Medical Exams (Montreal Immigrant Visa)

[NVC 2]

Hi all,

greetings!

I am in the process of collecting all the vaccinations and other medical records.

I received the letter the designated physician in Burnaby, BC. The doctor is telling me that I need to receive

1. Tdap (Adacel or Boosterix)

2. MMR, measles mumps rubella

3. Varicella

4.. Influenza

In the past, I have tested for 2 (MMR) and 3 (Varicella). Never received 1. I receive 4 (Influenza) in December, 2012.

I was wondering how your medical exam was ()particularly BC residents at Dr. Cheema's Office and how I should be getting these records. Any inputs would be greatly appreciated.

What tests were done at the immigration physician and what I can do before I go the immigration physician to make the whole process smooth?

Many many thanks for your attentions!

[SF2007 48]

You have no timeline and I we don't know what type of visa you applied for (K1? CR1?). It is hard to give you anything specific to your situation.

I had mine done in Montreal for a K1. You won't need a current flu shot unless it's flu season (Fall-Winter). You will need your Tetanos or booster (tdap) shot if you have not received it in the last 10 years. If you know you have not gotten it, I would recommend to make an appointment and have it done prior to your medical. And bring proof with you (like the health card the nurse will fill for you). It is much more expensive to have it done during your medical (approx. 100$) and more bothersome to have to deal with it after.

When you say you tested for MMR and Varicella, do you mean you tested positive in a titer test for antibodies? If so, bring proof of that and you shouldn't need the shots. The provinces don't keep records of shots that are given it is up to you to prove which ones you have received. You can bring your health records with all the vaccines you received since a child or, if you don't have it, get an antibody titer test done. Or perhaps your doctor's office keeps track of those records. It is worth a shot to call them. For my varicella shot, I didn't have the record and the doctor asked me if I have had chicken pox. That was enough for him.

The doctor will do the usual yearly exam routine. He/she will check your ears and throat, listen to your heart and your lungs and get a chest x-ray. You will also be questioned on your health: do you do drugs/smoke, have mental/health issues/have you had surgeries, etc. It's no big deal really.

[VeeNDee 44]

Hi all,

greetings!

I am in the process of collecting all the vaccinations and other medical records.

I received the letter the designated physician in Burnaby, BC. The doctor is telling me that I need to receive

1. Tdap (Adacel or Boosterix)

2. MMR, measles mumps rubella

3. Varicella

4.. Influenza

In the past, I have tested for 2 (MMR) and 3 (Varicella). Never received 1. I receive 4 (Influenza) in December, 2012.

I was wondering how your medical exam was ()particularly BC residents at Dr. Cheema's Office and how I should be getting these records. Any inputs would be greatly appreciated.

What tests were done at the immigration physician and what I can do before I go the immigration physician to make the whole process smooth?

Many many thanks for your attentions!

If you have tested for MMR and Varicella, bring your test results with you to Dr. Cheema's. They will photocopy the paperwork. If you received influenza in Dec. 2012 you are also good to go since that is the current flu season - where did you get your shot? You need to bring some kind of proof saying you got it. Maybe have your doctor write you a quick note or ask the secretary if you can photocopy the medical record for that day when you got the shot and bring it with you. As far as TDap, you will probably have to go out and get it since it needs to be current. I went to a public health clinic and since there was a supposed whooping cough outbreak they gave it to me for free (it also helped that I worked with children and had a low immune system -although I didn't bring that up it would qualify me for a free shot of Tdap if I am correct). Then bring proof of that shot with you too.

Here is a review of Dr. Cheema:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/414389-dr-gulzar-cheema-medical-review/

If you have any questions feel free to ask. I know it can be a confusing process!

[Ms Hogan 295]

I found solid answers to what we (myself and 2 kids) needed specifically by calling the nurse at the office. I told her what we had or didn't have and she filled in all the blanks for me.

[Rob & Monika 87]

if you have not had the Varicella vaccine, but you have had chicken pox as a child, you just have to say so. No tests required.

[JensJrny2Ray 367]

I found solid answers to what we (myself and 2 kids) needed specifically by calling the nurse at the office. I told her what we had or didn't have and she filled in all the blanks for me.

Dr. Cheema's office only does communication by e-mail and it can be spotty. The TDap can probably be given to you at a walk in clinic or at a pharmacy. (I got mine done at Save On Foods pharmacy).

Just make sure to bring all your records of your vaccinations to your appointment at Dr. Cheema's. If you don't have them, you can get titers (blood tests) to show immunity or you can get the vaccines done over again.

[JensJrny2Ray 367]

Double post, sorry

Edited March 13, 2013 by JensJrny2Ray

[Ms Hogan 295]

Dr. Cheema's office only does communication by e-mail and it can be spotty. The TDap can probably be given to you at a walk in clinic or at a pharmacy. (I got mine done at Save On Foods pharmacy).

Just make sure to bring all your records of your vaccinations to your appointment at Dr. Cheema's. If you don't have them, you can get titers (blood tests) to show immunity or you can get the vaccines done over again.

Well that certainly is inconvenient, isn't it? Definitely bring whatever docs you have on -hand. I just saw my family doctor a while before I knew I'd be doing my medical. I took the vaccination requirement list from Dr. Seiden's site (http://panelphysicians.com/Pages/Immunizations.htm) showing what we all needed and then filled in any necessary blanks.

[NVC 2]

Many many very sincere thanks to all of you who have responded underneath my post.

My apologies for lacking the details of case.

I am selfpertitioning under E1-Priority Workers.

I sent my I-140 petition (EB1a) to USCIS early November 2012 and the case was approved in one week. Then my case was transferred to NVC about 10 days after it was approved at USCIS.

Then there was an email asking me for all the civil documents, including police certificate, birth certificate, etc. Then the case was completed early February. There was a long wait and I almost called NVC once a day until I got tired of it and forgot about it.

I received the email a few days back (Packet 4) and told me the interview is schedule for early April.

So this is how I got to do the medical exam.

In summary:

E1-Priority Worker Category

I-140, November 2012, USCIS

Approved November 2012, USCIS

Transferred to NVC in mid-November, 2012

Requested civil documents sent to NVC mid-January 2013

Case completed at NVC, early February 2013

Received email mid-March, telling me the Interview scheduled for early April 2013 in Montreal, QC.

I sent email to Dr. Cheema's office and the receptionist was quite nice and called me back the next day and told me there was appointment available for March 20s. I had to get all my antibody titer test results (vericella, MMR) and Tdap shot record.

Thank you all for sharing your valuable points and what should I prepare before the interview, I registered loomi courier service a while back and had to track down whether it was properly done, what else should I do before the interview?

Any comments would be extremely welcome and appreciated.

[NVC 2]

i read your timeline again and realized you are REALLY fast!

Congrats!

What time are planning to "land" in the states?

I found solid answers to what we (myself and 2 kids) needed specifically by calling the nurse at the office. I told her what we had or didn't have and she filled in all the blanks for me.

What does POE mean?

Congrats to your green card and wedding!!!

Dr. Cheema's office only does communication by e-mail and it can be spotty. The TDap can probably be given to you at a walk in clinic or at a pharmacy. (I got mine done at Save On Foods pharmacy).

Just make sure to bring all your records of your vaccinations to your appointment at Dr. Cheema's. If you don't have them, you can get titers (blood tests) to show immunity or you can get the vaccines done over again.

[NVC 2]

I am reactive to Varicella from my blood test, meaning I most likely had it but I couldn't remember anything, must be very very little when I had it.

if you have not had the Varicella vaccine, but you have had chicken pox as a child, you just have to say so. No tests required.

sorry for not including the details in the first post.

E1 is my category. However, I found out that i was the only one on the board who has this category and so I had been silent for a long time since I had no idea what you guys were talking about.

Thanks for sharing your points greatly.

You have no timeline and I we don't know what type of visa you applied for (K1? CR1?). It is hard to give you anything specific to your situation.

I had mine done in Montreal for a K1. You won't need a current flu shot unless it's flu season (Fall-Winter). You will need your Tetanos or booster (tdap) shot if you have not received it in the last 10 years. If you know you have not gotten it, I would recommend to make an appointment and have it done prior to your medical. And bring proof with you (like the health card the nurse will fill for you). It is much more expensive to have it done during your medical (approx. 100$) and more bothersome to have to deal with it after.

When you say you tested for MMR and Varicella, do you mean you tested positive in a titer test for antibodies? If so, bring proof of that and you shouldn't need the shots. The provinces don't keep records of shots that are given it is up to you to prove which ones you have received. You can bring your health records with all the vaccines you received since a child or, if you don't have it, get an antibody titer test done. Or perhaps your doctor's office keeps track of those records. It is worth a shot to call them. For my varicella shot, I didn't have the record and the doctor asked me if I have had chicken pox. That was enough for him.

The doctor will do the usual yearly exam routine. He/she will check your ears and throat, listen to your heart and your lungs and get a chest x-ray. You will also be questioned on your health: do you do drugs/smoke, have mental/health issues/have you had surgeries, etc. It's no big deal really.

[NVC 2]

Hi VeeNDee,

It was very informative, many appreciations indeed.

How about HBV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, HIV etc??/?? U.S. Medical Exam has these tests required.

If you have tested for MMR and Varicella, bring your test results with you to Dr. Cheema's. They will photocopy the paperwork. If you received influenza in Dec. 2012 you are also good to go since that is the current flu season - where did you get your shot? You need to bring some kind of proof saying you got it. Maybe have your doctor write you a quick note or ask the secretary if you can photocopy the medical record for that day when you got the shot and bring it with you. As far as TDap, you will probably have to go out and get it since it needs to be current. I went to a public health clinic and since there was a supposed whooping cough outbreak they gave it to me for free (it also helped that I worked with children and had a low immune system -although I didn't bring that up it would qualify me for a free shot of Tdap if I am correct). Then bring proof of that shot with you too.

Here is a review of Dr. Cheema:

http://www.visajourn...medical-review/

If you have any questions feel free to ask. I know it can be a confusing process!

[Ms Hogan 295]

Hi VeeNDee,

It was very informative, many appreciations indeed.

How about HBV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, HIV etc??/?? U.S. Medical Exam has these tests required.

They do the blood work when you go for the medical.

[Ms Hogan 295]

i read your timeline again and realized you are REALLY fast!

Congrats!

What time are planning to "land" in the states? SOONish. We are possibly heading down this weekend. We aren't moving full time for another couple months but since we go back and forth every 2-3 weeks I'm just trying to plan the best time to spend an extra hour at the border being processed with a 4 & 7 year old pair of boys with me! I may leave work early tomorrow and go. We are only 1.5 hour drive form the border so I have a lot of flexibility. I just want to time it right so it's not too busy when we get there. I may wait another couple weeks but I'm anxious to get this part over with as well.

What does POE mean? PORT OF ENTRY

Congrats to your green card and wedding!!!

[VeeNDee 44]

They do the blood work when you go for the medical.

MsHogan is right- those tests (syphilis, TB, etc) are prescribed by the doctor when you go for your medical. Once he has examined you he will send you to a nearby clinic to get an Xray and a blood test. It's a few minutes drive away by car. It doesn't take too long to do, so long as there aren't a lot of other people waiting to get tests done there at the same time.

Once you get these tests done you can pick up your medical results from Dr. Cheema in a day or two after 4pm - Dr. Cheema's office will tell you when to come back before you leave the office - if they forget to tell you just ask them. They may be hard to get ahold of, but when you are there they are very chatty and friendly and will answer questions.

Hope this info is helpful!