Review - Visa Medical in Brisbane

[Ash & Tiffany 4]

so i just wanted to let people know of my experience today at anzac square medical centre.

to be clear, the form they email you says to bring australian-sized passport photos. do it.

i know in the whole process you've had to supply american photos but in this part, the state department provides them with forms that suit australian sized photographs.

DO NOT sign them before you get there, as they require you to do it in front of them. i took three american and three australian photos today in case i needed the other ones. i signed the american ones and they immediately breathed fireballs all over them (as mentioned in another review of this place by another member). i was so lucky that i took the australian ones because they are the ones they need and i didnt sign them til i got there.

they make you go pee in the sofitel restrooms. you gotta take three escalators up and walk to the far left right next to the check in counter. they give you a bag so it wont be obvious.

i had about a 15min wait and then i got to see dr taylor. he's really nice and answered all the questions i asked him. he first went through my vaccination checklist. i only had records of one vaccination, flu vac, which was recently. i gave a verbal declaration that i had chickenpox. everything except for Tdap and MMR were not age appropriate. so he gave me those two vaccines and then went ahead with the physical. probably took 15mins at the most. pretty run of the mill type one. checked height, weight, eyes, ears, throat, reflexes . did a squat and touched my toes. he took a good look at my body including down there (only quickly) and noticed a mole on my back but quickly determined it was harmless and just caught his attention. i got dressed again after that.

i went back to the front desk and paid the remainder of the account ($445+$100 deposit made a few days ago. also includes the two vaccines, the chest xray and the blood test).

the ladies at the front gave me maps and details on how to get to the next two places. first up was sullivan nicolaides (sp?) at manor apartments on queen street (post office square, near the BoQ building).

i rocked up to a waiting room and simply took a number and sat. girl came and got me and i sat in the big grey chair and rolled up my sleeve. she took my forms and passport and the other girl got her jabby things ready. the needle hurt a bit because its different to the ones i usually get at other joints so that sucked after having two injections previously in the day. it was done in about three minutes so i got my stuff together and headed towards citiscan. this place is on the corner of queen and albert above that chemist the same side of the street as HJs.

waited for about ten minutes and got called in. really neat looking place, looks new-ish. stood up against the machine and she took her happy snap and signed my forms and saw my passport and sent me on my way. that was the easiest part of the day done.

note: if you aren't taking public transport then parking is in one of two places. cathedral square or the oracle building on your right as you head down ann street towards central. i was hit with 40 bucks for about two and a half hours parking at oracle - never again will i park there . i intended on taking the train but my go card had expired and so i just figured "f**k it" and drove in.

overall, it was alright i guess. i was pretty stressed out by the hustle and bustle of the city but you get that.

this was a quick review, but nevertheless i hope fellow brisbane-dwelling peeps find it helpful.

cheers

[Adrian_Trischa 6]

so i just wanted to let people know of my experience today at anzac square medical centre.

to be clear, the form they email you says to bring australian-sized passport photos. do it.

i know in the whole process you've had to supply american photos but in this part, the state department provides them with forms that suit australian sized photographs.

DO NOT sign them before you get there, as they require you to do it in front of them. i took three american and three australian photos today in case i needed the other ones. i signed the american ones and they immediately breathed fireballs all over them (as mentioned in another review of this place by another member). i was so lucky that i took the australian ones because they are the ones they need and i didnt sign them til i got there.

they make you go pee in the sofitel restrooms. you gotta take three escalators up and walk to the far left right next to the check in counter. they give you a bag so it wont be obvious.

i had about a 15min wait and then i got to see dr taylor. he's really nice and answered all the questions i asked him. he first went through my vaccination checklist. i only had records of one vaccination, flu vac, which was recently. i gave a verbal declaration that i had chickenpox. everything except for Tdap and MMR were not age appropriate. so he gave me those two vaccines and then went ahead with the physical. probably took 15mins at the most. pretty run of the mill type one. checked height, weight, eyes, ears, throat, reflexes . did a squat and touched my toes. he took a good look at my body including down there (only quickly) and noticed a mole on my back but quickly determined it was harmless and just caught his attention. i got dressed again after that.

i went back to the front desk and paid the remainder of the account ($445+$100 deposit made a few days ago. also includes the two vaccines, the chest xray and the blood test).

the ladies at the front gave me maps and details on how to get to the next two places. first up was sullivan nicolaides (sp?) at manor apartments on queen street (post office square, near the BoQ building).

i rocked up to a waiting room and simply took a number and sat. girl came and got me and i sat in the big grey chair and rolled up my sleeve. she took my forms and passport and the other girl got her jabby things ready. the needle hurt a bit because its different to the ones i usually get at other joints so that sucked after having two injections previously in the day. it was done in about three minutes so i got my stuff together and headed towards citiscan. this place is on the corner of queen and albert above that chemist the same side of the street as HJs.

waited for about ten minutes and got called in. really neat looking place, looks new-ish. stood up against the machine and she took her happy snap and signed my forms and saw my passport and sent me on my way. that was the easiest part of the day done.

note: if you aren't taking public transport then parking is in one of two places. cathedral square or the oracle building on your right as you head down ann street towards central. i was hit with 40 bucks for about two and a half hours parking at oracle - never again will i park there . i intended on taking the train but my go card had expired and so i just figured "f**k it" and drove in.

overall, it was alright i guess. i was pretty stressed out by the hustle and bustle of the city but you get that.

this was a quick review, but nevertheless i hope fellow brisbane-dwelling peeps find it helpful.

cheers

Excited that it's all coming together for you. Reading you write about Brisbane made me a little home sick. Good luck for the rest of the journey

T