Stupid questions on medical for all Colombia folks

[Looking4Wife 0]

Is everyone (K-1, K-3, CR-1, etc.) going thru Bogotá taking the same medical exams?

Are we all (K-1, K-3, CR-1, etc.) seeing the same 2 (or more) doctors?

If so, can't we just go ahead and schedule our medical exams before we receive the packages?

(have people been doing this all along and I'm just too lazy, ADD, etc. to search for the threads? )

My wife has not received her Pkg yet from the embassy and I'm thinking why not go ahead and schedule the Medical and Clinical exams, provided that we can find out from VJ who we need to call...

Thanks in advance...

[florida-photo 0]

Is everyone (K-1, K-3, CR-1, etc.) going thru Bogotá taking the same medical exams?

Are we all (K-1, K-3, CR-1, etc.) seeing the same 2 (or more) doctors?

If so, can't we just go ahead and schedule our medical exams before we receive the packages?

(have people been doing this all along and I'm just too lazy, ADD, etc. to search for the threads? )

My wife has not received her Pkg yet from the embassy and I'm thinking why not go ahead and schedule the Medical and Clinical exams, provided that we can find out from VJ who we need to call...

Thanks in advance...

How is it going? Yes, I believe it is the same medical exam and the same doctors for the types of visas you listed. I am not sure if you can schedule the medical exam before you receive the package, but I think it can probably be done. They asked my wife for the case number, type of visa, and date of the interview. You have all of that information already. I don't think there is any hurry in scheduling the appointment though. But if you want to get it scheduled now, I think it can be done with the information you have. Maybe somebody else will have additional information. I am at work and I don't have the doctor's telephone number handy at the moment. If someone does not give it to you by tonight, let me know.

Mark

Edited March 13, 2007 by florida-photo

[KathyB 0]

Francisco scheduled his before receiving Packet 4. One note: Dra Gonzales will schedule an appointment and then give results the following day. (So Francisco has his exam on March 29, results available March 30.) The other doctor (I cannot remember his name but both the doctors and numbers are in the Colombia Club thread) will give results the same day but Francisco could not get a date as close to the interview as with Dra Gonzales.

Kathy

[Mononoke28 135]

These are the two names I have Dra. María Consuelo Gonzalez @ 288.7629 or 245.9290 and Dr. Jairo Rosa @ 215.1763 or 658.9366.

Someone had said that Dr. Gonzalez is really nice and my husband called her office for some info and was treated very nicely as well.

[Looking4Wife 0]

Francisco scheduled his before receiving Packet 4. One note: Dra Gonzales will schedule an appointment and then give results the following day. (So Francisco has his exam on March 29, results available March 30.) The other doctor (I cannot remember his name but both the doctors and numbers are in the Colombia Club thread) will give results the same day but Francisco could not get a date as close to the interview as with Dra Gonzales.

Kathy

Great info, Kathy, about the doctors and how quickly results can be generated.

This situation you described with Francisco not being able to get a date close to the interview with a particular doctor is exactly what I'm trying to avoid.

Another (former) VJ'er was telling me his fiancee (now wife) had to plead with the doctors to get an exam date in time enough for her interview. That's what got me to thinking about trying to schedule it ASAP. It would be terrible to fly to Bogota and not be able to get a medical exam.

I'm surprised I haven't seen this issue discussed more... or maybe its just my laziness / ADD causing me to overlook the obvious again...

These are the two names I have Dra. María Consuelo Gonzalez @ 288.7629 or 245.9290 and Dr. Jairo Rosa @ 215.1763 or 658.9366.

Someone had said that Dr. Gonzalez is really nice and my husband called her office for some info and was treated very nicely as well.

Thanks for the doctor info!

[Looking4Wife 0]

Is everyone (K-1, K-3, CR-1, etc.) going thru Bogotá taking the same medical exams?

Are we all (K-1, K-3, CR-1, etc.) seeing the same 2 (or more) doctors?

If so, can't we just go ahead and schedule our medical exams before we receive the packages?

(have people been doing this all along and I'm just too lazy, ADD, etc. to search for the threads? )

My wife has not received her Pkg yet from the embassy and I'm thinking why not go ahead and schedule the Medical and Clinical exams, provided that we can find out from VJ who we need to call...

Thanks in advance...

How is it going? Yes, I believe it is the same medical exam and the same doctors for the types of visas you listed. I am not sure if you can schedule the medical exam before you receive the package, but I think it can probably be done. They asked my wife for the case number, type of visa, and date of the interview. You have all of that information already. I don't think there is any hurry in scheduling the appointment though. But if you want to get it scheduled now, I think it can be done with the information you have. Maybe somebody else will have additional information. I am at work and I don't have the doctor's telephone number handy at the moment. If someone does not give it to you by tonight, let me know.

Mark

Thanks, Mark. Good info.

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Just be careful when scheduling the appointment. In our case (K-3/K-4 visas), my wife had to show her "cita" (embassy appointment sheet) at the time of the exam. She also provided the stamped DS-156, which the doctor's office included in the sealed envelope.

So, it's fine to schedule the appointment in advance if you need to (i.e., don't live in Bogota), but do give yourself time to receive packet 4 and pay the fee at Bano Credit (so you DS-156 gets stamped). If others (K-1 or K-3) have had different experiences, feel free to respond. My response is based solely on our experience.

[florida-photo 0]

Just be careful when scheduling the appointment. In our case (K-3/K-4 visas), my wife had to show her "cita" (embassy appointment sheet) at the time of the exam. She also provided the stamped DS-156, which the doctor's office included in the sealed envelope.

So, it's fine to schedule the appointment in advance if you need to (i.e., don't live in Bogota), but do give yourself time to receive packet 4 and pay the fee at Bano Credit (so you DS-156 gets stamped). If others (K-1 or K-3) have had different experiences, feel free to respond. My response is based solely on our experience.

CR1's do not pay the fee at the bank, correct? My wife said from her package that the medical and lab fees are actually paid at the time of service. Can anyone verify this?

[Mike and Adriana 0]

The fees for the examination and blood tests are paid at the time of service. I was referring to the payment of the $100 interview fee (for K-1s and K-3) that is paid at the Banco Credito. Once we paid the fee, the bank added the bar code to my wife's passport, but also put a small ink stamp on the DS-156. The doctor's office then took that DS-156 and sealed it in the envelope with the tests results and the medical exam report.

Mike

CR1's do not pay the fee at the bank, correct? My wife said from her package that the medical and lab fees are actually paid at the time of service. Can anyone verify this?

[Looking4Wife 0]

Just be careful when scheduling the appointment. In our case (K-3/K-4 visas), my wife had to show her "cita" (embassy appointment sheet) at the time of the exam. She also provided the stamped DS-156, which the doctor's office included in the sealed envelope.

So, it's fine to schedule the appointment in advance if you need to (i.e., don't live in Bogota), but do give yourself time to receive packet 4 and pay the fee at Bano Credit (so you DS-156 gets stamped). If others (K-1 or K-3) have had different experiences, feel free to respond. My response is based solely on our experience.

What exactly is a "DS-156"? (Should I know this document by another name?)

Is that only a K-1 or K-3 thing? Do CR-1s have/need this document?

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Yes, it is only a K-1/K-3 "thing." This reiterates the point I made on another thread....that we have to be careful about lumping the K-1s, K-3s, and CR-1s together when discussing certain topics. Yes, it seems that everyone has to see the doctor....but what you must bring to the doctor and what you must take care of before you see the doctor seems to be different. My response above relates solely to the K-1/K-3s....

What exactly is a "DS-156"?

Is that only a K-1 or K-3 thing? Do CR-1s have/need this document?

[dougyceci 0]

Great info guys thanks, I was wondering if we could get it done early. My wife's packet was mailed the 6th of March and as of today she has not received it yet and she lives in Bogota. Mike, I posted in the other thread for people to look at the CR-1 thread and as you stated is good for the embassy stuff. I should have stated that but failed to. Something for all of us to think about when we post to avoid confusion.

Doug

[erporsche 0]

Took 7 to 8 days to get mail from embassy for my wife who lives in Bogota for both packet 3 and 4. When you get packet 3, call for doctors appointment ASAP, you will need appointment date, BGT number before they accept appointment. Dr Gonzalaez in busy.

Agree with Mike, K3 process is different that CR1 process. Use caution.

[gaucho 0]

Doctores are as follows:

Dra. Maria Consuelo Gonzalez

Carrera 8 numero 49-25

Oficina 307

Bogota

288-7629

Talk to Sandra, she gives you the insides out. Those are:

you need Form 156

Passport

Interview appointment letter

money

Required shots: TD reforzed in the last month

Varicela reforzed in the last month

MMRR given at least within the last ten years.

they want 4 pictures

Interviews are appointed according to your interview date in the embassy (about 2-3 day before). Appointment with her is required . They usually see you in PM, because lab work is in AM

The other is the lab work, blood and chest exam. This is done at Instituto y Laboratorio Clinico, Calle 38, numero 8-28,

Local 1, Bogota, phone 232-7272 (number is right , just keep trying heehehe)This is a walk in deal, first come first serve, 7-10 am , they require:

Passport

1 picture

interview letter

money

no form 156 needed

Need to eat nothing night before.

So, you go first to lab, hoop to doctor (embassy says doctor want police certificate too, although doctor didn't mention to me), doctor does exam, come back for results next day, and day after is interview.

[Mononoke28 135]

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice! Thanks Gaucho!