London Medical - Knightsbridge Doctors

[Sweetdreaming 384]

ive looked back a few pages so apologies as im sure this has been asked many times before but i cant find it in simple form.

So itll be a few months before I do the medical as we`re just beginning the K1 process.

Ive gathered you can get some of the vaccinations free or at least cheaper at a local NHS gp ?

Which are the vaccinations i would need ? will the local GP be willing to give them on demand ?

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Go to your NHS doctor and get the immunizations you will need for Adjustment of Status. You can get a K1 visa without having any shots, but you will need them before AOS. Its extremely wise to take care of it before getting to the US so you can avoid civil surgeon hassles and $$$. Many NHS doctors will do them for free, but they are not obligated to do so for immigration purposes. Get the shots documented by your doctor to take to your visa medical exam. If your doctor should say you dont need something on this list, remember you have to go by US rules and that differs from UK standards. And you need to have them before your medical so they can be signed off on the official form. Otherwise you will pay in the U.S. to get any shots taken later signed off. Here are the shots needed for 19 through 59 years of age:

• Td or Tdap- Tetanus/diptheria/pertussis or get DT, DTP or DtaP and it will be accepted for AOS also. The latest shot must be no longer than 10 years ago or you need a booster. If you have a record of receiving pertussis, then the Td is okay for the booster. P is for pertussis, not polio.
• MMR - (if born in 1957 or later)-Mumps/measles/rubella. It's two doses in your life, but if you get the first dose, and 4 weeks haven't passed by your medical, they will waive the second dose for "insufficient time interval". If you only had one dose as a child, get a second one before the medical. If you have a record of two as a child, then you are complete and don't need another.
• Varicella - Not routinely given in the UK . A history of having chickenpox excuses you from the shot. They take your word for it at the visa medical exam. Just tell them "I had chickenpox".
• Influenza Required during flu season only, October 1 through March 31. You get a waiver marked on your sheet.

**copy/paste from K1 London guide. Sort your shots now. they don't expire and it's sometimes hard to get in on short notice when you really need your shot record.

[derppis 1]

Just a fresh datapoint, I got the shots at Knightsbridge. Cost £80 and two sore arms.

[Markip1 71]

Short Knightsbridge review.

I had my medical on Monday 11th July at 13:10pm. Arrived ten minutes early with my fiancé as she is currently visiting. The lady at the front desk didn't complain about being early, or the fact that I was accompanied. I was asked for my paperwork and was given an additional medical questionnaire to fill in. I was directed around the corner to the waiting room to fill it in, where only one other person was sitting.

When I had filled in the form I returned it to the front desk and was asked to go wait in the waiting room. Within ten minutes a friendly man came and collected me and took me for my X-ray. My fiancé waited in the waiting room. For the shy amongst you, I went to remove my T-Shirt for the X-Ray and he told me there was no need. Whether this was to save me the trouble, or save him from an awful sight I do not know. X-ray took about 30 seconds (during which the technician squeezed in about five jokes (he really was nice and friendly), after which I was told I should go wait back in the waiting room for the doctor to carry out my exam. However, as we walked along the corridor by the doctor's room, a female doctor called out and said she was ready to carry out my exam already, so I went straight into the room.

We had a quick chat about my questionnaire (my medical history is very straightforward, so would imagine this would be more in depth if you have more to discuss). I was asked about the answers I had given on the questionnaire (when had I quit smoking, had I been admitted to hospital, had I ever taken drugs etc.) and then had to sign a release form so the details of the medical could be sent to the embassy.

I'll try my best to remember the examination in the order it happened:

I wasn't weighed, and my height wasn't measured.

1) Eye test. I had to stand by the bed and look at chart on the opposite wall with my glasses on (I'd guess at around 10 feet away?). I covered my eyes, one at a time obviously, and read out the rows when requested. This was pretty much like any eye test I've ever had. I then sat on the bed and with a small torch the doctor looked into each eye. This took about ten seconds.

2) Looked in my ears. Took my temperature in my ear. This covered another ten seconds.

3) Looked in my mouth. Made me say ah. Half a minute in, three tests down!

4) Quickly felt my neck and jaw line for enlarged lymph nodes. This was very cursory, only a few seconds.

I was then asked to remove my T-shirt (the doctor clearly has a stronger stomach that the X-ray chap...)

5) Took my blood pressure.

6) Listened to my chest and back. Heart and lungs I guess. Possibly listening to my stomach grumbling to assessing how hungry I was (it was lunch time!).

I was then asked to lay down.

7) Felt the top of my feet for a pulse.

8) Pushed on my stomach and asked if I could feel any pain. I took it as a good sign that I couldn't....

9) Was asked to take down my shorts and underwear to my knees, raise my head slightly, and cough to check for hernias. This took 10 seconds at most, and included the doctor doing a visual inspection of my bits, which was a half second glance if that After that I was then told I could cover up, for the love of God man please cover up. The last bit might be exaggerated...

10) Blood was taken (while I was laying down). This was pretty painless, just a slight scratch and was over with quickly.

And that was it. I am covered in moles so was thinking that I might get an inspection of those but they weren't mentioned. I was told that the exam had raised no red flags or concerns, and that if the bloods and X-ray came back fine then I wouldn't hear any thing from them, the results would go straight to the embassy.

I then went back to the waiting room, and five minutes later the nurse collected me for my vaccinations. She was very friendly too, asked me questions about how we had met, and what I was planning on doing for work in the US. She seemed pretty knowledgeable about the K1 visa process when we got down to business. I had two shots (Tetnus etc. and MMR), one in each arm, she said I would get a copy of the form she had filled in from the front desk, and was then free to go.

Overall the most painful part was paying! Two shots and the examination came to £330. I was in the practice for less than an hour, but as I was leaving the waiting room was getting a little crowded, so may have been lucky.I had been a little anxious before the medical, but knowing what I know now there really wasn't any need to. If anyone has any more specific questions about anything, feel; free to PM me.

[MandEJ 46]

Short Knightsbridge review.

I had my medical on Monday 11th July at 13:10pm. Arrived ten minutes early with my fiancé as she is currently visiting. The lady at the front desk didn't complain about being early, or the fact that I was accompanied. I was asked for my paperwork and was given an additional medical questionnaire to fill in. I was directed around the corner to the waiting room to fill it in, where only one other person was sitting.

When I had filled in the form I returned it to the front desk and was asked to go wait in the waiting room. Within ten minutes a friendly man came and collected me and took me for my X-ray. My fiancé waited in the waiting room. For the shy amongst you, I went to remove my T-Shirt for the X-Ray and he told me there was no need. Whether this was to save me the trouble, or save him from an awful sight I do not know. X-ray took about 30 seconds (during which the technician squeezed in about five jokes (he really was nice and friendly), after which I was told I should go wait back in the waiting room for the doctor to carry out my exam. However, as we walked along the corridor by the doctor's room, a female doctor called out and said she was ready to carry out my exam already, so I went straight into the room.

We had a quick chat about my questionnaire (my medical history is very straightforward, so would imagine this would be more in depth if you have more to discuss). I was asked about the answers I had given on the questionnaire (when had I quit smoking, had I been admitted to hospital, had I ever taken drugs etc.) and then had to sign a release form so the details of the medical could be sent to the embassy.

I'll try my best to remember the examination in the order it happened:

I wasn't weighed, and my height wasn't measured.

1) Eye test. I had to stand by the bed and look at chart on the opposite wall with my glasses on (I'd guess at around 10 feet away?). I covered my eyes, one at a time obviously, and read out the rows when requested. This was pretty much like any eye test I've ever had. I then sat on the bed and with a small torch the doctor looked into each eye. This took about ten seconds.

2) Looked in my ears. Took my temperature in my ear. This covered another ten seconds.

3) Looked in my mouth. Made me say ah. Half a minute in, three tests down!

4) Quickly felt my neck and jaw line for enlarged lymph nodes. This was very cursory, only a few seconds.

I was then asked to remove my T-shirt (the doctor clearly has a stronger stomach that the X-ray chap...)

5) Took my blood pressure.

6) Listened to my chest and back. Heart and lungs I guess. Possibly listening to my stomach grumbling to assessing how hungry I was (it was lunch time!).

I was then asked to lay down.

7) Felt the top of my feet for a pulse.

8) Pushed on my stomach and asked if I could feel any pain. I took it as a good sign that I couldn't....

9) Was asked to take down my shorts and underwear to my knees, raise my head slightly, and cough to check for hernias. This took 10 seconds at most, and included the doctor doing a visual inspection of my bits, which was a half second glance if that After that I was then told I could cover up, for the love of God man please cover up. The last bit might be exaggerated...

10) Blood was taken (while I was laying down). This was pretty painless, just a slight scratch and was over with quickly.

And that was it. I am covered in moles so was thinking that I might get an inspection of those but they weren't mentioned. I was told that the exam had raised no red flags or concerns, and that if the bloods and X-ray came back fine then I wouldn't hear any thing from them, the results would go straight to the embassy.

I then went back to the waiting room, and five minutes later the nurse collected me for my vaccinations. She was very friendly too, asked me questions about how we had met, and what I was planning on doing for work in the US. She seemed pretty knowledgeable about the K1 visa process when we got down to business. I had two shots (Tetnus etc. and MMR), one in each arm, she said I would get a copy of the form she had filled in from the front desk, and was then free to go.

Overall the most painful part was paying! Two shots and the examination came to £330. I was in the practice for less than an hour, but as I was leaving the waiting room was getting a little crowded, so may have been lucky.I had been a little anxious before the medical, but knowing what I know now there really wasn't any need to. If anyone has any more specific questions about anything, feel; free to PM me.

Markip1! We had our medicals on the same day (about 2 hours apart) and our interviews are a day apart!

I had the same super smooth experience for the medical. Arrived at 11:15 for my 11:30 appointment. There were about 7 people in the waiting room when I arrived, didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes. The nurse got me and we went through my vaccinations. I'm all up to date, and she commented that it's very rare for someone to come with all of their childhood notes (what can I say, props to my mum for keeping my original pink booklet from my Belgian doctor haha).

I then went through to get the chest x-ray. Ladies: you're asked to take off everything on top (top and bra) and put on a blue robe (very comfortable), and put your hair up. You get changed in a little curtained area. The guy doing the x-rays was super nice and we joked about a few things. He then took the x-ray and as it was loading up into the computer, he let me take a peak. Very confusing what's going on in there!

Then I was seen straight away by the doctor. Went through my questionnaire - she just asked all the questions again pretty much, but all my answers were basically no (non smoker, not even ex-smoker, no alcoholism, no drug taking, never been admitted to hospital) and then she asked me to sign a waiver to allow the release of my medical data to the US. By the way, all of this was done while I was still in the robe.

Then eye exam, same as Markip1, asked to sit down while she took temp, checked ears, mouth. Asked me to loosen the robe while she listened to my heart and lungs. Did a super quick visual exam of private parts, checked pulse on my feet (told me I had excellent circulation in both legs, so that's nice), checked my abdomen, check blood pressure and then she asked me if I wanted to stay sitting up or would rather lie down for the blood sample.

I had pre-warned her of my ridiculously tiny veins, so she opted for a different needle and went in with a smaller syringe. Painless, and I say this as someone who is really hard when it comes to blood samples. It usually goes horribly wrong, but this doc was very good. She admitted she could see how it could be a struggle and we both agreed it was a shame I wouldn't ever be able to give blood, and then she gave me some privacy (behind curtain) to put my clothes back on, and off I went to pay. £250, got a copy of one of the sheets, and some other paperwork I've not actually looked at yet, as well as my original police certificate and that was that. They all wished me the best for the future and I left about 25 minutes after I'd arrived.

It was so smooth and so easy. I'd felt a bit nervous (not too sure why) but this was pretty run of the mill, apart from the chest x-ray. Oh and they said if anything was wrong with either blood or x-ray they'd call me by Thursday latest, otherwise results would just be sent to the embassy and that'd be that. Didn't hear back, which I guess is nice to know nothing is wrong with my chest!

[derppis 1]

Knightsbridge really is just a medical mill/money making machine. I was told by two other panel physicians (not in the UK), that the official guidelines say that the medical examination/questioning should last at least 45 minutes. My blood pressure was taken once, and still they gave me a note saying it had been taken 10 minutes apart (which was not true).

It's a smooth operation, but a complete pain in the a** if you have any issues, even when the issues are outside the scope of the examination. Scope of the exam is to find medical ineligibilities, not require 3 specialist statements from doctors about your blood pressure, which wasn't even that high (154/94, taken once after receiving the shots 3 minutes earlier).

Pretty annoyed that I had to do my medical/interview in London. Instead of 60USD it would've cost in Korea where I lived, it cost me around £4000 all in.

[MandEJ 46]

Knightsbridge really is just a medical mill/money making machine. I was told by two other panel physicians (not in the UK), that the official guidelines say that the medical examination/questioning should last at least 45 minutes. My blood pressure was taken once, and still they gave me a note saying it had been taken 10 minutes apart (which was not true).

It's a smooth operation, but a complete pain in the a** if you have any issues, even when the issues are outside the scope of the examination. Scope of the exam is to find medical ineligibilities, not require 3 specialist statements from doctors about your blood pressure, which wasn't even that high (154/94, taken once after receiving the shots 3 minutes earlier).

Pretty annoyed that I had to do my medical/interview in London. Instead of 60USD it would've cost in Korea where I lived, it cost me around £4000 all in.

Oh yeah they definitely just cash in! They do just visa medicals - US, Canada and NZ I think? And they definitely run an operation that is done to maximise profit!!

If I'd moved back to Belgium (which I was considering at the beginning of the year actually) and had the medical there, it's reimbursed by your healthcare provider! And the price of it is actually about half as much as London in the first place!!

[NicolaRobert 7]

Had my medical yesterday, and despite the cost I have to say that I found it all pretty painless. Apart from the vaccinations, one of which still hurts, and the fact that the doctor had to try 4 times to get blood. But that's pretty common.

I did laugh at the slight craziness of them asking me if I minded having a male doctor as the woman was busy (I think 90% of all my doctors have been male - they're professional so I really don't see the issue) and then him having to go and get a nurse in to 'chaperone' the genital examination (which takes all of about a second).

BUT the whole thing was very smooth and easy. They have it down to a fine art. In the hour I was there (it was busy) they processed a lot of people.

[JFH 12,189]

Oh yeah they definitely just cash in! They do just visa medicals - US, Canada and NZ I think? And they definitely run an operation that is done to maximise profit!!

If I'd moved back to Belgium (which I was considering at the beginning of the year actually) and had the medical there, it's reimbursed by your healthcare provider! And the price of it is actually about half as much as London in the first place!!

A few months ago there was a thread somewhere here about the costs of the medicals around the world. The highest I recall seeing was Ireland. UK was a close second.

[Damilolly 1]

A few months ago there was a thread somewhere here about the costs of the medicals around the world. The highest I recall seeing was Ireland. UK was a close second.

Totally overpriced.

[Bn&Dw 1]

A complete rip-off!

[Ketsuban 1,034]

Here's the clinic website with lots of information. http://www.visamedicals.info/us.asp

They answer their phone and can help, unlike USCIS or the embassy. Ring them up and and ask your questions about pertussis. Theoretically, yes you need pertussis if you have no record of a dose anytime in your life. Will they sign you off with just Td...maybe. I think they have for others. When my husband went under previous staff (2008), they were hard line, specifically on pertussis. They told him he needed the full tetanus/diptheria/pertussis because he hadn't had it as a child.

Hard for me to recall, but I think I either

a) Have no record of receiving Pertussis in my life or

b) Knightsbridge put on my form that I never received it even though I did

Either way, my form says I'm not covered for Pertussis. The last booster I had related to that series of shots was just a Td in 2005, yet I'm here in the US and no one in white coats has come to put me in quarantine. Yet.

I think I wrote about this at the time on this same thread but I am pretty dang sure I slipped in without any kind of Pertussis vaccination.

[bcking 3,157]

Hard for me to recall, but I think I either

a) Have no record of receiving Pertussis in my life or

b) Knightsbridge put on my form that I never received it even though I did

Either way, my form says I'm not covered for Pertussis. The last booster I had related to that series of shots was just a Td in 2005, yet I'm here in the US and no one in white coats has come to put me in quarantine. Yet.

I think I wrote about this at the time on this same thread but I am pretty dang sure I slipped in without any kind of Pertussis vaccination.

It would be hard to imagine an MD mistaking Td for Tdap, so I'm not sure how it would have slipped by them. I could see an immigration officer seeing Td and thinking "Gotcha, they have that one", but not the doctor's office. It would make sense that the doctor is the one that reviews the vaccines, so not sure how they missed it.

Now that you're in the USA it doesn't matter for you unless you get sick with a pertussis-like illness, which is rare in adults.

That being said, if you have young children, or plan to in the future, you should talk to your doctor about it (whether you are a man/woman). You should get your pertussis immunity taken care of for the sake of the infant. You may get a "viral illness" that is actually pertussis, and then pass it to a 10 day old baby and they could end up in the PICU.

[Ketsuban 1,034]

No kids for me so I'm grand

[JFH 12,189]

Thought I would add my experience of the London medical.

Appointment was at 13.50. Arrived 10 minutes early but no complaints. Was asked for 'all your paperwork'. I handed over my passport, 4 passport-sized photos, copy of police certificate, letter from NVC with case number and visa category, report from my GP and my medical condition, vaccination records and completed questionnaire. She kept everything and gave me a clipboard with another questionnaire on it and a small pot for the urine sample. She told me where the toilet was and said I could produce the sample at any time whilst I was there and to go into the waiting room to do the forms. Was surprised to see my face on one of the forms.

Sat in the waiting room and filled out the forms. There were a few others there but it was a brisk movement of people in and out. One question stumped me. It just said 'Cough, Fever, Night Sweat'. I wasn't sure if this meant 'have you ever in your life had...' or whether it meant 'do you currently have..' so I went back to the desk to clarify. She said it only applied if I had ever been hospitalised for a fever, cough or night sweat. It asks you to list any surgery you have had and I couldn't remember the correct name for the surgery I had so I just wrote what they did.

Took the completed forms back to the desk and went to the toilet to do the urine sample. Handed this in at the desk too. Went back into the waiting room. Eventually I was called by a very young male doctor. He took me into his office and we sat down and went through the questionnaire. He asked if I had ever been arrested. If I had ever smoked. If I had ever taken illegal drugs. If I had ever had any problems with addiction or misuse of alcohol. I noticed that at the bottom of the form there was a place where the doctor had to answer 'yes' or 'no' to the question 'does the applicant appear to be telling the truth'. He pulled out the report from my GP and read through it and we discussed it. He asked which medications I currently take. We talked about the surgery I had.

He asked me to stand in front of the filing cabinet and cover one eye and read the third line up on one of those eye test charts hanging on the back of the door. I kept my glasses on. The letters were very easy to read. Then he asked me to sit on the bed and he took my temperature, looked in my ears, looked in my mouth and felt around my neck. Then he told me to put the robe on but leave my underwear on. I kept my socks on because it was cold. He listened to my chest front and back while I was taking deep breaths, took my blood pressure, and took a blood sample. He pressed on my abdomen to check my liver and also checked my ankles. He looked at my tattoos and made sure they showed no signs of being infected. He then brought the female chaperone in (although I hadn't asked for one) and asked me to take off my knickers, bend my knees and separate my legs to check for signs of STDs.

Then he told me to get dressed on my lower half, keep the gown on and wait in the next room to be called for xray. I was called into a room for the xray. This was a female doctor or radiographer. She said 'you have very nice long hair but you need to tie it up for the xray'. I was about to tell her I didn't have any hair ties or bands with me but she pointed to a selection on a shelf and said 'choose one of these to tie your hair up'. She told me to take my bra off but keep the gown on. She positioned me in front of a board, asked me to rest my chin on the top and stand with my arms like a bird's wings (elbows bent, hands behind my back and shoulders pushed forward to touch the board). A bit uncomfortable. She asked me to take as big a breath as I could and hold it in and lean forward on the board. Three seconds later she had taken the x ray and I could get dressed again. She put the xray into a machine and a picture appeared on the screen. She asked me to wait just to make sure the picture had taken properly. I saw a shadow on the picture and panicked. I said 'What's that?' and pointed to the shadow. She said 'That's your heart'. That placated me.

She asked if I was due to have any injections and I said 'I think so' because I hadn't had the pertussis one beforehand (but had had all the others). She looked at the file and said 'No, he's signed everything off. No need for any injections.' So I went to the front desk to pay, got a receipt and my passport back. She also gave me a copy of the DS-3025 'for when you get to America' she said. But I don't know if spouses are supposed to have this one as we don't do AOS but I didn't question it, I just took it and thanked her. I left an hour after I arrived.