The whole medical experience is a breeze although for some silly reason I was really quite nervous about the whole thing, I have no idea why.

Basically when i got there they asked to see my medical questionnaire and any attachments (I used to USE tobacco so explained yes I smoked but not any more), My passport or other photo ID and my immunization details, all of which I had prepared in a folder for them. What did how throw me for six was they also wanted the cover letter from P3 with the case number on it. No one had asked me to bring this including the doctors office when i called so I agreed to fax it over when i can.

They give you a clip board with 2 forms to fill in. The first really goes back over the same questions you answered already and the second is a consent form that you agree to give blood and get tested for Aids. Once done I handed back to the receptionist and waited.

First off I was called through to the X-ray room they told me to stand against a mettle plate and breath in and hold it then sent me back to the waiting room. It took all of 30 seconds in and out and half that time was me removing my jumper.

After about 15 minutes I was called through to see the Doctor who was a really nice chap, very chatty and instantly sets you at ease. He did inquire if I was nervous and i honestly told him yes I have never given blood before and heard far to many horror stories about the pain and agony it causes. He laughed and promised to go easy on me.

He asked the usual questions you would expect, have you ever taken any drugs, had any operations, am I on any medication at the moment. pretty standard stuff. He did ask if I had had chicken Pox which I answered I was pretty sure I had when I was a child. Once the forms were done he weighed and checked my height (after he had stood on the scales himself first and proudly announced he had lost 2 pounds). I then was asked to strip down to my underwear and lie on the table. He took blood pressure on both arms for some strange reason, did the reflex stuff checked my heart beat and pulse. He then asked me to pull down my shorts took a cursory glance and told me to make myself decent again. He confirmed that yes I was in fact a boy!!! I did ask him if that was all he was looking for as it does make for amusement on the forum to which he replied yeah pretty much looking for scares and any indication of STD's etc.

When it came to giving blood he was very good, he talked to me about a patient he had that was visibly shaking throughout the medical and the conversations he had with him about it and how he put him at ease. Before I knew it all was done and I could relax.

The doc then showed me the forms he had to fill in and showed he was checking the box that indicated all was well and he has signed me off subject to blood work. So alls well that ends well. the whole process took about 50 minutes.

Hey Dan, glad to see it went well.

Did they give you a copy of the DS-3025 (vaccination worksheet)? It'll be helpful to have later on when you adjust.

2 years ago when my husband had his medical, there was a female doc at the Edinburgh clinic. My husband had the pleasure of being examined by her, and when it came to checking his bits, she had him lie down on a table and gave him a brief feel.
I actually scrolled down through your account of your exam to first see if the docs were still doing this, or how they were 'handling' the bits part!

At any rate, glad it's done and dusted for you. One step closer.

No they didn't even mention it. I gave them a print out of my record i got from my Doc and they seemed fine with that. Is it worth mentioning when I fax over the cover letter do you think?

Well, I don't know if they are in the habit of just passing out the DS-3025 or if you have to inquire about it. I know TracyTN's Chas got a copy of his at his recent medical.

Yes, I'd definitely see about obtaining it. You need proof of your vaccines when you file for AOS. This form helps pave the way for that.

I'd definitely follow up on getting it. Bruce got his handed to him on the day of the medical without asking, and he doesn't even need it as he got a CR1 (hence no AOS). Perhaps a quick phone call to Knightsbridge is in order, as well as the fax?

I'd not considered this as a potential problem for AOS. I am planning to take another print out from my UK doctors to certify my vacinations. When the knightsbridge docotors fill in the medical forms do they not insert the vaccinations so they are already in the system?

You need to prove the vaccinations again for AOS.

It's redundant I know but it's required.

Seems like the immigration process takes advantage of any opportunity to be redundant!

Neal got one; they even told him he would need it when he got over here.

I mentioned that to Tim, but I don't think he remember to do it at the exam. Oh well. Does it need to be the form from them, or if he just has a vaccination record from his own doc, does that work? (I'll admit this is one of the areas I didn't focus on too well since I think of it as HIS thing to worry about )

It needs to be the DS-3025.

If he does not have certification from the panel physician on the DS-3025 as to his vaccination history, he DEFINITELY will need an I693A when he files for adjustment (let's not get into THAT debate in this thread).

since i'm nearly wholly unfamiliar with either, you'll get no debate from me!

do you know if he can get the DS-3025 *after* he's already gone and done his exam? like sometime before he leaves the UK? (come to think of it, I believe he has to get a few vaccinations updated and the bloke at the exam said the shots were cheaper elsewhere, so perhaps that was part of the delay? i dunno)

Well, he should be able to get a copy. The panel physician is supposed to include the form in its report to the consulate.

In the old days prior to Knightsbridge, I knew several VJ members who rang up the old provider (after their medical) and that provider happily mailed out the DS-3025 to the poster.

Well, Tim will have to see what he can do. Or he can pay the price later (in time and money)! Thanks for the info.

Well, if he doesn't have all his required vaccines now, he is gonna have to pay for them here, and pay dearly. As you and I well know, he can get them for free over there, but not here.

Vaccines aren't required for issuance of a K1 visa. But they are required for adjustment. The old providers for the consulate never forced the issue - I've been amazed to read of Knightsbridge virtually forcing K1 visa petitioners to be inoculated by them before they would issue the report. It's simply not required and I don't know how they are getting away with it.

Back when we were processing, the common wisdom on VJ was to get your vaccines FOR FREE from your NHS doc, and take proof with you to the medical exam. Then the panel physician could certify the vaccines onto the DS-3025.

Well, I guess when we're NOT eating out for some special occassion, I'll remind him that it's because we have to pay for his shots!

Meh. He can still solve it before he gets here.

Check the consulate website for the vaccine chart. Have him print it out even. Then have him head on over to his NHS doc with the chart, and let them vaccinate him now before he gets here. HAVE THEM DOCUMENT THE VACCINATIONS. Then you can take that documentation with you to a civil surgeon in the US, and have them translate the info over to the I693A.

At least that way you won't miss a night out because of paying for vaccines in the US.

Okay I had a DS-3025 as my vaccinations were complete. My son didn't get one as he still had to have his Hep-B shots.

When I realised I didn't have one for him I phoned up the Knightsbride Docs and asked if they could send me a copy (this was about 2 weeks after the exam). They said they couldn't as all documentation had gone to the embassy; they do not hold onto any paperwork.

This wasn't a problem for AOS though. I took my DS-3025 to the civil surgeon and my son's vaccination records from our old GP and the surgeon filled the I-693A in with no problems.

As Becca says, just take proof of the vaccinations with you to the civil surgeon and it'll be fine. I also agree with getting the ones he needs done with his local GP's Practice Nurse before he leaves. They tend to be the ones who deal with immunisations, in fact they are far better to deal with than the actual docs themselves.

Oh phew! We have his vaccination record, but I didnt think about the DS-3025! Paul would be SO mad if he had to get jabbed 2 times...

That's never necessary.

If one has been vaccinated, a simple titre test can be administered to determine the antibodies in one's system. A civil surgeon will accept a titre test in lieu of a vaccination record.

I'll give my guy's medical experience in this thread:

It was today (not the 16th, like he told me) -- he said he didn't have to wait too long, but there were loads of people in there.

He really liked the German doc -- they got on well.

Blood pressure is a bit high, and Gav patted his tummy and said, "well...." and the doc smiled and said "Now, we doctors call that 'lifestyle choices'."

The doc also said "I thought that the Germans were the leaders in bureaucracy, until I came to the UK. And then I started to deal with the Americans! But the Australians are worse." (I guess he does paperwork for all three.)

Got checked to see if he's a boy (yes) and was given the "cough and drop" test. Lung x-ray, blood tests, and they didn't force him to get more vaccinations (he had his records with him).

Gav wondered how many people there were from VJ.

Then he faxed the checklist to the embassy (third time's the charm, eh?) and now we wait again.

Sounds like it went smoothly then! Good deal!