Just had my medical in London

[Gav & Jackie 0]

Just thought I would fill out a quick review of my medical (which took place yesterday) with Knightsbridge Doctors in London to give other UK members an idea of what to expect.

Before I even got in to the building I had to run through a gauntlet of fire and lions....just joking. Although, sometimes I think that may be easier and less painful than this K-1 process!

My appointment was at the 4 Bentinck Mansions, London W1U 2ER location**. It’s actually on Bentinck Street and is a building with a couple of stairs leading up to the entrance. The doorway has a pillar on either side with a gold sign on each that reads "BENTINCK". There is an intercom system at the door much like any flat/apartment complex. Knightsbridge Doctors is Flat#4 so I just buzzed them and said I was here for a medical and they open the door for you.

Once inside, I went to the reception window gave my name and what time my appointment was scheduled for. The very friendly receptionist asked for 5 things:

1) Photo ID - I used my passport but driving licence would have also been accepted.

2) Passport Picture - They will accept either UK or U.S. spec pictures

3) Police Certificate - I handed over a copy of my original document but she photocopied it anyway and gave me back my copy

4) Immunisation Record - Hand over the original and they use it to complete a form and give it back to you before you leave.

5) USA Medical Questionnaire - You are required to have this completed and signed BEFORE you get to your appointment

I was then issued a clipboard with a questionnaire to complete and pointed in the direction of the Waiting Room. It asks almost identical questions to the "USA Medical Questionnaire" and in my case I just ticked the "NO" box for every question. Upon completion I took the questionnaire back to the window and was told that someone would be with me soon.

The Waiting Room was quite busy and I was maybe in there for about 35-40 minutes when the Radiologist called my name and took me into her office to take the chest X-ray. You don't have to take clothes off, just any jewellery around your neck, which didn't apply to me. You press your chest up against the screen, hands on hips, take a deep breath and that is all there is to it. It took about 1 minute. After this it is out to the Waiting Room again.

I waited another 20-25 mins (time I used to charge up my phone as there are outlets in the Waiting Room) before I was called through by the Dr. for the medical check-up. She just double checked the answers I had put on the questionnaire that they had issued to me when I arrived. I was asked to take off my shoes and sweatshirt and told stand against the wall to measure my height and then to get on the scales for my weight measurement. We then discussed eyesight and if I wore glasses or corrective lenses before I was asked to read the eye chart with my back against the same wall as before.

Next step is popping up on the examination bed where the doctor measured my blood pressure, had a look at my mouth, eyes and ears, and then put the stethoscope against my back while I took a few deep breaths and then did the same with the stethoscope on my chest. After this the Doctor pulled the curtain closed and asked me to undress down to my boxers and lie on the bed while she returned to her desk. When I was ready she came back in and did some prodding around my abdominal region before asking me to lift up the band of my boxers and cough (sorry Jackie ) Finally, she took a blood sample from me and then I got dressed and returned to the Waiting Room.

I was waiting for about 2 minutes when one of the reception staff called me through to make the payment of £210, which I put on my credit card. I was then given my Immunisation Record and a "U.S.Department of State Vaccination Documentation Worksheet" The receptionist told me to keep hold of this document and to not hand it in to the U.S. Embassy because I wouldn't get it back and the document is necessary when I get married and apply for AOS.

So that was my entire experience of the medical process. Only advice I can offer is to maybe get there a bit earlier than your appointment and you might get things going a bit quicker. My appointment was at 2:50pm but I got there right at 2:50pm because I went to Stamford Bridge before the appointment. A man in before me was scheduled for 3:00pm but he got in and out before I did. It may not always happen that way, and on the day you might not really mind how long it takes, but I felt like I would share that with you.

**This link on the US Embassy London page has directions to each Knightsbridge Doctors location

Edited August 19, 2011 by Gav & Jackie

[cmoore25 4]

thank you for this very detailed description! My fiance is headed to his medical on Sept 6th, so I will forward this to him Did they give you any idea of how long it would take them to forward the results to the embassy??

[arh1 2]

thank you for this very detailed description! My fiance is headed to his medical on Sept 6th, so I will forward this to him Did they give you any idea of how long it would take them to forward the results to the embassy??

Takes about a week for the embassy to receive the results.

[Gav & Jackie 0]

thank you for this very detailed description! My fiance is headed to his medical on Sept 6th, so I will forward this to him Did they give you any idea of how long it would take them to forward the results to the embassy??

My medical was on Thursday, and after paying the receptionist told me that the embassy would have the results by Wednesday. She then said that the only reason the embassy wouldn't have them by Wednesday is due to anything arising from the medical exam (I assume she was talking about the blood test) but if that were to happen I would be informed on Tuesday.

Another thing I was going to mention is that, when I went to London for the medical, I took the time to go and see where the embassy was and familiarise myself with the setup. I also went to Gould Pharmacy to get my U.S. style passport pictures which I will need to take to the interview with me. I've read that a lot of people go and have them taken immediately before the interview, but I did it on the day of the medical just to save time and to rule out the possibility of any type of freak injury that may invalidate the pictures on the day of the interview.

I'll write another summary after my interview process which hopefully you'll find useful. Best of luck with the rest of your application, sounds like you guys will be right behind me in the process, and if I can answer any other questions then feel free to just ask.

[cmoore25 4]

Thank you so much - I will keep a look out for your updates!

Allan has his US sized passport photos already - what a hassle trying to find a place to do them in Scotland! Lol I can't wait to send out packet three in and get the medical done! I'm just ready for him to be here already! Lol