My experience with medical and interview (hoping it is helpful for you guys!)

[Dragonsarereal 14]

Hello there,

 

I had so many questions and now I can answer them...

 

Medical - very easy to get lost getting there using MAPS or Waze. Do check very well in advance or you will be going in circles! Our medical was great, staff was friendly and efficient, we didn't wait too long and chatted with all the doctors. I was congratulated on my way out and all was good. However five days letter a panel doctor called me to inform me that sadly my X ray showed lung scarring, which could be Tuberculosis related, so I had to return to London for 3 days in a row to do a sputum test. They would them culture in a lab the spit for 8 weeks and IF the results were positive for TB I would have to go through therapy for it.

As I am fit and healthy I was in a great shock. I returned to London straight away and I tried my best to produce something from my lungs. It was tough, LOL.

Then I scheduled our interview at the Embassy.

 

It was scheduled for today, but last week I received an automated letter telling me that if I still wanted to get married, I had to show up with a new affirmation we are both free to marry and willing to.

Meanwhile I went to my doctor, who visited me and found me to have 100% oxygen, and perfect breath. She sent me to the Norwich hospital for new X rays. They came back absolutely normal and the consultant could not understand why the London medical panel doctor thought that I had 'fibrosis of the lungs with retraction and minor volume loss'. 

I had zero issues, and my X ray was almost the same as my teen's.

 

I actually asked for the image to the visa medical and they asked for £40 to give it to me. I though it was mad, they say in their website that everything is included, and the X ray is also included, so if it is, why cannot I have it? I employed Gemini (AI) to write a super polite letter pointing out this and yes, they agreed 'in this occasion' to wave the fee. So I got my image as a DICOM on a CD.

 

Now DICOM files won't open in anything as they require a specialist software by my iMac would not accept any software - declaring all of them suspicious. The CD could not be opened in any of my four Macs, (Old and new). Nothing.

 

So after talking to VISA medicals they sent me the JPG and also the DICOM file. Surprisingly, the DICOM file opened immediately in Photoshop!

Therefore my question is now why am I wasting this 8 weeks as I am healthy? But the team at VISA medical insisted that I have to wait the full 8 weeks, and they follow orders and can't discuss anything.

In all this they were helpful and friendly but they did follow policy. The German doctor in particular was really nice, her surname is Shoe work something. She loves Italy and chatted about it with me (I am Italian-born).

 

Anyway interview today.

 

We live in Norfolk so we took a train and after 2 hours we arrived in London Liverpool Street. Do not believe any apps, it look us 35 minutes from the rail station to Vauxhall Tube station and we got the first train and we ran all the way.

 

We arrived at 10:35 at Vauxhall while we were trying to be at the Embassy by 10:35 for the appointment at 11:00.

I checked my map a million times but when we arrived and took exit 1, MAP and WAZE took us in the opposite direction and nothing looked like the old Google map images, made when several buildings were not even there. 

 

After much walking in circle and finally finding the way to the opposite directions, we ran more and arrived panting at the outside station of the Embassy, 5 minutes before 11:00.

 

The two officers said not to worry, all was going to be fine, and asked for DS -160 for both and the passports. We then went through the second room where they pass your bags through the airport type scanners, asked me to drink some of my water, and let us go.

 

Once inside we showed the same documents and were sent to first floor, turning left and left. We passed hundreds of people queuing for other visas. Hundreds. Very quiet. Clean. The bathrooms by the way are spotless.

 

We sat in airport style chairs looking at the screen and finally a guy called us to give some documents. He took only a FRACTION of what is asked for in the embassy page. I had printed all in copies and he did NOT want any copies!

Finger prints etc were taken then we sat for an hour I think. Eventually a lady with a squint invited us both to the booth. So, this lady looked at her screen while asking me the name of my boyfriend and how we met, and after 3 or 4 minutes she said, 'I have no concerns about your relationship'. So that means approved. Yey.

 

Then she came back with a piece of paper and said, you are missing these documents, just send them to us. One was the death certificate of the spouse of my boyfriend, and one his divorce decree.

I never knew that I am supposed to present HIS documents on this. I asked why and she said, 'Oh we don't get any documents from the petitioner here'  (I thought it was strange)

She then stated that despite the website saying clearly that I can present original or certified copies, I cannot present my Italian criminal record equivalent unless it's the original. She did not accept the signed certified copy. So I tried to explain that this is not what the website said, but she said, 'I am not going to stand here and argue with you. You just need to get a new certificate with translation.' 

 

So I said thanks and I left, feeling deflated as this means a lot of work, letters, fees, translation fees which all together might cost me £100. 

 

Anyway I got 3 emails in which they ask me for thee documents and they send me to their site to click submit and this is what it says below.

Oh I forgot to say that I did mention that I was puzzled about my now clear X rays and the officer replied, 'Oh, we don't deal we medical diagnosis here.' So that was it. THEIR panel doctor has the final word.

 The way back was much easier I must add!

 

I hope this is helpful!

 

Courier-Send Service

There are several scenarios in the visa application process that may allow an applicant to provide documentation in support of the application without the need to appear in person at the Consular Section. Instructions on how to print a Courier-In Authorization Certificate will be provided when one of these scenarios occurs during appointment scheduling through this website. The Courier-In Authorization Certificate allows an applicant to send documents using the courier, free of charge, to the U.S. Consular Section.'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ontarkie 14,222]

~~Moved to the Regional forum, from K1 P&P - as this would be a UK specific experience~~