London Medical - Knightsbridge Doctors

[diath 6]

I'm having my medical scheduled for June 4.
Does anyone know what reasons they have to say you didn't pass your medical?

[TexasHoldEm 0]

Just got back from my medical this morning:

All in all it was BY FAR not as bad as I thought it was gonna be and much less invasive as well.

I have a history of fainting when seeing needles and no one ever has been able to do a blood test. Also, I have a history of self harm which was worrying me greatly as I was never treated for it and thus could not prove I was completely sane now.

First, I handed over my paperwork which was kept all the way until the end of my exam. Then a rather chubby older gentleman showed me to the Xray room where I took my chest X-ray very awkward position and you have to stretch your shoulder blades quite a lot but it was quick and painless and you had to wear one of those hospital gowns so nobody got to see me naked.

Then I had to wait in another separate little waiting room with my hospital gown, which was only thin and flimsy, so not so good. A tall blonde female doctor then came to show me to her office. At first she was very cold and almost rude and I thought dear, this is gonna be awkward. But throughout the exam she warmed up and became quite friendly and chatty. Turns out she is originally from South Africa and does about 15 of those exams per day!!

She totally put me at ease and after doing a basic physical check, she lifted up my underwear a bit to take a peek and that was all. No dreaded breast exam or coughing or anything like that. She said she had to do this because there are some people who try to get away with stating they are the opposite gender. Throughout the whole exam I was allowed to keep the gown on and she was just removing it here and there when she had to listen for the heart beat and feel for abnormalities on my stomach.

I then explained the scars on my arm and showed her a letter from my GP stating that I have never been treated for any mental illnesses or self harm wounds. She inspected my scars and said they looked old and superficial, she doesnt think this is anything to worry about.

For the blood test I was laying down and looked the other way and literally within 5 seconds (I counted!!!) it was over. I barely felt the needle!!!

Then I was told to dress and was shown to the main waiting room where I had to wait for the vaccination nurse to check my paperwork.

This woman another blond lady with a slight accent, possibly from Scotland, picked me up and we sat down in her office. She was really really nice and explained to me that she needs to see the actual dates of my vaccinations, not just the years and months (!!!). My GP only wrote down the month and year in his letter. So I handed over my original vaccination passport and she was satisfied with that. I had to get a tetanus refresher (I knew that) and I told her I was very scared of needles and she brought me into another room where I could lie down. She showed me the needle and the amount of liquid and I looked the other way again. It hurt a lot more than the blood test Im not gonna lie, but it was also over within seconds. She was a really good nurse and was putting me at ease, very understanding and told me about her experience of fear of needles and blood as well!

Then I was shown to the reception window where I paid my fees by card (£267 all in all I think it was) and they said if something shows up on my xray or blood test they would call my within 2 days, otherwise they would just send the results to the embassy.

So that was it!!! SOOOOOOOOOOOo relieved that I survived this most difficult part of the journey! Now all I can do is to wait for that stupid packet 3 which I still have not received (called the embassy to get my case number) and then I can send off the paperwork to get my visa appointment.

Scary Scary Scary!!

I hope it will all be done soon as I already booked my flight for late August

Wish me luck!

[Stuart and Katie 13]

sorry if this has been asked before.

my fiance just booked his medical. got an appointment next week.

forgot that he didn't have all his immunizations. he still needs tdap and the 2nd mmr.

will this be a problem? should he reschedule for after he gets those shots?

thanks.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

sorry if this has been asked before.

my fiance just booked his medical. got an appointment next week.

forgot that he didn't have all his immunizations. he still needs tdap and the 2nd mmr.

will this be a problem? should he reschedule for after he gets those shots?

thanks.

He can ask for Knightsbridge to give them at a cost of 30+ pounds each. Price list http://www.visamedicals.info/us-price.asp

Or he can see if his NHS nurse will give them free. Some surgeries charge and some are nice and do them free so ring them and find out, Then weigh the cost and time factor that suits him. Often a shot nurse or travel nurse can do it without having an appt with the doctor.

At Knightsbridge, if the nurse says he doesn't have to have the shots to get a visa, tell him to insist he wants them right then and there. It doesn't count if he goes back to his GP later. The shots need to be on the Knightsbridge form to count for AOS with nothing further to do. If they aren't on the Knightsbridge form, he will have to go to a civil surgeon in the US and pay for a new form that adds on any shots given after the visa medical. That is often a huge hassle and expensive. Avoid that hurdle. The nurse at Knivhtsbridge is notorious for saying he can send his GP things for AOS. Do not believe her. USCIS doesn't take shot records except on government forms signed by panel physicians (abroad) or civil surgeons (US).

An alternative, if the NHS doc will do free or less expensive shots, but not in time--ask Knightsbridge to hold the report until the GP office can give the shots and fax over the proof. Then they will get it all filled in and signed off before it goes to the embassy. They will mail him his copy of,the complete vaccination sheet.

Edited May 29, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[rjm_cmyk 75]

As an adult I thought the MMR was a two stage jab - how does Knightsbridge handle that as a part of the process ?

[Stuart and Katie 13]

He can ask for Knightsbridge to give them at a cost of 30+ pounds each. Price list http://www.visamedicals.info/us-price.asp

Or he can see if his NHS nurse will give them free. Some surgeries charge and some are nice and do them free so ring them and find out, Then weigh the cost and time factor that suits him. Often a shot nurse or travel nurse can do it without having an appt with the doctor.

At Knightsbridge, if the nurse says he doesn't have to have the shots to get a visa, tell him to insist he wants them right then and there. It doesn't count if he goes back to his GP later. The shots need to be on the Knightsbridge form to count for AOS with nothing further to do. If they aren't on the Knightsbridge form, he will have to go to a civil surgeon in the US and pay for a new form that adds on any shots given after the visa medical. That is often a huge hassle and expensive. Avoid that hurdle. The nurse at Knivhtsbridge is notorious for saying he can send his GP things for AOS. Do not believe her. USCIS doesn't take shot records except on government forms signed by panel physicians (abroad) or civil surgeons (US).

An alternative, if the NHS doc will do free or less expensive shots, but not in time--ask Knightsbridge to hold the report until the GP office can give the shots and fax over the proof. Then they will get it all filled in and signed off before it goes to the embassy. They will mail him his copy of,the complete vaccination sheet.

Hi Nich-Nick,

Stuart here, thanks for your reply. I have the Tdap scheduled for 3rd May and 2nd MMR scheduled for 17th May with my local GP for free, but when I phoned Knightsbridge today I just took the first available appointment they had out of excitement!

So from what you're saying it would be best to reschedule the medical after the 17th May because Knightsbridge's word is final, is that correct?

Thanks again for your help, it's really appreciated

[Stuart and Katie 13]

oops, meant to say june, not may for those dates.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi Nich-Nick,

Stuart here, thanks for your reply. I have the Tdap scheduled for 3rd May and 2nd MMR scheduled for 17th May with my local GP for free, but when I phoned Knightsbridge today I just took the first available appointment they had out of excitement!

So from what you're saying it would be best to reschedule the medical after the 17th May because Knightsbridge's word is final, is that correct?

Thanks again for your help, it's really appreciated

You mean June, don't you? Depends on how much of a hurry you are in to get an interview and visa. If you've got time, then take another medical date.

Did you already get MMR and are waiting 4 weeks to have a second dose?

If so, not necessary. The dose 2 will get a waiver for "insufficient time interval." it would be medically inappropriate to get another dose so soon, so they are supposed to mark a waiver.

Here are the medical forms. http://www.visajourney.com/downloads/Medical_Forms.pdf

The vaccination one is landscape. Print it if you can't see it well. The last few columns are where waivers are marked. All the baby shots will be marked "not age appropriate". Done. You don't get those. If you were pregnant, you couldn't have a MMR, so "contraindicated" would be the waiver ticked. Get it? So insufficient time interval is also a reason to waive the shot. You never get it. USCIS accepts that form with one MMR and a waiver marked. If you go to a civil surgeon in the US, then your four weeks would have long passed so he would say dose 2 was now appropriate. Hope that makes sense. New date, new doctor---so he looks for 2 MMRs. No waiver at that point, unless you were pregnant by then. LOL.

Lots of people have gotten back to me to say this worked fine for them. The problem I have with Knightbridge is that the nurse doing the immunization forms currently has got a lot of it wrong. I have to look for a post to give you an example of a form she did. But right now, I'm going out. So check back for more on this subject later.

Edit: Just saw your date correction. I knew what you meant.

Edited May 29, 2013 by Nich-Nick

[Stuart and Katie 13]

Thanks again I will proceed with the 6th June medical after I have my Tdap on Monday 3rd June, had 1st MMR jab on 20th May so will get the waiver for the 2nd MMR as you described.

I will make sure I get a copy of my vaccination and medical records from my GP too on Monday.

How is the nurse getting things wrong? Would this affect the timely processing of my visa somehow?

Thanks again.

[Anna Grant 169]

I had my medical today. It was a bit hairy. My blood pressure wouldn't go down. I eventually asked the doctor if I could sit in a quiet place for 30 minutes, after the rest of the medical finished, and she try again. She agreed and it went down to an acceptable level. Other than that, it was fine. It's a lot of money for 30 minutes with a doctor and an x-ray! It's now £235.

I did have a breast examination but I think it could be to do with age. I am 50 - maybe younger women don't have the breast exam? But it was fine - not invasive at all. She checked my groin - presumably to see that I'm the gender I say I am. Some reflex tests - some sight tests - some tests where I had to push. The blood test was fine. The chest x-ray slightly uncomfortable but nothing in comparison to a mammogram!

At reception they said that if there were any problems identified with the chest x-ray or blood test, they would contact me tomorrow. Otherwise, the results would be sent to the Embassy by next Tuesday.

OH - BTW - I chatted to about 4 other people waiting for appointments there and they all knew of VJ. I felt really sorry for one guy. His fiance is due to go into labor with their child in the next couple of days and he is going to miss it.

Edited May 30, 2013 by Anna Grant

[diath 6]

I have my appointment tomorrow. Can I pay with card there? I don't really want to go with that much money in my pocket.

[Anna Grant 169]

I have my appointment tomorrow. Can I pay with card there? I don't really want to go with that much money in my pocket.

Yes. You don't pay until everything is done in case you need extra vaccinations and you elect to have them.

I paid with Mastercard. You can also pay with Visa or debit card. You can't use Amex. Note - the cost has risen to £235 - the Embassy website has not been updated to relfect this increase.

Edited June 3, 2013 by Anna Grant

[diath 6]

Thank you!

[diath 6]

I had my medical this morning but I was a few minutes late because me and my husband got a little lost finding Bentick Mansion. I'm glad it was no problem for them.
Once we got there, I rang the door bell and they opened it and I walked into their apartment to go to the second window. I gave them my Police certificate, passport, vaccination paperwork, their medical questionnaire and photograph. I didn't know what size they wanted so I brought UK size and US size passport photos but they took the UK size.
They gave me the medical questionnaire and I took a seat in the waiting room where my husband and daughter were already waiting.
I didn't have to wait long, maybe 10 minutes until a lady came to take me to get an x-ray done.
In that room I took off my shirt and put on one of their hospital gowns - a blue one that just looked horrible on me
The lady took one x-ray and looked at it and unfortunately something didn't look right to her because she zoomed it in and out and in again and told me that I have to get another x-ray done, this time from the side. I hope that what didn't look right to her is from my cough that I have at the moment, unfortunately she didn't want me to see the second x-ray.
Then she told me to take a seat in another waiting room, where I sat with this hospital gown and other people who were normal dressed.
Maybe 5 minutes later an Asian female doctor called me into her room, went through me with the questionnaire, asked tons of questions. I put in the questionnaire that I was hospitalized for pre-eclampsia in my pregnancy over 4 years ago, which I wasn't sure if I should write that down or not but she said that this was right. I then had to sign my photograph and the questionnaire.
Then she wanted me to read the letters for the eyesight test. I was able to read everything except for the 2 bottom lines, I guess I need glasses. Then she listened to my heart on the chest and back, took blood pressure which was normal. A quick look into my eyes with a light, my ears and my throat and then touched along my throat. Then she took my blood.
She then told me to lay down so she can push on my tummy and, took a quick look deeper and said everything looks fine, besides having a cold.
We talked about where I want to move and for when the date of travel is planned and where we met and how long I have been in the UK.

I was then allowed to get dressed again and go back into the waiting room while she hands over the files to the ladies at the welcome. I wasn't even in there for a second when I was called to pay and to hand me pack my papers. They told me like everyone else that they would contact me within 2 working days if something is wrong and not only the blood test or the x-ray with tuberculosis.
The doctor was super friendly, I must admit I was a bit worried because to me she had such a super serious look on her face but I am glad she was super nice.
Of course I was super nervous and now even more because of the x-rays. So keep your fingers crossed for me, please because this worries me!
Did anyone else have to have 2 x-rays or more done?

[Zoe&Chris 5]

I had my medical today too!

It was much simpler than I had imagined. I was half an hour early seemingly during their lunch break, so when I arrived they didn't ask for may paperwork. They let me sit in the waiting room on my own, and then half an hour later the receptionist came through to ask for my paperwork. I gave her Passport, Photo (they asked for UK size, I had both), Police Report, Questionnaire and Vaccination documents (printout from my Doctor and baby book)

I filled out the second questionnaire. I was a bit puzzled about the tobacco question, because on the first questionnaire it said "have you ever used..." but on the second it said " history of". I'd said yes to the firt, because I tried it one or twice at school but the second sounded to me like having had a lot of use. However, I asked the receptionist how to answer and she said i should put yes there too.

Was called soon by a blonde lady doctor to have chest X-ray taken and she told me to go behind the curtain to change. Was nervous, so I asked a lot of stupid questions like " what should I take off", "should I lose the bra" and "does the gown close at the back or front" (hospital ones seem to close at the back but this was more like a bathrobe!)

Anyway she took the X-ray, you have to press up hard against the thing. Then she took it over to her computer and in seconds there it was on her screen - she explained what the bits were and said it was OK. She sent me back to a different, sad-looking waiting room, again on my own.

After 5 minutes an Asian doctor came to get me, he was friendly. He measured my height, weight, went through all the basic questions and forms. He did mention to me that it was ununsual I'd listed my contraceptive pill as a medicine on the questionnaire. I'd written it on an additional sheet as the questionnaire specifies, but he said to make sure I also write (contarception) on the front page where the question is to stop the embassy freaking out thinking I had lots of medicines!

He took my blood pressure which I was freaking out about even though I'm usually very low. It was OK, but he did mention my heart rate was very high, and I said I was nevous! We did the eyesight test and he looked in my eyes and mouth. He listened to my chest and my tummy. He asked if I had eaten, I said yes and he said that was good because people always come in having not eaten and get faint! But then when listening to my tummy he didn't seem to believe I had eaten, saying it was very quiet lol.

After we were done he sent me back to the main waiting room, which was now full. He hadn't mentioned vaccines at all exept to ask about chicken pox.

I had read on VJ somewhere someone sayig there was a third person to talk to, a nurse to go through vaccinations, so I sat there waiting. But the girl called me to reception and asked me to pay. I got a bit freaked out and asked didn't I need to wait to know if I had to pay for vaccinations. She told me I was up-to-date. I asked about the copy of this I need for AOS and she said she was about to give it to me so I paid, took it and left.

Once I got outside I got a bit worrried though because he has ticked "Vaccine History Incomplete" along with "Applicant may be eligible for blanket waiver because vaccinations not medically appropriate"

I tried to understand why this has happened. He has signed of my MMR's as fine but put that I had a Td booster this year and so should not require another for 10 years. He has ticked insufficient time interval and written "every 10 years for USA" This is true, but in my baby book I brought along it also chronicles I had had Td x 3 as a baby plus 2 boosters in high school. In fact, when I went to get the booster this year the NHS people told me i now had had enough to make for lifetime immunity, and only did me another due to me insisting. What am I going to do about this now?

Will they give me trouble at AOS for this? I mean, I had it this year so from what he is writing I should be fine for 9 more years and I know it says I may be eligible for a waiver but im pissed he didn't mark it as "all requirements met" as I went to some trouble to make sure it was all done!

Oh well,

On to the last stage now I guess, just waiting for that medial, trying to plan a wedding and not totally lose my mind!!! I hope this helps someone and if anyone has questions I'll try to answer them.

Zoe