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| South Africa |  Review on June 28, 2014: |
Kardomyn
Rating:  | Review Topic: General Review
My experience with the medical exam in Johannesburg.
I hope this will help someone - would have saved me some trouble and worries if I knew everything before my exam.
The medical exam has to be at least 2 weeks prior to the interview, they told me this was due to the blood test results taking that long. I did not realise this and thought I could have the medical and the interview in the same week. I live in the Western Cape and this meant two trips to Johannesburg. Luckily I called to book the medical appointment early enough.
They will make two appointments on consecutive days, at the doctor's office at suite 108 Sandton City Medical Mews. (Up the stairs across from Standard bank in the banking mall) Its a cosmetic "clinic", last door down the hall on the right. What they didn't tell me was that the first day, I just had to collect the x-ray and bloodwork forms from this office, and then go to Morningside Medi Clinic for the actual x-ray and blood.
I was staying with relatives in Pretoria and traveled by Gautrain to Sandton. The Medi Clinic is about 2.5km from Sandton City. I had to call my aunt to drive me there, which made me a little angry because I would have made other plans to get there if I knew I had to travel to another location.
The x-ray and blood test were both very quick, I didn't have to wait at all. I did the x-ray first because I saw the sign on the stairs going down to the lab first. I would recommend doing it that way because by the time I was finished with the blood test, my x-ray report was ready. I collected my report and did not open it. I don't know if opening the envelope is allowed or not but I decided not to take any chances.
The next day I went back to Sandton City with my report, and the nurse had me complete some more paperwork. She then took me to get weighed and measured, and tested my blood sugar. I also had to provide a urine sample.
I met the doctor, and went into his office for more paperwork, medical history questions etc. He asked me to sit on the exam table and did some reflex tests and eye tests.
Another nurse came in and I was instructed to remove all clothing including my bra, excluding underwear, and to lie down on the exam table. I was given a sheet to cover myself. The nurse stayed in the room while I got undressed and the doctor waited outside. He came back in and started the exam. I was very nervous about this but it wasn't actually that bad. I was covered by the sheet most of the time. He did a quick breast exam, I had to lift my arms and legs while he pushed down on them, and he peeked inside my underwear. The nurse was there the whole time and helped me to get dressed again after the doctor left the room. I did not feel as embarrassed or weird as I thought I would.
I forgot to mention that I had had all my vaccinations done at Dischem beforehand so I did not have to have any at the medical exam. I even had the second hepatitis shot already (1 month needed between the first and second shots).
My second (unpleasant) surprise came when I got the bill. R2500 ! On the consulate's website it states approx R1000, but apparently not anymore. I asked what the bill would have been if I had had a vaccination and she said about R3700 is what the usual bill is when the person has one or two vaccinations. Can only imagine what it would be with 8 vaccinations. Yay for Dischem :D
So I hope someone here benefits from my experience. There is not a whole lot of info on the internet specific to South Africans, especially about the medical.
Good luck 
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #14729