The London medical examination

[GnG 0]

I had my medical examination on Monday. It wasn’t eventful or even exciting, but here’s what happens, just in case anyone else out there wants to know.

Arrival

You need to present to the receptionist:

• The completed Package 3 Medical Questionnaire plus any supplementary answers.
  
• Your passport (just to confirm your identity, they check it and hand it straight back).
  
• A passport photo (either US- or UK-style is fine).
  
• A copy of your vaccination record.
  

(A copy of your vaccination record, which can be obtained from the medical practice where you’re registered, is not essential. But it is essential for the Adjustment of Status after you enter the US. At that time, you have to arrange in the US any vaccinations that weren’t confirmed at the UK Medical Examination.)

You fill out another form with another checklist of medical conditions and sign a consent form for an HIV test.

Then you wait.

Vaccinations

A nurse goes over your vaccinations. Those that are confirmed (from your vaccination record or from having them done there and then [at extra cost, naturally]) are recorded on a form that will go to the US embassy. You are given a photocopy and advised to take it with you to the interview, just in case.

Then you wait.

Examination

A doctor asks you a few questions about your health, including HIV risk, drug use (both medication and the naughty stuff), any operations. It didn’t apply to me, but I guess this is when you’re asked follow-up questions about particular medical conditions.

(There are no questions about your family’s medical history, only your own.)

You sign your photo and the examination form.

Your eyesight is tested (with glasses on/contacts in); your height and weight are recorded; your respiration and reflexes are checked; your sex is confirmed (just a quick look, no touching); and blood is taken for the HIV test.

Then you wait.

X-ray

A nurse takes an X-ray of your chest.

Then you wait.

Last details

You pay the £160, plus any extras for vaccinations. You can pay by cash, credit card or debit card.

Once the bloodwork is done (a couple of days), everything will be couriered to the embassy. The medical practice will only contact you with your HIV result if it’s positive.

And that’s it! The whole process lasted just under an hour for me and was totally painless.

(The only surgery is the removal of £160 from your pocket. Why oh why oh why are two expensive London practices the only authorised examiners? One VJer in the Netherlands recently said his examination cost him less than 50 euros...)