Medical Exam

[bobb 0]

I just found out my fiancee's interview date - a Tuesday. Why do they schedule interviews for people far from Moscow on a Tuesday? Why not a Wed, Thurs, or Fri?

My questions:

On the list of Panel of Physicians from the USEM website it shows for IOM:

Appointment hours: Mo-Thu 8:30 am – 5:30 pm; Fri: 8:30 am-4.15 pm

(Those who come between 8:30 am and 12 pm, can obtain the results on the same day)

Can this be relied on?

Is this clinic one of the two out of three I've read as being recommended? (Read somewhere one clinic can be demeaning).

It would save her having to arrive several days earlier. But, I sure wouldn't want to take a chance the results weren't ready the same day (Monday) as her interview is the next day.

The other alternative is to save one hotel night by requesting an afternoon time, when she calls, for the exam on a Friday, return Monday for results so she will have everything for the interview on Tuesday. Her train will arrive Kazinsky station around 10:00am, and then she would go by taxi to one of the clinics. Would there be enough time to get to the clinic by 1:00 or 2:00?

The final alternative is for her to arrive Thursday (5 hotel nights) and lots of sightseeing time.

I will not be there for the medical or interview, but I'm paying for a friend, who knows Moscow, to travel with her so she is comfortable.

[bobb 0]

An update.

At another forum I asked the same question about IOM.

One person responded in Nov 2008 his fiance(e) had her interview there in the morning and received her results by 4:00pm.

Another person sent me two links for the IOM site, both in English and Russian.

English:

http://www.iomrussia.ru/medical_services.htm

Russian:

http://www.iomrussia.ru/R.../medic...ervices_rus.htm

Edited May 1, 2009 by bobb

[slim 1,514]

OK, I'm going to start a new business. It's called "Slim will escort your fiancee to the States for a small fee." Anyone interested can PM me and we'll make it work.

What you have outllined above sounds like it'll work. As long as she gets it done at one of the "same day" clinics, they will give her results the same day. And, even if they don't they won't deny the visa just for lack of medical exam results, they'll just wait until they have them.

[Neonred 3,461]

My then fiancee and her daughter went to this IOM clinic and had no problems or issues. They received their results the same day. I told her to ask for and get the additional vaccinations that she (and most Russians) are missing that would be required later in the US. I believe it was the MMR vaccination. I also reminded her to get a copy of the DS-3025 which is the vaccination record on the official Dept. of State form that is filled out at this examination. It will be very helpful later in the US. We were able to use just this form instead of going to the civil surgeon here in the US prior to AOS, but this procedure may have changed now.

[K1researcher 0]

our experience with IOM was very poor. They were rude and produced erroneous results forcing a new medical to be done.

While the single day is nice i would recommend one of the other 2 clinics for this reason. While others may have had no issue this is our personal experience.

[Satellite 1]

Tuesday is the best day you can have for your interview when you are coming from far away. If you plan it right you can stay in Moscow for only 1 night. We got stuck with a Monday interview, which meant way more nights. IOM was fine for us and yes same day results. It also gave us enough time during the day to take care of DHL and find the embassy for the interview.

[bobb 0]

I told her to ask for and get the additional vaccinations that she (and most Russians) are missing that would be required later in the US.

She took care of all that this week. We had previously discussed this.

I also reminded her to get a copy of the DS-3025 which is the vaccination record on the official Dept. of State form that is filled out at this examination.

That is on my list of reminders to give her. Slim, besides giving knowledgeable and valuable advice, did a good service to add that recommendation to appear in his signature area at the bottom of every one of his posts.

Edited May 1, 2009 by bobb

[slim 1,514]

Slim, besides giving knowledgeable and valuable advice, did a good service to add that recommendation to appear in his signature area at the bottom of every one of his posts.

It's there because it happened to me. We delayed filing AOS for several weeks because we had to track down the DS-3025. Figured there'd be more than me in the same boat. Glad to see it helped at least one person. That's what it's all about. I've told my wife several times that if I can help just one person, even one time, all my time on VJ is not wasted. (And as far as I'm concerned, we still "owe" guys like Satellite, Russ, AKDiver, and several others who were on here when we first got started. While I appreciate the thanks, I'd really like to see more folks sticking around and adding their knowledge and experience to the forum as well. It's the first-hand information that makes this site so great. Contribute!)

[mendeleev 68]

Since my wife went through both a K1 (at IOM) and a K3 (at AO Medisina), we have a basis for comparison. At Medisina, my wife was forced to accept an unnecessary MMR vaccine (since she was over 50, it wasn't required by USCIS) for which she had a bad reaction.

But, as I've reported before, "I suspect stripping naked in front of a panel of men, being penetrated with non-medical objects "in order to ascertain that you are not a man", being subjected to comments about not being a patriot for considering leaving your country, about how desireable your physical aspects may be in front of this panel of men (were they all doctors and nurses?) without any women present might, in the mind of a reasonable person, constitute harassment. Maybe not. But I'd urge anyone to stay away from MOM."

Go to IOM (MOM) at your own risk. If you want a more professional, if not completely acceptable, but somewhat more expensive experience, go elsewhere.

[visaveteran 1]

My wife had a harrowing experience at Medicina which should be a cautionary tale for all. For unclear reasons, they made her go to serveral different medical facilties in Moscow for "further tests"...thus pushing her time table to get to her interview up within bare minutes of postponement. Beside running all over Moscow in a mad dash to get all her tests done...she had to cry and beg a doctor to review her results immediately or she would miss her interview. I don't think my wife will ever get over the trauma and stress and struggle around her medical exam. In the end, the "further tests" seemed unjustified as she was determined to be healthy.

The lesson here is if you think things will go quickly and smoothly around the medical exam...think again. My wife came within minutes of missing her interview which would have caused her to go home and come back yet again to Moscow for a rescheduled interview and second medical. Think of the money and time and energy and heart break that would cause.

The clinics can play games...perhaps because she was a 130 visa, not a K-1, or maybe looking for a bribe or who knows why.."It is Russia."

[slim 1,514]

Folks, keep in mind the medical check does NOT take priority over the interview and isn't even a pre-requisite for going to the interview. Basically, they can get an "approved pending medical results" from the embassy without the medical even being done. Don't miss the interview date or spend several thousand dollars or severe headaches just to jump through every hoop required by the clinic. Keep the priority on the interview, not the medical.

[bobb 0]

Good point Slim!

Luba has made her decision for a quickie. Arrive Moscow with friend on Sunday; medical Monday (IOM); interview Tuesday; train to Izhevsk late afternoon Tuesday; back to work afternoon Wednesday. If no complications.

Edited May 7, 2009 by bobb

[slim 1,514]

Luba has made her decision for a quickie. Arrive Moscow with friend on Sunday; medical Monday (IOM); interview Tuesday; train to Izhevsk late afternoon Tuesday; back to work afternoon Wednesday. If no complications.

Should be just fine.

[Hopeful_1 0]

My wife had a harrowing experience at Medicina which should be a cautionary tale for all. For unclear reasons, they made her go to serveral different medical facilties in Moscow for "further tests"...thus pushing her time table to get to her interview up within bare minutes of postponement. Beside running all over Moscow in a mad dash to get all her tests done...she had to cry and beg a doctor to review her results immediately or she would miss her interview. I don't think my wife will ever get over the trauma and stress and struggle around her medical exam. In the end, the "further tests" seemed unjustified as she was determined to be healthy.

The lesson here is if you think things will go quickly and smoothly around the medical exam...think again. My wife came within minutes of missing her interview which would have caused her to go home and come back yet again to Moscow for a rescheduled interview and second medical. Think of the money and time and energy and heart break that would cause.

The clinics can play games...perhaps because she was a 130 visa, not a K-1, or maybe looking for a bribe or who knows why.."It is Russia."

sorry for bringing up an old post, but are these stories really true, and how can my wife avoid this if it is? this is really sicking to hear

[Hopeful_1 0]

after doing some research it seems AO "MEDITSINA" is no longer accepted by american embassy in moscow?

IOM is still on there, but are these stories really true about them. i am really worried for my wife ?