Medical - today 20th October 2011

[Opalie 0]

Hi there

I had my medical today.

I arrived early..very nervous. About 10 minutes after I arrived I was given a form to fill in, pretty much the same as the website one, but a couple of more questions, then handed that back in with the rest of my information that I had brought:

Police Certificate (I took original as I got a few when I first ordered, they photocopied it)

Photograph (I took one of each USA and UK version) they wanted UK version

Vaccination record

Original completed form

Passport

First I went to a nurse, who informed me that back in February the US embassy require that all people need to have a flu shot. As I only phoned last week, and went over what I had and what was needed and was told I had everything I needed, it was quite a surprise to pay out a further £21.00 for flu shot...ah well!

Then I was sent straight into another room, and was asked to strip top half and put on a 'dressing gown' type garment. They took my x-ray. I asked a couple of questions about it, to find it was all ok. With my robe still on, I was sent to a different waiting room.

I got called by the doctor, who was very polite and friendly. First I was weighed, and my height taken, then an eyesight test. Asked to sit on a bed for blood pressure to be taken (Mine was a bit high...but pretty sure it was just because of nerves and stress of this pesky process!), checked inside my ears and also a bright light in my eyes and mouth.

I was asked to take off my gown, and my breasts were examined (Like the cancer checks us ladies are meant to do)! Followed by listening to my heart and lungs. Next was to remove my trousers to my knees, where she pressed a couple of areas in my groin area...guess this was the sex check..who knows LOL.

Finally to pull up trousers and put gown back on for a blood test..she said for Syphilis. And then asked to get dressed again behind the screen, like she hadn't seen me by now anyway! Paid my £210 + £21.00 and was given a receipt, my police certifcate and passport back, plus the vaccination record they had done.

Anyway, I passed (subject to blood test being ok, which it certainly should be...in my books thats a pass!)so all in all an ok experience!

[wee carrington 33]

My husband had his medical yesterday. Same thing with the flu shot-- I know it troubled him deeply as a Scotsman having to pay an extra £21 (hahaha) for something he could have got for free, but he had his wits about him and didn't want to waste time so he just got it. He said the whole thing was pretty cut and dry. Hopefully we both get our interview dates in the next couple of weeks!!

[Sapphire1965 5]

Just thought I would add that I was there on 31st March and never was told that I needed a flu shot. Wonder what that is about because if they had been informed in February of this then it would have applied to myself also. I had a flu shot about 4 years ago so this is most certainly out of date. Good luck with getting your interview dates hope they dont take too long.

[Opalie 0]

Just thought I would add that I was there on 31st March and never was told that I needed a flu shot. Wonder what that is about because if they had been informed in February of this then it would have applied to myself also. I had a flu shot about 4 years ago so this is most certainly out of date. Good luck with getting your interview dates hope they dont take too long.

Yeah seemed kinda wierd to me also..IF it was Feb as the doctor said, then I am sure the staff would have been briefed..or certainly should have or at least the website updated.

That said, I only phoned last week to check I had everything and they made no mention of the flu shot. Of course they said I could have it done elsewhere..but they know people won't want to delay things.

Edited October 20, 2011 by Opalie

[qwerty1974 11]

Thanks for this flu jab advice. Apparently Lloyds pharmacy are doing them for a special offer of seven pounds at this precise moment so I think I'll go get myself covered just in case this comes up.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

The flu jab used to apply to adults over 50. In November 2010 the US changed their immunization requirements to incluse a flu jab for all persons over 6 months of age, but ONLY DURING FLU SEASON. Flu season is October 1 - March 31. Married people getting a CR1 visa will pretty much stick to this schedule unless they are on the cusps of flu season. If your medical was done during flu season and you immigrant visa is granted during flu season, then you need a flu shot. But if your medical was during flu season (say March) and by your visa approval time (interview), it was no longer flu season (say May) then the flu shot is waived according to USCIS standards for immigrants.

For K1s, the immunizations are required for AOS, not the visa. If you get every shot needed documented by Knightsbridge on the DS3025 sheet, then you can use that as proof for your AOS and skip the civil surgeon in the US. So there are several date factors for you to consider.

• Medical during flu season (Oct 1-Mar 31) and AOS decided (not submitted but adjudicated) during flu season: you need flu shot
  
• Medical during flu season, but AOS adjudicated after flu season: you don't need flu shot because it's no longer flu season.
  
• Medical not in flu season, but AOS adjudicated during flu season: you don't need flu shot because you were current at the time of you medical exam. They don't make you get something that wasn't required on the date of you exam just because it took them several months to start adjudicating your case.
  

Just read it a couple of times to get your head around it.

Edit to add: the nurses at Knightsbridge are not always totally accurate on immigration matters.

Edited October 21, 2011 by Nich-Nick

[Opalie 0]

The flu jab used to apply to adults over 50. In November 2010 the US changed their immunization requirements to incluse a flu jab for all persons over 6 months of age, but ONLY DURING FLU SEASON. Flu season is October 1 - March 31. Married people getting a CR1 visa will pretty much stick to this schedule unless they are on the cusps of flu season. If your medical was done during flu season and you immigrant visa is granted during flu season, then you need a flu shot. But if your medical was during flu season (say March) and by your visa approval time (interview), it was no longer flu season (say May) then the flu shot is waived according to USCIS standards for immigrants.

For K1s, the immunizations are required for AOS, not the visa. If you get every shot needed documented by Knightsbridge on the DS3025 sheet, then you can use that as proof for your AOS and skip the civil surgeon in the US. So there are several date factors for you to consider.

• Medical during flu season (Oct 1-Mar 31) and AOS decided (not submitted but adjudicated) during flu season: you need flu shot
  
• Medical during flu season, but AOS adjudicated after flu season: you don't need flu shot because it's no longer flu season.
  
• Medical not in flu season, but AOS adjudicated during flu season: you don't need flu shot because you were current at the time of you medical exam. They don't make you get something that wasn't required on the date of you exam just because it took them several months to start adjudicating your case.
  

Just read it a couple of times to get your head around it.

Edit to add: the nurses at Knightsbridge are not always totally accurate on immigration matters.

wow awesome you found something official on it, certainly caught me unawares, and I am pretty reasonable at trolling through the mounds of information.

Thank you

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

wow awesome you found something official on it, certainly caught me unawares, and I am pretty reasonable at trolling through the mounds of information.

Thank you

The current chart from CDC is here http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/panel/vaccination-panel-technical-instructions.html#tbl1

The flu change has been on the CDC website for almost a year now http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/panel/updates/action-recommendations-flu-vaccine.html

[Jessa & Liam 11]

Thanks for this flu jab advice. Apparently Lloyds pharmacy are doing them for a special offer of seven pounds at this precise moment so I think I'll go get myself covered just in case this comes up.

Can I ask why you are going to Lloyds? My GP's surgery gave me my flu shot and all the other vaccinations at no charge. You'll need them for AOS later too.

Edited October 21, 2011 by Jessa & Liam

[wee carrington 33]

Can I ask why you are going to Lloyds? My GP's surgery gave me my flu shot and all the other vaccinations at no charge. You'll need them for AOS later too.

Some GPs will charge, especially if you don't "qualify" for a flu shot.

Seasonal flu vaccine

The seasonal flu vaccine is offered free of charge to people with an increased risk of serious complications from flu. See Health A-Z for information about who should have the seasonal flu vaccine, including a list of medical conditions that put you at higher risk from flu.

That's from the NHS website and I know my GP charges.

Edited October 21, 2011 by Mrs GH