Melbourne - Visa medical review for K-1 Visa

[thirteenthday12 211]

I had my medical done today in Melbourne, Australia for my K-1 Visa by Dr. Charles Okraglik at the Toorak Village Medical Centre (TVMC) so this is a review to anyone who is a Melbournian (or people who are in Melbourne at the time) and need their medical done.

 

At the time of the booking over the phone, they will ask for your email so that they can send a form that you fill out to prepare the visa documents for the medical. You need to send back that form 24-48 hours before your appointment.

 

On the day of your medical, go park at the Woolworths Carkpark which can be accessed via Jackson Street, since Toorak Street is wayyy too busy. The medical centre is on level one INSIDE of the shopping centre where the parking is. I stumbled around a bit but luckily I love turning up to appointments/events 20-30 minutes early. Once you're there, you give them your 6 Australian passport photos, and they give you a form to fill out.

 

You won't be only working with Dr. Charles Okraglik who does the basic health check (medical history, check of eyes, ears, mouth, body, chest, external genitalia **If you're a women (like myself), he brings a nurse in to verify there's no funny business going on as he checks you**) , but also with a pathologist who will draw your blood and get your urine sample, and a nurse who will take your measurements (height, weight, blood pressure) and inject any vaccines you may need. Got a few shots myself so my arms are kinda sore. They did say that because it was a K1 visa, the shots were optional, but at the time of changing/adjustment of status in USA, they will require you have it for immigration purposes. So I just did it anyway. They were all lovely people! 

 

After that, the reception gives you an envelope that you take to the Victoria House Medical Imaging, a 5 minute drive away, which parking can be really annoying to find due to being a busy area. You do not open  this envelope and give it straight to them. Once they call your name, they will do your x-ray which takes literally 10 seconds, and you're all done! 

 

At the reception of the TVMC they request that you pick it up your medical report for the embassy. They will let you know within minimum of 5 business days that it's ready for pickup.

 

I hope this information helps out those who are curious about the medical part of the visa! 

[dentsflogged 352]

2 hours ago, thirteenthday12 said:

I had my medical done today in Melbourne, Australia for my K-1 Visa by Dr. Charles Okraglik at the Toorak Village Medical Centre (TVMC) so this is a review to anyone who is a Melbournian (or people who are in Melbourne at the time) and need their medical done.

 

At the time of the booking over the phone, they will ask for your email so that they can send a form that you fill out to prepare the visa documents for the medical. You need to send back that form 24-48 hours before your appointment.

 

On the day of your medical, go park at the Woolworths Carkpark which can be accessed via Jackson Street, since Toorak Street is wayyy too busy. The medical centre is on level one INSIDE of the shopping centre where the parking is. I stumbled around a bit but luckily I love turning up to appointments/events 20-30 minutes early. Once you're there, you give them your 6 Australian passport photos, and they give you a form to fill out.

 

You won't be only working with Dr. Charles Okraglik who does the basic health check (medical history, check of eyes, ears, mouth, body, chest, external genitalia **If you're a women (like myself), he brings a nurse in to verify there's no funny business going on as he checks you**) , but also with a pathologist who will draw your blood and get your urine sample, and a nurse who will take your measurements (height, weight, blood pressure) and inject any vaccines you may need. Got a few shots myself so my arms are kinda sore. They did say that because it was a K1 visa, the shots were optional, but at the time of changing/adjustment of status in USA, they will require you have it for immigration purposes. So I just did it anyway. They were all lovely people! 

 

After that, the reception gives you an envelope that you take to the Victoria House Medical Imaging, a 5 minute drive away, which parking can be really annoying to find due to being a busy area. You do not open  this envelope and give it straight to them. Once they call your name, they will do your x-ray which takes literally 10 seconds, and you're all done! 

 

At the reception of the TVMC they request that you pick it up your medical report for the embassy. They will let you know within minimum of 5 business days that it's ready for pickup.

 

I hope this information helps out those who are curious about the medical part of the visa! 

Basic health checks I can understand, but I for the life of me cannot understand why on earth people are subjected to this type of check 

[MarksMate 227]

On 10/02/2018 at 12:38 AM, dentsflogged said:

Basic health checks I can understand, but I for the life of me cannot understand why on earth people are subjected to this type of check 

Because STDS are a public health concern. High contagious. 

[Rebecca & Kelvin 136]

Is this the only medical center that we need to go to? I thought there's another one in Melbourne city, near Flagstaff station?

[Rebecca & Kelvin 136]

1 hour ago, MarksMate said:

Because STDS are a public health concern. High contagious. 

But STDs can be diagnosed  through blood/urine test, still can't be convinced that they need to see that part.

Edited February 11, 2018 by Rebecca & Kelvin

[MarksMate 227]

They only did blood tests for me, no genetalia checks. I am in Auckland. 

[dentsflogged 352]

5 hours ago, MarksMate said:

Because STDS are a public health concern. High contagious. 

And the number of STDs which are diagnosable by a physical check of genitalia are.... very few.

And even then, it's only if you're symptomatic (a great many STDs are asymptomatic until they're not, but still are contagious) or having an outbreak for things like herpes. 

 

The only 100% guaranteed way of confirming if someone has an STD or not (at the time of testing, of course) is blood test + vaginal (women) or urethral (for men)  swab - just having a doctor strap in and take a good old look at someone's junk tells them nothing about their STD status unless that person has external symptoms.  

 

Forcing people to expose their genitals on the claim that it's for the good of public health is ridiculous and an archaic holdover from the days before quick, cheap and accessable STD testing was available. (Well, at least in countries that believe in public health, rather than ones where you may be forced to choose between getting medical treatment or paying rent that month)

[MarksMate 227]

9 minutes ago, dentsflogged said:

And the number of STDs which are diagnosable by a physical check of genitalia are.... very few.

And even then, it's only if you're symptomatic (a great many STDs are asymptomatic until they're not, but still are contagious) or having an outbreak for things like herpes. 

 

The only 100% guaranteed way of confirming if someone has an STD or not (at the time of testing, of course) is blood test + vaginal (women) or urethral (for men)  swab - just having a doctor strap in and take a good old look at someone's junk tells them nothing about their STD status unless that person has external symptoms.  

 

Forcing people to expose their genitals on the claim that it's for the good of public health is ridiculous and an archaic holdover from the days before quick, cheap and accessable STD testing was available. (Well, at least in countries that believe in public health, rather than ones where you may be forced to choose between getting medical treatment or paying rent that month)

I mean is a swab not why they check the genital area? Again, my private areas weren't checked for my medical, just blood tests. 

 

I'm sorry you're so upset about this. Maybe talk to the physician about your feelings.

 

I personally have no problem with this, my mum is a nurse who has performed many pap smears and getting a good look at the cervix for woman and getting swabs is something I have done yearly as I do have cervical cancer in my family. That is different to immigration though, I'm not sure what exactly they are checking for but only assuming a swab is taken for testing. 

[Fernb 4]

Do you mind saying how much this all cost?

[thirteenthday12 211]

9 hours ago, Fernb said:

Do you mind saying how much this all cost?

At the time of my medical, it was $580.00. I think they increase it each year though.

 

The vaccines if you get any are $25-215 bucks extra.

[Nate & Kylie 46]

Wow that’s expensive! What’s the earliest time you can get this medical done? Some say you need an NVC numbers, others say they didn’t have to in their case. How did you do yours? 

[thirteenthday12 211]

2 minutes ago, Nate & Kylie said:

Wow that’s expensive! What’s the earliest time you can get this medical done? Some say you need an NVC numbers, others say they didn’t have to in their case. How did you do yours? 

TVMC will not book a medical unless you have your interview date from the Sydney Consulate. They will ask you over the phone when you book it when the interview is. You have to show them the email with the appointment date when you go for your medical.

Edited May 12, 2018 by thirteenthday12

[NikNush 3]

I went to Dr Stuart Turnbull who is the other panel physician and he just checked my breathing by listening to my back, hit my knee with a hammer to check reflexes, and had a chat about my vaccinations, asked if i had chicken pox as a kid, and felt my tummy above my jumper. There was no clothes coming off at all. Seems strange that there was such a variance in the examination. I am picking up my medical today.