Hello,

I posted this in the K-1 section of the forum but I think it might be of greater interest here.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=13721

I was wondering if others had similar experiences during their medical exam AND I would advise those with pending medical exams to avoid M.O.M. and use one of the other clinics (there are two others).

Your feedback is appreciated, either on this forum or at my original thread/post on the RMP forum.

This place IOM (MOM) does not conduct the medical exam. The girls are sent about 4 blocks away to a Hospital and this is where the exam is done. I'm not familiar with the other clinics but when I was there last fall we used IOM and this was the case.

I'm not saying that this might not be harassment or abuse and I'm not trying to defend them but they are looking for things other than just TB/HIV. The way I understand it is that it is a general medical assesment (physical) and I know that when I go to my doctor for a physical they usually ask you to strip and put a gown on.

Just beings the 's advocate...

Please post the specifics of your proposed harassment complaint.
We used MOM and may fiancee said it was fine. No stripping down naked. If the only complaint is about being nude, that is a common procedure to check for certain visual STDs. I suppose there is an argument to be made for general health as well.
MOM is also the cheapest center and gives you results the same day, so I'll remain positive about its review until you post something very specific that rises to the level of harassment.
General rudeness is common in Russia and not out of the ordinary since the staff at these centers are Russian.
Most importantly if you are unable to leap through the hoop of taking an exam, you should probably consider staying in your home country, as there are millions who would do anything to come to the US at any cost.

I'll post my reply in the other thread as someone else asked the same question.

So I should definately encourage Elena to complete her medical check in Vladivostok.

I wonder if the packet 3 has instructions on what exactly the girls should expect to be "checked" for, that way they wouldn't get checked for anything they weren't supposed to be checked for.

Trust me, it doesn't. It just says to have one done before the interview and a separate sheet of paper is given describing the places they can be done at. Slim, in many ways you are lucky to be able to do the exam in your fiancee's home town. Saves time and money in Moscow.

It certainly appears that way. And now, it seems even better to get it done somewhere besides Moscow.

Just don't use MOM, use MEDICINA. I used it and it was great experience, MEDICINA is very good for medical exam.The craziest thing I've ever seen in places like that was a woman playing harp. And also I heard a lot of bad things about MOM.

Does anyone know where I can go to the doctor's office here where a woman is playing the harp? That's high class! I wonder if HMOs or PPOs cover that sort of thing? Or, what if the harpist isn't "on network?" Does it cost more?

I don't think I want to hear a harp at the doctor's office.

I'd rather hear a harp than, "turn your head and cough."

Might be a cute Russian nurse.

Harp was just when you enter. This is crazy. Also free cofee, hot chocolate and tea. But also there was a funny thing. They ave tvs there and on screens it was said - OAO MEDICINA, yor debt for cable tv is 1500 rubles for May 2005. Please pay these money till...
This is funny because htey have harp, free coffeee, very good service and everything so clean and blinking and they can't pay for cable tv just 1500 rubles?!

Russia is a funny place.

And yes, the cute nurse would be A-OK for the "turn and cough" but I always end up getting the 80-year-old man.

I can't believe they don't have bootleg cable there. The way everything else works, I would assume that they would "know a guy" who could hook the box up.

Turning the head and coughing is one thing; it's the bend over and grab your ankles ....

I have done a double-take: You're saying a medical can be done outside Moscow?
What about the sealed med exam package that's to be delivered unopened?
Can you post the link for being able to go in other cities?

Vladivostok is the only "other" city in which medical exams can be performed at. I don't know why they got special treatment. Perhaps distance, but there are plenty of other far away locations in Russia as well.
http://www.usembassy.ru/consular/consular....record_id=ivmed

I can vouch for that. Elena is wrapping up her medical treatment in Vladivostok this week.

There is no explanation as to why Vlad is the only city other than Moscow to do med checks. Maybe they figure one in the extreme west, and one in the extreme east. But what about the people in the middle?

Tell me about it, and it also makes no sense that only the medical takes place there, because if they really wanted to accomodate Vladivostok, they'd have the interview there as well.

I sure wish they would!

The plane ticket from Vladivostok (VVO) to SVO is about the same price as the ticket from VVO-Cincinnati. I could've saved that money for the interview ticket and Elena could be flying here instead! But no... we've gotta get TWO plane tickets.

Actually, I'm not really stressing it too badly becuase by the time I get this one paid for and the next one ordered, we have enough sky miles for the one after that to be free. And since she'll be here, that next one will be either honeymoon tickets or a trip back to see mom next year.