medical exam IMC Almaty immigration medical exam information

[CyberSamurai013 69]

My wife had her medical examination at the IMC Almaty office on Mukanova street today for her IR-1 visa. Two things that are noteworthy that we wanted to post here for anyone about to do the same.

 

1) She had to receive 2 vaccinations and was charged 25,000 Tenge total for them. She paid 95,000 Tenge (70,000 for the exam and x-ray + 25,000 for the 2 vaccines). She was not offered the COVID-19 vaccine, does not have it, and is not required to as Russian vaccines are not CDC or WHO approved.

 

2) She was told that "family reunification visas" are not given envelopes with documents anymore and that they are now done electronically. I told her that that is not what all the paperwork we have received from the IMC and consulate has said. She actually went back to IMC and told them that she is getting an IR-1 visa and that we were told she would receive a sealed envelope to take to the consulate. They told her that it is no longer done like that and it is all electronic now. 

 

Has anyone else experienced this? I am concerned that we may have problems at the consulate but there is nothing we can do as my wife already returned to IMC to clarify the situation. 

[powerpuff 6,697]

I think you shouldn’t worry, it’s probably a very recent change. From what I’ve been reading here on VJ for the last few years is that a lot of consulates switched to electronic mode as opposed to the physical envelope. Also the consulate is usually slow to update their information, I’m not surprised. 

[Simplytex 387]

4 hours ago, CyberKnight13 said:

My wife had her medical examination at the IMC Almaty office on Mukanova street today for her IR-1 visa. Two things that are noteworthy that we wanted to post here for anyone about to do the same.

 

1) She had to receive 2 vaccinations and was charged 25,000 Tenge total for them. She paid 95,000 Tenge (70,000 for the exam and x-ray + 25,000 for the 2 vaccines). She was not offered the COVID-19 vaccine, does not have it, and is not required to as Russian vaccines are not CDC or WHO approved.

 

2) She was told that "family reunification visas" are not given envelopes with documents anymore and that they are now done electronically. I told her that that is not what all the paperwork we have received from the IMC and consulate has said. She actually went back to IMC and told them that she is getting an IR-1 visa and that we were told she would receive a sealed envelope to take to the consulate. They told her that it is no longer done like that and it is all electronic now. 

 

Has anyone else experienced this? I am concerned that we may have problems at the consulate but there is nothing we can do as my wife already returned to IMC to clarify the situation. 

Sounds about right, based on my conversation with @Moscowmojo, his wife did not receive any paperwork, it was all digital.

 

Btw, he also mentioned that the x-rays take place at a different location - I'm guessing your wife completed those as well?

 

[powerpuff 6,697]

7 hours ago, Simplytex said:

Btw, he also mentioned that the x-rays take place at a different location

@CyberKnight13 mentioned they went to a clinic on Mukanov street (they have 2 locations), not sure if that one is offering it in the same place but I went to one on Gagarin street and the X-ray place is on the same road (just all the way down); it is not walkable. I took a bus straight down but you can also order a cab. 

Edited February 27, 2023 by powerpuff
Wrong street name

[Simplytex 387]

23 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

@CyberKnight13 mentioned they went to a clinic on Mukanov street (they have 2 locations), not sure if that one is offering it in the same place but I went to one on Gagarin street and the X-ray place is on the same road (just all the way down); it is not walkable. I took a bus straight down but you can also order a cab. 

I didn't realize there are two locations, but now that I look at Almaty's page I realized there are two street addresses mentioned. I think most likely we'll go for the Mukanova location as it seems more central, but yeah @CyberKnight13 I'd be happy to know if y'all were able to do Xray onsite or not. Cheers!

[CyberSamurai013 69]

16 hours ago, powerpuff said:

I think you shouldn’t worry, it’s probably a very recent change. From what I’ve been reading here on VJ for the last few years is that a lot of consulates switched to electronic mode as opposed to the physical envelope. Also the consulate is usually slow to update their information, I’m not surprised. 

Thank you! I also believe that is what is happening.

[CyberSamurai013 69]

14 hours ago, Simplytex said:

Sounds about right, based on my conversation with @Moscowmojo, his wife did not receive any paperwork, it was all digital.

 

Btw, he also mentioned that the x-rays take place at a different location - I'm guessing your wife completed those as well?

 

Roger that, thank you! Yes, she had to go to the separate clinic for the x-rays but they also submit digital results.

[CyberSamurai013 69]

6 hours ago, Simplytex said:

I didn't realize there are two locations, but now that I look at Almaty's page I realized there are two street addresses mentioned. I think most likely we'll go for the Mukanova location as it seems more central, but yeah @CyberKnight13 I'd be happy to know if y'all were able to do Xray onsite or not. Cheers!

Olga went to the IMC clinic on Mukanova but there is also one on Gagarina, I believe. The x-ray clinic was on Nauryzbai Batyr.

 

Olga said that everyone at the IMC clinic (Mukanova) was friendly and helpful. She was surprised at the difference between how they were and how it is at Russian clinics where everyone is cold and there is no privacy. We lived in America together for years and had our first child there but she does not remember much because that was about a decade ago. She said the x-ray clinic was more Russian in nature. Fighting in line with babushki, cold and impersonal staff, no privacy, etc. She did have to take a taxi to the x-ray clinic as it is in a different location from both IMC clinics. They even had her return a few hours after her x-ray just to pick up a paper and CD that she was told she does not need for the interview. 

 

TL;DR: 2 separate IMC clinics, Mukanova clinic was good, x-ray clinic is at a different location from both IMC clinic locations, x-ray clinic experience was not great.

[powerpuff 6,697]

5 hours ago, CyberKnight13 said:

She said the x-ray clinic was more Russian in nature. Fighting in line with babushki, cold and impersonal staff, no privacy, etc

Same experience too 😂 the fancier the clinic the better the service, that’s usually how it goes unfortunately 

[CyberSamurai013 69]

6 hours ago, powerpuff said:

Same experience too 😂 the fancier the clinic the better the service, that’s usually how it goes unfortunately 

So true!