Job Discussion Forums

[simon-in-staffs]

Hi there

Not sure if this already been covered, so apologies if it has.

I've just taken the plunge and accepted a teaching job at a university in China. Excited, but a little nervous.

One query is over completing a foreign physical examination form / medical report.

It requires loads of detail - blood test, HIV test, chest x-ray etc. Has anyone from the UK got any experience of how they got it completed?

Any advice of where to go?

Thanks

Simon

[dean_a_jones]

The key is blood testing--make sure you get these done. I went to the GP, they looked at the form, sorted out my appointment for the blood test and a nurse pretty much did the rest. They wrote OK in most of the boxes on the front page regarding general physical stuff (obviously put in the pertinent details regarding height, weight etc.).

The back also had stuff on x-rays, but my doctor didn't bother with that. I explained that I had to do it all again when I arrived, and they just wrote in something like 'no problems detected' for this extra test. Same with teh mental health stuff and whatever else is on the form. They then signed and stamped the form on the back, and over the photo.

As I said, if you explain to your GP that this is for the visa, and that usually you will be required to do it all again on arrival, they will probably not make you do the unnecessary stuff. As far as I can tell the authorities are looking for the blood tests, so make sure you get that done and attach the results.

It is worth noting that I did this a few years ago now, so not sure if anything has changed recently.

[haleynicole14]

I went to the foreigners' medical office with a group of people to have our forms reviewed upon arriving in China. I had paid to have all the tests done in the US, but was made to redo all of the medical tests again in China. Out of our group of 15 or so people, about 7 had to redo the tests, while the paperwork of the rest were deemed fine. We never figured out any particular reason that some had to redo it while others didn't; it may have been because I didn't have X-Ray pictures to show I was free of TB, but mostly it just seemed like they were random choices. So, I would recommend getting the least expensive/troublesome tests done in the UK, and just count on doing it again in China, unless insurance covers it all anyway.

[Non Sequitur]

My most recent experience only slightly different. I was excused the chest X-ray as I had the films from my home one with me. The FAO mentioned it 'saved the school money'.
As far as the form is concerned, apart from the weight and other numbers my Dr just wrote 'normal'.
An abdominal ultrasound was part of the China (Qingdao) testing and I was detected as having a 'fatty liver'. Liver problems were then excluded from the health cover I took out with PICC.
I mentioned the liver issue to Dr when I was home on holiday and he mentioned that fatty liver was common for my age/ethnicity and took no further action. However, he did question me on alcohol consumption.

[Tefl Novice]

Allow me to clear this up for you:

You DO NOT need to get any medical done before arriving in China: you get the medical done after you have arrived.

It really is that simple.

[johntpartee]

At the Chinese Embassy in Mexico City you must have a physical exam to get the Z visa.

[dean_a_jones]

[choudoufu]

[Tefl Novice]

[creeper1]

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