Knightsbridge medical experience (as someone with self harm scars)

[aikowo 4]

I'm posting this experience in the hopes that other people in similar situations will find it and be reassured, because I know I personally was trying to read everything I could from people in similar situations before my appointment.

 

I arrived a few minutes early, at around 10:50 for my 11:20 appointment. They directed me to the waiting room and called me up after a little while to check in and to go over my paperwork.

What I brought with me was:

4 UK size passport photos (although they accept US too)

Passport

Vaccination records

Medical summary

Police certificate

Embassy letter confirming my case number/interview date

Letter from a psychiatrist briefly addressing my past self harm and my current situation

 

After that they handed me a cup in a red bag and told me that I had my entire appointment time to fill it and hand it back into reception. I went back into the waiting room and waited for a while as it was busy until I was called in for my physical exam. My main concern for this was that I have quite a few faint self harm scars down the whole of one arm, and I had checked yes to hurting myself in the medical questionnaire since I didn't want to risk anything trying to hide it when the doctor would likely see anyway. I had read that the biggest thing to have is a letter from either your GP or a psychiatrist with the statement that you're not a threat to yourself or others. So after fighting with my GP who refused to write a letter containing, insisting that she legally couldn't this since she isn't a mental health expert (not sure why she thinks this when I've seen several accounts of people easily getting this letter from their own GP), I paid £200 for a private psychiatrist assessment and another £80 for a letter from her. Although this may not have been 100% necessary, I felt much more comfortable having it with me. The letter went like this:

 

Quote

 

To whom it may concern,

 

I am writing to you to confirm that I have assessed [aikowo]'s mental health and wellbeing in a clinical interview. [aikowo] has some faint scars from superficial self harm on one arm as a result of an incident which was difficult to manage at the time (aged 15). [aikowo] had some limited help from a school counsellor at the time and has felt well since.

 

At present [aikowo]'s general mental health is good with no signs of depression, anxiety or self-harm or any suicidal thoughts or behaviours. In the clinical interview [aikowo] had good emotional contact and a warm demeanour. Her rating scales also indicate no clinical mental health problems. [aikowo] does not pose a threat to herself or others.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information,

 

Yours sincerely,

 

[doctor's name and signature]

 

 

I was also worried that since I didn't ever seek help at the time it would reflect badly, but the doctor had read the letter before calling me in and asked me briefly about what made me do it at the time, and a little later in the physical side of the exam she glanced over my scars, presumably to verify that they were as old as I said and not fresh, and that was all! She checked my height and weight and eyesight, then had me put on a gown and sit/lay on the table to do throat and lymph nodes check and she pressed down on my stomach a few times. She then listened to my breathing and that was it for the physical checkup.

 

I went back to the waiting room and waited for a while again, longer than I expected (in the end I had to catch a later train. Though this may have been partly my fault, I didn't expect to be in there for around 2 hours). Next was my chest x-ray, which was straightforward and easy although they didn't say anything about whether it looked good or not at the time which would have put me more at ease.

 

After another period of waiting I was called in by the nurse to go over my vaccinations. It turned out I need a COVID booster and Hep B shot and a booster for another of my vaccinations. The lady said they could give two of the vaccinations right there for around £150-£200 (I don't remember exactly), but that I would have to go and get the COVID booster somewhere else and send them proof of receiving it before they could send my report to the embassy. She then told me my third option, which was to forego the vaccinations for now since they're not required for K1 visas at the time of interview, however they're required at the time of adjusting status so I would need to get the 3 vaccinations in the states and find a civil surgeon who will update just the vaccination portion of the medical exam for me. I know this is the least ideal option for a lot of people however with my own situation it's the path I chose. Although I know it'll end up costing some more money once in the states, I didn't have the money on hand at the medical and I also didn't want to risk delaying my visa even LONGER since my medical was only 3 days before my interview. (Note that this did delay my visa issuance but only by one or two business days).

 

The nurse gave me a paper to sign saying I was deferring my vaccinations and also a list of the ones I had and which ones I needed. She told me that there was a small chance the medical could be at the embassy before my interview but that since my file was paper it would depend on when the embassy sent couriers to pick up the next batch of medical reports. She said hearing no news from them was good news and sent me off to go and pay the £385 fee and check out! I received my passport back at that stage and left much less stressed than I had been leading up to it.

 

I hope this helps anyone in a similar situation! Especially if anyone has a GP who, like mine, just will not write the letter you need.