I saw that it is recommened to get the medical exam at least 7 days before the interview; that will be fairly difficult for my fiancee to make two separate trips from Kerala, or to stay for an entire week in Chennai...

In any case, does anyone know how far in advance the appointment for a medical exam needs to be made? I understand the interview date letter/packet is usually given approximately one month before the actual interview; is that enough time to set up the medical appointment and transportation and everything?

What are people's experiences with the Chennai consulate and medical interviews?

I have no experience yet, but my understanding is that the medical is good for 12 months if your fiancee is in perfect health; 6 months or else.

Hello! The medical exam could even be done the day before the interview, no problem. First you go to the lab to get the tests done, NO appointment is needed for that (just call beforehand to make sure it is not a holiday). However you have to be at the lab at like 7:30 AM. In the afternoon about 4:30 PM you pick up the exam results and head straight over to the doctor's office. There may be a waiting time if other patients are there, but time with the doctor is pretty short (15-20 min). He gives all the papers to you immediately, so you can Xerox them and give originals at the interview. (We used Dr. Sanjan John, don't know if the other docs give the medical papers immediately.)

I called the doc about a week beforehand and the secretary there said just call on the morning of the appointment day, to reconfirm. My impression was there was it would be OK even to make an appointment a day or two beforehand.

Chennai Consulate sent me the entire Packet 4 in an email (9 attachments) and if you are interested in seeing it, I would be happy to share that with you, just send me your email address in a PM.