United States

What to expect during your medical examination

All applicants will have a full medical examination with one of the Embassy’s appointed doctors.

There will be a full review of past health.

The examination consists, at a minimum, of a physical examination of eyes, ears, nose, throat, extremities, heart, lungs, abdomen, lymph nodes, and skin and includes an evaluation of mental status. The applicant will undress to underwear whilst wearing a gown. Chaperones are available for all applicants.

In addition, applicants aged 15 years and above are required to have a chest X-ray and applicants 18 years and above may require a blood test for syphilis infection and a urine sample for Gonorrhoea testing, depending on age. Sample pots for urine collection will be provided on arrival. If there are any indications of Tuberculosis disease or contact, we are required to consider additional testing.

Pregnant applicants can defer their Chest X-ray until after childbirth, but the medical cannot be conducted without it. Although it is safe to have a Chest X-ray during pregnancy, it is our policy not to do a Chest X-ray until after the first foetal scan at 12 weeks.

In most instances, your medical results will be sent to the Embassy TEN working days after your medical appointment. Please note your medical must be at the US embassy for your interview or you may need to reschedule.

Mandatory vaccination for US Immigration

Before your visa medical you must request your vaccination records from your doctor and bring them along to your medical.

For US immigration purposes all applicants must be up to date with the US vaccine schedule and this differs from the UK schedule. 

We can offer any outstanding vaccinations to you on the day of your medical at an additional cost (please see price list).

Required vaccinations for US Immigration please see below link:

https://www.cdc.gov/immigrant-refugee-health/media/pdfs/Vaccine-Requirements-According-to-Applicant-Age-panel-physicians-p.pdf

Your medical file cannot be submitted to the US Embassy until the vaccination requirement has been completed. This means that you may have to postpone your appointment with the Embassy should the vaccination requirement not be completed in time.

K-Visa applicants are not required to complete the vaccination requirement for their medical to be submitted, however they will have to complete the requirement before their “Adjustment of Status” in the US.

Pregnant women should not have live vaccines – Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) or Varicella (Chicken Pox).

You have the right to refuse to be vaccinated for personal reasons, but in this case, you must request a waiver from the United States Immigration Services – USCIS. In these circumstances, your medical will be processed and submitted to the Embassy as “Inadmissible” pending the outcome of the waiver application.

Please note:

1. Only documented vaccine doses will be accepted (previously administered, but not recorded doses will not be accepted).
2. Exceptions my apply for certain medical conditions.
3. Additional doses may be required when vaccination courses have not been completed, however you do not need to finish a course for the medical if just commenced.  Historical incomplete courses do not need to be restarted, you pick up where you left off and only remaining doses are needed.