|
|
| London, United Kingdom |  Review on April 3, 2024: |
lgomez
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Medical Exam (20th March at 8:50 am):
Upon receiving the appointment confirmation email from Visa Medicals, I was asked to bring the following documents:
Original Passport
4 Recent Passport Style Photos (UK or US Size)
ACRO Police Certificate
Vaccination Records
Completed medical questionnaire sent via email
Email from NVC confirming case number and visa category
Summary of medical history from GP (care summary)
Contact lenses or glasses if applicable
Report from ongoing or previous medical conditions
Since I'm originally from Spain but have been residing in London for 5 years, I needed translations of my Spanish vaccination records and a police certificate from Spain alongside the UK one. Interestingly, they didn't require a patient care summary from my doctor in Spain, as the one from the UK sufficed. It's worth noting that I brought the pictures with me, but as we submitted our I-130 online it turns out they weren't needed and they took a photo of me at the clinic with their camera. However, having physical photos might be prudent.
At the clinic, I submitted my documents at the reception desk and was asked to wait in the waiting area. Shortly after, a friendly doctor brought me into a room for questioning about my physical and mental health. This lasted about 5 minutes. Then, measurements of weight and height were taken, followed by an examination in my underwear to check for any signs of skin conditions or scars. Finally, a blood test was taken and I was asked to return to the waiting area to wait for the chest X-ray.
They called me back after 5 minutes, and the x-ray took 5 more minutes. Again, they asked me to go back to the waiting area and wait for the last part of the appointment where the nurse checks your vaccinations.
10 minutes later, I was called to reception and informed that I was done with the medical examination. When I inquired about the status of the vaccination records, they assured me that the nurse had already signed off on them as everything was in order.
Last month I visited my public health doctor in Spain and requested all necessary vaccinations, which they provided free of charge. I had missing vaccinations for Hepatitis B, Flu and Tetanus (which also covers Polio). I highly recommend arranging vaccinations with your GP ahead of time if you can, as it could spare you additional costs, especially considering the already expensive cost of the medical exam! After completing the payment for the medical exam, I received a receipt along with a form detailing my vaccinations which they said I did not need to bring to the embassy interview.
Two days after the medical exam, I realized the Easter bank holidays might delay the submission of my medical exam information to the embassy (with the bank holidays, I had a total of 7 working days for the results to get to the embassy, instead of 10). I then emailed Visa Medicals, and they reassured me that because my case was online, once the chest X-ray results and blood test were ready, the embassy would have access to them straight away. Four working days post-appointment, I received confirmation that all my information was successfully submitted.
After reading all the bad reviews on Google I was not sure what to expect there, but I have to say my experience was really straightforward and everyone at Visa Medicals was lovely!
US Embassy Appointment (3rd April 2024 at 10:00 am):
It took me 10-15 min to walk from Vauxhall station to the embassy. I arrived at 8:45 am and I approached the desk outside as I saw there was already a big queue. A helpful staff member advised me to return at 9:30, and that because of I had an immigrant visa I would need to bypass the queue. When I returned, I was taken to the front of the queue and before going in a security lady asked me to unlock my phone and show her the calendar app. When I went in, I passed a airport style security check and then went to a reception area where they asked to see my passport and DS 260. They gave me my documents back and a case number, and instructed me to go to the first floor, left and left again, where I had to wait for my case number to show up on the screens.
When I arrived to the waiting area on the 1st floor, my case number was already displayed on the screen assigned to a desk. There a gentleman asked me for my passport, birth certificate with translation, original marriage certificate, and police certificates from both the UK and Spain with translations. I informed him that I had to renew my passport recently, and he changed my passport details on his computer. After that, he asked me if my husband or I had ever been married before, if I was adopted or if I ever changed my name. Finally, he took my fingerprints and asked me to return to the waiting area for the interview.
Approximately 40 minutes later, my number was called to another desk where a friendly American official conducted a brief interview, starting with an oath for honesty. She asked how my spouse and I met and how was the proposal. The atmosphere was very relaxed, we had a laugh when I said when my husband and I met we did not want to be in any relationship and here I was three years later married at the US embassy. After this, she told me my visa was approved and that my passport would be delivered within 5-10 working days! She also gave me back all the documents I had given to the previous gentleman.
Awaiting the return of my passport, I am looking forward to reuniting with my family in Spain before embarking on our journey across the pond! I want to thank everyone who shared their experiences, offering invaluable guidance and reassurance throughout this process. Best wishes to all undergoing their interviews and transitions to the US!
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #33090