sanctifyer

I never got round to post this on VJ.
(I posted both my medical and interview experience on www.diveintoamerica.com. Copying it to add here.)
Anyway, here goes.
My appointment was at 2:45pm. We were half an hour early so we decided to just go anyway. The Alliance Medical Imaging Centre was in a secluded spot in Bulstrode Place however the map emailed to me was accurate. It's very easy to find it from Bond Street Station.

The main door was open even though there was a sign outside saying press the buzzer to enter.. etc. Just try pushing the right door and you're in.
The lady at reception was giggling with her mate. I told her that I had an appointment for a medical and she asked if its Knightsbridge Doctors I wanted, I said yes.
If your medical is coming up, just ask the main reception for Knightsbridge Doctors.
She gave me some weird directions on where to go (through the double doors, then right on the left)
We found out that she should have said 'Take the lift and go to the second floor'
The lift is on the right just before the double doors.'
Once on the second floor, a girl with an Australian/south African accent checked the schedule to confirm my appointment. She said I was a bit early, I said I know!
Anyway, she took my passport, vaccination history, photo and completed questionnaire. She also asked for the appointment letter from the Embassy. I said I didn't have it. She said it's OK as long as I'm sure the case number on the questionnaire is correct, which was the case.
I sat down in the waiting area and waited for a bit. A lady (Vaccinations nurse) called my name and then asked me if I knew if I've ever had Chicken Pox. I said yes I did. She also gave back my vaccinations booklet telling me I didn't need any vaccinations and that I was up to date. I waited a bit more.
Another chap called my name and then took me to a room for a chest x-ray.
You can see the machine below. It's a simple matter of pressing your chest against a plate near the wall and zap. All done.


He shook my hand(!) and then I went out and waited a bit more.
The receptionist called me and told me to complete a form. It was a medical worksheet issued by DoS. Form number was DS-3026. Very similar to the medical questionnaire sent from the Embassy. I also had to sign a form explaining the consequences of a positive HIV outcome. I signed that and handed it back in to reception. She then told me to go to the 1st floor and wait in another waiting room. She handed back the passport and also gave me my medical 'case' to give to the doctor who was going to perform the medical and blood test. The room was empty. While waiting I took a pic of the 'case' in my hand.

You can clearly see that they have cut the photo down to UK size, even though the Embassy specifies US size for the medical. The photo was stapled to a DS-2053. This is the medical sheet that is used officially as a part of the immigrant case. It's a kind of summary, that was only partly completed.
I was eventually called in and the jolly and humorous chap confirmed the answers I gave in the questionnaire and DS-3026. He also asked if I've had any mental problems or operations etc. He asked me to sign a paper, and to sign across the photograph onto the form using a marker.
The medical was a very quick affair. He took me round behind the blinds and told me to remove my shoes, jeans and top.
He then weighed me and checked my height.
He then told me to lie down on the bed thing.
He then got a phone call telling him that they are no more blood tubes used to send off for checking. They ran out!
He came back round and checked my reflexes by knocking a hammer on my knees and checked my legs and stomach for anything 'diseasey'. He told me to pull down my pants. I did and he said almost immediately OK that's fine, so I pulled 'em back up!
He prepped a needle and then took blood filling the last container they had! There were two people in the room outside waiting that were probably delayed because of this.
Everything was done and he said there were no problems. He asked if I had any questions. I asked how long it would take to get to the Embassy and how it's transported there. He said that it takes 2 days for the blood results to come back and another day for the results to get to the embassy. He said that they are sent using a private courier.
He gave me back my medical 'case' with all the blanks filled in, to take back to reception.
He came in the lift with me to reception to sort out the 'no blood containers' dilemma. Whilst we were going back up to second floor, I asked him how many patients he has daily. He said there are two medical locations and each one gets about 15-20 a day.
Once back at reception, the receptionist was flustered and wandering around aimlessly for a bit. She then got back apologised and asked me to pay the £160 bill. I paid, she gave me a Vaccination sheet and receipt. She also said the results will be sent in 24 hours which was a little different from what doc told me!
Anyway, that's it! All done..
It took 50 mins start to finish. We had a late lunch at Wagamama behind Selfridges and then headed back.
sanc
PS. I got the passport photos done today here http://www.passportphoto.co.uk Its close to the Embassy.
Super service. We got 4 US photos for £11.90. An we were in and out of there in literally 5 minutes.