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ndahlhoff10 · Joined: 29 Oct 2015 Posts: 4

I need to get a medical exam done in the USA for the visa process and am confused about some things. I found this form online http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/visas/fd/W020110807201675371788.pdf. I'm not really sure where to go to get this done. I'm not even sure the doctor or nurse would know how to answer some of the questions. Nourishment? Color Sense?

Anybody able to help me understand how to get this done?

eihpos · Joined: 14 Dec 2008 Posts: 331

Any doctor will be able to answer those questions. Don't worry. I just had one done (for the 5th or 6th time) by my local GP. Nourishment - they will know by looking at you. My doc just put normal. She asked me if I had any difficulty distinguishing blue from green for colour sense. She did a quick eye test, checked my neck, back, felt my stomach and weighed me. Oh and had a look in my ears and mouth. She put normal for the chest xray on the basis of one I had a couple of years ago. That's it. The most important part are the blood tests, I think. It's a pain because they put you through the whole thing again when you get to China too.

donkeydonkey · Joined: 01 Aug 2015 Posts: 73

Hermosillo · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2015 9:46 pm Post subject:

Google "Travel Medical" and you will find a doc, who will sign off on everything. I paid 55 for the one for a Thailand Visa...guaranteed to work. He took shortcuts.....but used common sense...like the question about elephantisis...he said he had seen one case in his lifetime and that was in Africa. Otherwise, the big name health providers will make you get a complete physical and that could cost 3-500 usd. I was going to start with the TB test, and the local county health clinic does them for 15 usd..but they won't sign anyone else's paper, they just give you a certificate. Travel Medical didn't even do the test...I told him I had one a few years before for a teaching job. Also, they have to sign off that you are in good mental and physical condition...so the more regular docs will refuse to do this, as it would open them to a lawsuit. The Travel Medical people are going to be near the embassies....you won't be the first...

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

Has this changed? I never had to go through this, but I have heard enough people complaining on boards the last couple years that the medical had to be done through a hospital "approved" by the Chinese embassy in the applicant's country. Some have also said that the medical needed to be "certified" by government authorities before submission.

The whole thing is inane as I have written before. In April 2014, Beijing directed that the pre medical was now only needed in cases where there were legitimate concerns about the applicant's health.

JamesD · Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2015 12:37 am Post subject:

Did anyone ever stop to wonder how a Chinese employer would check up on a doctor in the US (Canada, UK,...)? I mean if you're basically healthy and know you don't have dengue fever/ague/elephantisis how would they know whether the form was filled out by Michael DeBakey or Dr. Joe Shmo?

OhBudPowellWhereArtThou · Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Posts: 1168 Location: Since 2003

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

I can do some researching when I have time. I swear remembering some of us yanks rightfully bitching about the extra time and costs involved with not only having to do a pre-med. but the extra expense and effort involved with having to do so in a government run hospital, etc. My British friend in Tianjin had to get his last one done in similar fashion and it cost him a lot. I am talking post 2014 changes. The whole thing is a circus show.

I would think the reason they don't do a mental health check is the Asian view towards mental illness. That it is, as you know, a matter of being weak willed.

My "favorite" Western schizophrenic teacher was this one I met while hanging out in Qingdao. Seemed cool for about five minutes, and I was terrified of him after ten. I was trying hard to find a way to get away from him. Luckily, he did that for me by suddenly pulling out a very real looking fake hand-gun and running down the avenue waving it at Chinese people and yelling. Oddly, a fair amount of the Chinese just stood there staring at him, though others did respond by fleeing for their lives. Incredulously, the police came and took his gun and then just took him to his hostel.