol

and he said the site they gave him to order the police certificate asked for a company name as a required field or something like that.

[Kristy S 13]

wow, just tried to call the embassy and ask, and they said i had to call a special 866 number that is a flat rate of 15$ to call...or he can call from there for 1.20 pound per minute...there is nothing they can tell me that will be worth 15$ for a few minutes of my time, what crooks

[Kristy S 13]

ok, called knightsbridge myself, they said that they were just told on monday that it is now required for the petitioner to bring their police certificate or a copy of it with them to their medical. don't know why, makes no sense to me, but ok then.

thanks guys for the help

[SunDrop 59]

Probably because people often do all the pre-interview stuff without having all their documentation. And then when the interview rolls around, they don't have whatever they need.

It's a way of encouraging applicants not to fib on their IV-5s about their interview readiness.

The cost of the phone line is to act as a deterrent. You're not going to call up with little questions if it costs you that much, but imagine if it was a 1-800 number

I'd guess...

And no, don't take the attitude that you'll worry about it on the day of the medical, unless you have cash to throw around. They'll charge you a cancellation fee and turn you away. Don't forget they're not the ones deciding what they need. They're under instruction from the Embassy.

P.S. Just a word of advice, from one "I have rights and you're wrong" sayer to another - shake that approach when it comes to immigration. You can't get foot stompy with them, you're at their mercy and there is nothing in the immigration process that is a right. There've been times when I read about situations happening and I know if I were them, I'd have gnawed through my knuckles to keep shut up. But heck, who needs knuckles if opening your mouth will get you nowhere fast except wherever you don't want to be.

[JoannaV 174]

http://www.acpo.poli...ertificates.asp There's no need for company name or anything. If your fiance applies for the police certificate right now then he should have it in time for the medical without having to pay for the premium service.

Wish the Embassy wouldn't keep making changes like this!

Hmm would be good to have some additional information on this. If this is required for K1 applicants then I guess it would be required for DCF applicants too, but it can't be required for SCF applicants because they have to send their documents to the NVC. Hopefully the doctors won't get confused and try to request this from everybody!

Edited November 25, 2010 by JoannaV

[Christi85 86]

I'm having my medical with Knightsbridge doctors this coming Monday, and I can confirm I was asked to bring along my police certificates. I'm a DCF applicant for a CR1 visa.

While I'm not sure why they require that, I can make a guess which may or may not be accurate. If you take a look at the medical questionnaire, there are a couple questions related to drug and alcohol abuse. My guess is that they want to see the police certificates to check and confirm that people don't have drugs and alcohol-related charges in their records, as it's very easy to lie on the questionnaire. And as we all know, alcohol and drugs abuse can be grounds for inadmissibility to the US.

Just making a guess by putting two and two together.

[Christi85 86]

we have his case number for the embassy already, so he called to set up the medical for 6 weeks from now just in case they are very back logged, and they are telling him he needs to have a police certificate with him when he shows for it, and yet he is unable to order one for himself. I didn't see that mentioned on any of the guides? can anyone give me info on this please?

Oh, and btw, don't worry about appointment availability. They have two clinics and can generally offer appointments very promptly. I called yesterday and they made me an appointment for Monday, and most people I've heard of have been able to schedule appointments for just 3-5 working days later, if they wish to have one that soon.

[Kristy S 13]

Oh, and btw, don't worry about appointment availability. They have two clinics and can generally offer appointments very promptly. I called yesterday and they made me an appointment for Monday, and most people I've heard of have been able to schedule appointments for just 3-5 working days later, if they wish to have one that soon.

ok, good, that makes me feel better, thanks. where i live it can sometimes take a month to get an appointment in for just a physical, and one of that degree. and i was just thinking, only about 3000 people live in my community, so was a bit nervous about that, lol

thanks all