My London Medical Experience. 7th Jan '08

[edchels 5]

Appointment: 1:00pm

Train to Victoria station, arrived at Victoria at 12:20, went to the tube. Took Victoria line to Green Park, changed trains to Jubilee Line to Bond St. Got to Bond St station around 12:35. I had memorized the street names from looking at Google maps, plus i like a bit of a challenge anyway, and i had time to spare if i did get lost.

Anyway, it was so easy... exit Bond St. station, cross Oxford St. and go left to the very next right turn and go up it (James St.), couple of blocks up, turn right again on Hines St (something like that)...i know it began with an H. lol then its 1 block onwards from thereand its right on the corner. Dont look for a Medical Building, or a hospital type of place. It actually is a bunch of flats, with one of them being the Knightsbridge Doctors. (Flat 4) Just push the buzzer, and they'll let you in.

Once inside, there are 2 windows. The lady will ask you for Passport, Medical Questionnaire, and a photo. (make sure its got a white background... a lady who was waiting with me got told to retake the photos cos she had a dark background.) and if you have vaccination records, you give them in aswell. (i didn't)

Waited in the main waiting room for about 10-15 mins. While i was waiting i filled out another questionnaire, very similar to the one i had already done and handed in. So far, everyone seemed friendly.

When i was called, another very nice lady took me to a small room, and thats where we went through my vaccination history. I have never had a vaccination in my life, and personally think they do more harm than good, but i havent seen my wife in 7 months, so had to let them do their thing. She gave me an MMR, and a TD. Both in the top left arm, and if you are afraid of needles.... there is no need to be. It actually felt exactly like resting the tip of a pencil on your skin. There was no pain in the slightest, i was waiting for her to actually push the needle in for a while, but apparently she already had!!!! it's amazing any of that poison actually went in me.

After the vaccinations, i went into another room, where there was another doctor. He told me to take off my shirt, and that was for the Xray of my chest. Again, very friendly. That took maybe 30 seconds!

After that he told me to wait in a second waiting room where no one else was! Not more than 2 mins past when yet ANOTHER doctor called me into his office.(Yes, very friendly) He asked me a bunch of questions about my medical history, all of which was answered NO! He seemed impressed, so that made me feel better. Then he had me sign a form, and told me to go strip down to my "socks and jocks" as he called it. I went behind a screen and stripped. Then he weighed me, measured my height, asked me to sit on the bed, and he checked my eye sight by reading a letter chart thingy. Then he checked my ears, nose, eyes, heartbeat, checked my feet?? dont know why?? , then (i guess to check if i'm actually a man???) he said "i'm just going to have a quick peep down there"... he literally lifted my boxers for less than half a second and just, thats fine. then he took some blood from the other arm than the vaccinations were done, (after checking my blood pressure). That was it. He asked me to sign my photo which was attached to the medical form. He said Good Luck, and a few other things about my visa which i cant remember. Then i went and waited in the waiting room for another 10 mins or so (not sure why), (maybe he had to just check everything was done and ok). Lady told me to go to the windows so i can pay. it cost me GBP240. (60 of which was for the 2 vaccinations). Paid her, she told me they'll send everything to the Embassy, and if we dont contact you, then everything is fine. So, i said, "ok, please dont call me! i dont want to hear from you!" (in a friendly way of course). Then i left, and decided to go find a nice quick route to get from Bond St. to the Embassy (so im ready for my interview on the 18th Jan!) That was piss easy to find, so i wont be nervous trying to find it now.

Hope this helps out some nervous people about to take the medical. It's not bad at all, dont be nervous, everyone is friendly, and i was in at 12:50pm, and out by about 1:45pm, most of which was waiting.

Any questions about the medical, feel free to send me a message, i'll try and answer!

-Ed

[missing.my2angels 0]

Great post and should replace one of those pinned as is more up to date. Interesting that the fee is less than I thougt as I read that is was circa £400 so that is a relief

[edchels 5]

Great post and should replace one of those pinned as is more up to date. Interesting that the fee is less than I thougt as I read that is was circa £400 so that is a relief

No, Definitely not GBP400! it was 180 for the medical (which is mainly for the fact that you have an X-Ray), thats what the receptionist lady said anyway. I think MMR is 35 and TD was 25.

How would i go about getting this one pinned? or is it up to the Admin lot to decide??

[MargotDarko 0]

Great post and should replace one of those pinned as is more up to date. Interesting that the fee is less than I thougt as I read that is was circa £400 so that is a relief

My guess is that you are confusing it with the visa fee. The fee on the day of the interview is $380 USD (but maybe $400 USD now according to a recent personal report).

[Jeraly 4]

I read that the cost of the visa was only $130 or something... I thought the med was £200...

If you want to get this pinned then send a PM to Ewok - it would be nice to have a definitive medical guide that is up to date!!!

[*julez* 124]

I read that the cost of the visa was only $130 or something... I thought the med was £200...

If you want to get this pinned then send a PM to Ewok - it would be nice to have a definitive medical guide that is up to date!!!

Its $131 for the K1, so I am guessing that the CR-1 is more $ as its a multiple entry visa.

[Jeraly 4]

Ahh - I thought it was something like that - I am in work though and was browsing the forum in a tiny window so it was hard for me to check... Phew - I was beginning to panic - I have already spent a fortune this week, bridesmaid dresses, gettnig engagement ring mended, flights...

In terms of which place you go to for your medical - do you get to choose or is it decided for you in Packet 3? Which one is "better"? Are they about equidistant from the embassy? Is a good plan to try and find it on the day of the medical I have another month and a half or so at least before I have to think about it but it's nice to be a bit prepared

[*julez* 124]

They told Griff yesterday at Bentinck Mansions that they are the only facilty that currently does medicals for US immigrations.

[gwenneh 7]

In terms of which place you go to for your medical - do you get to choose or is it decided for you in Packet 3? Which one is "better"? Are they about equidistant from the embassy?

Having done this just yesterday, you phone the number in P3 and they schedule you for a slot which is free. You could probably request one over the other but it may affect how quickly you get an appointment, that's all.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

They told Griff yesterday at Bentinck Mansions that they are the only facilty that currently does medicals for US immigrations.

Yup, that's what they told Bruce back in May.

I'm confused that the OP said it was 180 quid for the medical (plus extra for vaccinations) -- I thought this had been increased last year to 200? If it's gone back down, I want our extra 20 quid back!!!

[gwenneh 7]

Says 180 quid in our packet, so it must have done!

Will let you know tomorrow when Russ goes. He doesn't have to get any vaccinations or anything.

[Jeraly 4]

Lol - I thought Knightsbridge also carried out medicals? If not then I guess it makes life easier - no decisions to make... call me dumb but I prefer the name of Knightsbridge... I don't know why - I think I am just in a really weird sensitive mood today!!

[gwenneh 7]

Knightsbridge still does them; they're in P3. Says you can go to either.

[Jeraly 4]

Kewlies I don't know why but I always had it in my head I would be going there and I really can't tell you why!!

[C and J 1]

Knightsbridge still does them; they're in P3. Says you can go to either.

They may still be in the packet, but when I phoned up for my medical date I was told that only Bentinck was an option (no choice available). I don't remember anyone recently having a medical in Knightsbridge. And the medical on Friday 4th Jan was indeed £180 (I was also expecting more).