London Medical - Knightsbridge Doctors

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

Thanks to everyone who has posted experiences and advice in this thread. My medical is this week and Im terrified - I cant imagine being this anxious for the actual interview.

I know there are checklists everywhere, but I want to be sure I have everything in real time. My stuff to take:

Medical form

Doctors letter about OCD/anxiety and medication

Psych nurses letter about the same and my CBT

Police certificate

Up-to-date vaccination record

Passport photo

Passport

Confirmation letter from US embassy in London with case number, etc

Childhood illness book (although the receptionist laughed at me when I said I had this).

Am I missing anything? Ive never felt so horribly scrutinised in my life.

Good luck, you look like you are well prepared. I was terrified too and it was much easier than I expected, in fact it was like a huge anti climax once I was finished there!

[Al422 221]

Look at it this way: There is little or nothing you can do to affect the course of the medical once you are there. It is all gathering of the right documents, which you already did. Once you are there, just do what you are told and answer simple questions about your health. Could not be easier. No thinking involved.

[fatsoforgotso 1]

Done and done. Thanks everyone for the feedback - it all went really smoothly, everyone was friendly and nothing was too invasive. The nurse was very apologetic about how much the follow-up MMR jab was.

[Al422 221]

The MMR is a good idea for your health anyway. It gives you a few days of mild side effects, but the diseases it protects you against can be fatal for adults.

[Beefheart 31]

In light of all the recent posts charting the medical day-of, I thought I'd share my experience also, in an attempt to alleviate any anxiety those of you awaiting you examination may be feeling.

So, I arrived about twenty minutes early for my 1:30pm appointment yesterday (Friday, 25th). Having found Bond Street tube to be OPEN (despite reports on here that the station is closed due to the Crossrail work going on -- it's actually very much still in use on the Central line, just not if you're hoping to reach it on the Jubilee line), I found my way to Bentinck Mansions without any incident. In case you do happen to get a little lost, the building is more or less opposite The Coach Makers pub on -- oddly enough -- Bentinck Street.

Having handed over the required documents (passport, passport photo, vaccinations history, police check certificate, medical questionnaire) I was given another form to fill in and told to take a seat in the waiting room just to the right of the lobby area. This additional questionnaire took all of two minutes to complete and included many similar questions to those already answered on the questionnaire you're required to bring with you -- easy peasy.

After waiting approximately half an hour, in which time I was able to thumb through a World Cup magazine (reassuring to know for any men reading this, as a high percentage of doctors surgeries are almost always predominantly filled with publications tailored toward women), i was called for my chest x-ray. The affable doctor who carried out the x-ray was extremely jovial and made me feel at ease with his cheerful yet honest small-talk. Five minutes for a quick procedure, a look at the inside of my chest cavity on the doctor's monitor, and some insightful knowledge that the average adult's lung capacity is that of a tennis court, and I was back in the waiting room.

Roughly twenty-to-thirty minutes later I was called by an equally pleasant and friendly doctor and asked to follow her to the examination room. A quick recap of the first medical questionnaire (the one you fill in prior to your arrival) and a few follow up questions about the (in)frequency of my smoking were asked before we commenced the examination proper. A simple eye test (one hand over the one eye, and then the other, whilst reading letters off the chart on the wall), some rudimentary ENT check over and the old shining light into the eyeballs while staring ahead at the Rothko-inspired painting on the wall, and we were on to stage two of the examination.

I was asked to strip to my underwear and lie on the bed, where the doctor checked my breathing with her stethoscope (chest and back), did a once over of all my lymph glands and then took my blood pressure and a vial of blood from my arm. She then informed me she was required to check my genitalia and asked if I would like an adjudicator in the room during this procedure. I declined. I was then asked to lower my underwear before my testicles were checked and my foreskin pulled back and glans inspected (an unenviable procedure but completely commonplace in these types of scenario). Lastly, my reflexes were checked (elbows, legs, and the sole of both feet) and then it was back on with the clothes as the doctor essentially told me there was nothing out of the ordinary with any of the test results and that all was in order. Again, the doctor -- a pleasant and friendly lady with red hair who, from her accent, I'm guessing was from New Zealand (possibly Australia) -- made me feel completely at ease throughout the entire procedure.

A short two minutes back in the waiting room and I was called to the reception window where my passport and vaccination history was returned to me along with an additional vaccinations worksheet including a stapled reminder sheet informing me not to lose it (required later on for AOS when in the US). It was just a case of paying the fee by card, being handed over my receipt and wishing the receptionist a good day and I was off.

All in all, the procedure took an hour-and-fifteen-minutes from my appointment time and couldn't have run any more smooth. Providing you have all the required documentation you have nothing to worry about. The staff were all wonderful and the whole experience was hassle free and pleasant.

[Berty 74]

When I had my medical a few years ago I too had a female New Zealand doctor, although with black hair instead of red. Was it a dye job? She actually gave me a choice re: checking 'down below', and certainly never touched anything else. Maybe I just have that kind of face, or maybe you just have yours.

[Calikitkat 16]

Hi, Beefheart!

Thanks a lot for your informative post! I am having my medical this Thursday, 31 July and it really helps to know what to expect.

I have already filled the Applicant Readiness form on the embassy's website, mentioning the scheduled date for my medical and confirming the fact that I have gathered all necessary documents.

I was just wondering if they will already schedule me for an interview (should I be expecting the appointment letter?) or would they just wait to get the results from the medical before they schedule me. So do you have your interview date already?

Also. I have filled in the DS-160 form that I would like to enter the US to get married on 21 August. Do they consider that when setting appointment for the interview?

Any info would help. Thank you so much!

[nobbie 105]

Hi, Beefheart!

Thanks a lot for your informative post! I am having my medical this Thursday, 31 July and it really helps to know what to expect.

I have already filled the Applicant Readiness form on the embassy's website, mentioning the scheduled date for my medical and confirming the fact that I have gathered all necessary documents.

I was just wondering if they will already schedule me for an interview (should I be expecting the appointment letter?) or would they just wait to get the results from the medical before they schedule me. So do you have your interview date already?

Also. I have filled in the DS-160 form that I would like to enter the US to get married on 21 August. Do they consider that when setting appointment for the interview?

Any info would help. Thank you so much!

I dont think they do take it in to account when scheduling interview, 21/8 is pushing it I suspect

[Calikitkat 16]

Yes, there's nothing I can do but wait now. Is anybody here that had the medical last week Tuesday or so who has already heard anything about their interview?

[nobbie 105]

You may well wait a couple of weeks or more after your medical before you hear about the interview, I think I waited 3 weeks for the letter then the interview was 4 weeks later.

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Yes, there's nothing I can do but wait now. Is anybody here that had the medical last week Tuesday or so who has already heard anything about their interview?

If I was betting money, I would guess your interview would be the week of Sept 15 and visa a week later. Yes they do consider wedding dates if reasonable, but you have cut it very close and they may be booked up. Your medical results have to be received which will be around August 5. Your best shot is to use the contact form (after Aug 5) and say you will take any cancellation slot on very short notice.

Then there is the big backlog to get the visa printed and back to you if you are following other developments posted in this UK forum.

Edit: If you are going with the short notice thing, don't forget email and phone number for contacting you. They could call and say "be here tomorrow at 8am".

Edited July 30, 2014 by Nich-Nick

[Calikitkat 16]

Thank you for the great advice, Nick! I will definitely contact them!

I do follow the issue the DOS had with their systems but they are prioritizing immigration visas so I don't think we have reason to worry now that the system is back on track.

BTW, regarding setting my interview date, my priority date on the letter i got from the embassy informing me that they have the petition is 2 May. So ideally I'd need to have the interview before 2 September cos it's valid for 4 months. Afterwards, I need to submit a new intent to marry. So hopefully they consider that as well.

Edited July 30, 2014 by anapetcu

[Calikitkat 16]

nobbie, was ur interview 4 weeks after u got the appointment letter? or 4 weeks after the medical? Thanks!

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Thank you for the great advice, Nick! I will definitely contact them!

I do follow the issue the DOS had with their systems but they are prioritizing immigration visas so I don't think we have reason to worry now that the system is back on track.

BTW, regarding setting my interview date, my priority date on the letter i got from the embassy informing me that they have the petition is 2 May. So ideally I'd need to have the interview before 2 September cos it's valid for 4 months. Afterwards, I need to submit a new intent to marry. So hopefully they consider that as well.

They don't look at priority dates (petition expiration) for scheduling. It's your responsibility to be aware of your date and provide what they request if you go past.

Can I mention something about your new thread. It's not necessarily the medical date that triggers an appointment letter. If the Readiness form has not been submitted, no interview is assigned. I have known many who had their medical before London officially informed them that their file was received and before they did the other two forms. And some people hold the Readiness for after the medical. You might want all three dates (in order) and the day count to interview letter to be from when number 3 of 3 things was submitted.

[Calikitkat 16]

Hei, Nick! Yeah that's a great point! We need the date of the applicant's readiness form submission as well. I'll update the thread! Thank you!