My Medical Exam at Andrews Memorial Hospital, Kingston, Jamaica

[IslandLady 7]

I had my medical today at Andrews Memorial Hospital in Kingston. It was an ALL-DAY process! I've detailed the process below, but here's the summary:

1. Carry a good book, a snack and a drink/water. I was there from 9:05 am to 3:25 pm.
2. COSTS: JAD$17,650 / USD$202.88

• Medical - JAD$9,900
• Tetanus vaccine - JAD$4,80
• MMR vaccine - JAD$1,200
• Varicella vaccine - JAD$1,750

DETAILED STORY

I got there at about 9:05 am. They had told me on the phone that they do visa medicals from 10-12 a.m., and it's on a first-come-first-served basis. So I thought I'd be early. Wrong! There were MANY people there ahead of me. One lady I spoke with, told me that she was told they do visa medicals from 8-10 a.m.

They directed me to the main office where I gave my name and they registered me. The agent instructed me to write my name on the back of all 4 photos, verified that I had a filled-out medical exam form, my passport valid for at least 6 months, and my visa interview letter, then told me to wait outside and listen for my name.

At LEAST 1.5 hours later (!!!) I was called back into the office. Another agent took my paperwork, passport and photos and gave me paperwork and instructions for my labs. I was to do a blood test and a chest x-ray.

The blood test was done pretty quickly. I had to then go BACK to the main office area, wait AGAIN for my name to be called by a nurse, who took my vitals... weight, height, blood pressure, temperature. Then I got more paperwork and was sent off to the radiology dept. for my chest x-ray.

In that department, I gave the agent the paperwork and my passport, and was, again, told to wait. After another 20 minutes, I was sent to another waiting area, where I WAITED for about half an hour before I was called to do the x-ray.

X-rays took about 20 minutes to get done, and I made my way back to the main office area, where I WAITED for over an hour to be examined by the doctor. She looked at my history, filled out paperwork, looked at the additional records I had brought and asked me some questions, then did the exam. It was routine - eyes, ears, mouth, breathing, knees, lymph nodes, feet, breast exam, etc. Then we discussed my history (I've had measles twice, never had chicken pox, I'm in my 40s - and sent me to get the tetanus/diptheria, MMR, and varicella (chicken pox) shots.

I had to wait for at least 45 minutes to get those 3 shots... then I was done. At 3:25 pm I was walking out of the hospital.

[Marlon&Fallon 13]

Wow, that's a long process. Thanks for the update. It's really helpful. Now I know I'll have to get there early when my medical time comes around.

[IslandLady 7]

Wow, that's a long process. Thanks for the update. It's really helpful. Now I know I'll have to get there early when my medical time comes around.

...don't forget the book!

Oh, and one other thing: space in the waiting area is limited, so adults accompanying other adults are asked to wait in the main lobby area of the hospital, to free up chairs.

[islandgal 74]

Thanks for the info... Will definitely pass it on to my fiancé.

[IslandLady 7]

Thanks for the info... Will definitely pass it on to my fiancé.

You're welcome!

[kempo23 0]

Good

[carolncavan 0]

My Fiance went from Negril to Kingston today for his Medical and it was an absolute nightmare. He left at 3:30 AM and got home at 9:30 PM and paid a lot of money in taxi and bus fare. As if that wasn't enough, they are now requiring him to go all the way back to Kingston a second time to see a PYSCHIATRIST! Why? Because he had admitted to smoking marijuana in the past, even though he quit almost a year ago! Give me a break, I'm sure 80% of the people who are going to the US have smoked some marijuana at some point - and it's even legal in one state of the US! It sure doesn't pay to be honest with these people! We think they just want to make more money and cause more inconvenience for him because he didn't need to get any shots, since he was smart enough to get all his immunizations ahead of time. And then he has to go back to Kingston a 3rd time to pick up his results so that he has them for his VISA interview at the US Embassy on Oct 2nd. They say he can't pick them up in the morning even though other people have stated on this website that that's what they have done. They gave him a sealed letter with 3 names of psychiatrists to call, and they wouldn't even tell him why or what's in the envelope. Well, we feel we have a right to know so we opened it and it's because he had admitted to using it in the past. I am livid and intend to make some very nasty phone calls tomorrow. Has anyone else encountered this at their medical appointment?

As one other reviewer had written, "I wouldn't wish this process on my worst enemy!"

Carol

[Beauty! 0]

@ Newbie My husband did his medical on July 28th. He mentioned that he smoked in the past and they said he had to go see a psychiatrist. He went to see one on August 11th and did his interview on August 13th. On August 21st the psychiatrist report was finished and about a week later someone from andrews memorial went to pick it up. They said he had to do ANOTHER urine test. He went BACK to kingston to do another urine test on September 24. It is now October 6, 2015 and they still have NOT sent off his medical to the embassy. The embassy has emailed and called us asking for his medical results. That is holding up the process of him getting his visa because he passed his interview. IT IS VERY ANNOYING

[Beauty! 0]

My Fiance went from Negril to Kingston today for his Medical and it was an absolute nightmare. He left at 3:30 AM and got home at 9:30 PM and paid a lot of money in taxi and bus fare. As if that wasn't enough, they are now requiring him to go all the way back to Kingston a second time to see a PYSCHIATRIST! Why? Because he had admitted to smoking marijuana in the past, even though he quit almost a year ago! Give me a break, I'm sure 80% of the people who are going to the US have smoked some marijuana at some point - and it's even legal in one state of the US! It sure doesn't pay to be honest with these people! We think they just want to make more money and cause more inconvenience for him because he didn't need to get any shots, since he was smart enough to get all his immunizations ahead of time. And then he has to go back to Kingston a 3rd time to pick up his results so that he has them for his VISA interview at the US Embassy on Oct 2nd. They say he can't pick them up in the morning even though other people have stated on this website that that's what they have done. They gave him a sealed letter with 3 names of psychiatrists to call, and they wouldn't even tell him why or what's in the envelope. Well, we feel we have a right to know so we opened it and it's because he had admitted to using it in the past. I am livid and intend to make some very nasty phone calls tomorrow. Has anyone else encountered this at their medical appointment?

As one other reviewer had written, "I wouldn't wish this process on my worst enemy!"

Carol

Hi Carol,

My husband did his medical on July 28th which included blood work, vaccinations, and a urine test. His interview was scheduled for August 13th, 2015. First they said that his medical would be available for pick up on August 11th. He mentioned that he smoked in the past and then they said he had to go see a psychiatrist. They said his medical results would not be availabe before the interview (since they had to wait to get the report from the psych) and that they will send it to the embassy. He went to see the psyc on August 11th. FYI: you have to pay to see the dr AND THEN pay for the report. On August 21st the psychiatrist report was finished and about a week later someone from andrews memorial went to pick it up.(The dr. office does not send the report to the hospital...someone from there has to go pick it up.) They said the psych recommend that he do ANOTHER urine test. He went BACK to kingston to do another urine test on September 24. It is now October 6, 2015 and they still have NOT sent off his medical to the embassy. The embassy has emailed and called us asking for his medical results THREE TIMES. That is holding up the process of him getting his visa because he passed his interview. IT IS VERY ANNOYING. He called the the hospital yesterday (10-6-15) and they said his results are still "pending" and that he has to wait until they call him. Now I know it does not take two weeks or more to test a urine sample. Oh, and my husband lives in Westmoreland so the commute to kingston and back is THE WORST

[JBeeJamaican 1]

Well this forum is very informative. My Family is schedule for this Friday to do our Medical. I do hope everything goes smoothly and that is wont take the entire day. I will give an update about my experience.

[whitneyy_bee 1]

Hello just curious you said they verified that you had your passport for at least 6 months. I am currently filing for my husband and daughter and he has had a passport for years but my daughter does not have one as yet.wr are currently in the process of getting her one.will that be a problem? She is only 3 and I'm currently waiting for my i130 to be approved which should be soon because I have been waiting 4 months already and my service center said it takes 5 or less months . anyway I'm just curious will it be a problem if she has not had her passport for 6 months when I get to the medical portion of the filing process

[Hutchy984 0]

Hello just curious you said they verified that you had your passport for at least 6 months. I am currently filing for my husband and daughter and he has had a passport for years but my daughter does not have one as yet.wr are currently in the process of getting her one.will that be a problem? She is only 3 and I'm currently waiting for my i130 to be approved which should be soon because I have been waiting 4 months already and my service center said it takes 5 or less months . anyway I'm just curious will it be a problem if she has not had her passport for 6 months when I get to the medical portion of the filing process

NO IT WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM, JUST MAKE SURE YOU PROVIDE BIRTH CERTIFICATE HAS A BACK UP

[Asherbabe876 10]

Hi do you need the immunization card as I lost mine and I'm worried ?

[phoenyxx 30]

Hello just curious you said they verified that you had your passport for at least 6 months. I am currently filing for my husband and daughter and he has had a passport for years but my daughter does not have one as yet.wr are currently in the process of getting her one.will that be a problem? She is only 3 and I'm currently waiting for my i130 to be approved which should be soon because I have been waiting 4 months already and my service center said it takes 5 or less months . anyway I'm just curious will it be a problem if she has not had her passport for 6 months when I get to the medical portion of the filing process

Bring her passport and birth certificate with you, the length of time she's had it doesn't matter, they just need to know that it won't expire soon. She'll need it to be valid for at least 5 years when she'll be eligible for naturalization I believe.

Hi do you need the immunization card as I lost mine and I'm worried ?

Can you reach out to the hospital where you were born? Or your high school? I remember having to get booster shots in high school (I hated needles) and I'd been immunized when I was younger. I have no idea where my immunization card is, I had to call my local clinic to get a copy of my record. I still hate needles.

I had my medical today at Andrews Memorial Hospital in Kingston. It was an ALL-DAY process! I've detailed the process below, but here's the summary:

• Carry a good book, a snack and a drink/water. I was there from 9:05 am to 3:25 pm.
• COSTS: JAD$17,650 / USD$202.88

• Medical - JAD$9,900
• Tetanus vaccine - JAD$4,80
• MMR vaccine - JAD$1,200
• Varicella vaccine - JAD$1,750

DETAILED STORY

I got there at about 9:05 am. They had told me on the phone that they do visa medicals from 10-12 a.m., and it's on a first-come-first-served basis. So I thought I'd be early. Wrong! There were MANY people there ahead of me. One lady I spoke with, told me that she was told they do visa medicals from 8-10 a.m.

They directed me to the main office where I gave my name and they registered me. The agent instructed me to write my name on the back of all 4 photos, verified that I had a filled-out medical exam form, my passport valid for at least 6 months, and my visa interview letter, then told me to wait outside and listen for my name.

At LEAST 1.5 hours later (!!!) I was called back into the office. Another agent took my paperwork, passport and photos and gave me paperwork and instructions for my labs. I was to do a blood test and a chest x-ray.

The blood test was done pretty quickly. I had to then go BACK to the main office area, wait AGAIN for my name to be called by a nurse, who took my vitals... weight, height, blood pressure, temperature. Then I got more paperwork and was sent off to the radiology dept. for my chest x-ray.

In that department, I gave the agent the paperwork and my passport, and was, again, told to wait. After another 20 minutes, I was sent to another waiting area, where I WAITED for about half an hour before I was called to do the x-ray.

X-rays took about 20 minutes to get done, and I made my way back to the main office area, where I WAITED for over an hour to be examined by the doctor. She looked at my history, filled out paperwork, looked at the additional records I had brought and asked me some questions, then did the exam. It was routine - eyes, ears, mouth, breathing, knees, lymph nodes, feet, breast exam, etc. Then we discussed my history (I've had measles twice, never had chicken pox, I'm in my 40s - and sent me to get the tetanus/diptheria, MMR, and varicella (chicken pox) shots.

I had to wait for at least 45 minutes to get those 3 shots... then I was done. At 3:25 pm I was walking out of the hospital.

Almost everywhere in Jamaica takes long if they say they open at 10am, be there from 7am so you're first or early in line. Sigh. I'll be facing this in a couple of months, better make sure my kindle is fully charged, lol!

Note: when I called Andrews Memorial re the cost of the medical it's JMD $15, 240 which does not include additional charges for any vaccinations you'll need. If possible, you can contact your local clinic or high school to get your immunization record.

[Asherbabe876 10]

Good idea.

I'm going to the hospital tomorrow