Job Discussion Forums

fishjock · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 11:47 am Post subject: Work Visa Medical Report

At the moment I'm trying to go through all the paperwork hoops to get a Saudi work visa.
I downloaded the Medical Report from the UK Embassy website and took it to my Doctor However, he was a bit confused by the document and was unsure whether tests needed to be carried out for all the items listed or all that was required was a simple declaration that I had no medical history of problems in these areas.
He told me he didn't want to go ahead and arrange a whole raft of tests if they were not required as this could prove to pretty expensive.
In search of clarification, I phoned the Embassy in London but all they could tell me was just "Get a doctor to fill out the form. He will understand".
Wonder if anyone could enlighten me with their experience of going through getting a Medical Certificate. Does it entail going through multiple expensive test procedures for every item on the Report form or is all that is required a declaration from a doctor that you are fit for employment.

cheers

qwerty1 · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 7

I just went through the process and they had me do all the tests.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Go along to a doctor that deals with the embassy. Harley Medical Services at 117a Harley Street will do the tests and get you the certificate back with the official stamps in 48 hours maximum.

guty · Joined: 10 Apr 2003 Posts: 365 Location: on holiday

I second that.
Save yourself time effort and money by going to a Doctor that has done it all before. After experiences like yours, I used the one SJ mentioned, and wished I'd gone there at the beginning

Mohammad · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 79

How much does it cost at Harley Street?

fishjock · Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 1:24 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info folks.
I just called the above mentioned clinic and they said they could do all the tests and fill out the report for �275. They say they deal with a lot of Saudi medicals and can knock off all the tests in about half an hour with the report being ready in about 2 days.
I'm up in Aberdeen at the moment and I can't find a medical clinic that is 100% sure about the requirements of the report form I downloaded from the embassy website. Whenever I talk to anyone at the embassy, they seem a bit vague. "Just give it to the doctor. He will know" being the usual response.
A bit pricey but might be worth it to head down to London just to make sure it's done right.

usool · Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 147

Hello

There are two ways to do the Medical. The first of these is to pay the 275 pounds and go to London Harley Street. The second is to give your form to the doctor and ask him to write N/A next to any information he doesn't have. The main issue is getting him to sign that you are in good health, this is all that matters. When I went to work in Saudi last year I was joinde by a couple of other British guys and I was the only one who had paid for the medical. This time round after returning and changing jobs I went round to my doctor and used the second method and got my visa no problems.

When you get your doctor to sign the form send it to the FCO for authorisation. When the medical form arrives authorised at the cultural attache/embassy it will be enough to get the visa issued.

Regards

Mohammad · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 79

Shukran Jazeelan brother Usool.

Mohammad

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Your employer is supposed to reimburse you for the medical so cost shouldn't be a factor.

Also you should bear in mind that plenty of people doing it through their GP end up paying more than the �275. For example the AIDS test is free but you have to pay for the certificate (�65 back in the mid-nineties and probably a lot more now). And there will be the cost of the other tests - I suspect usool was lucky if they put n/a for all of them. You certainly need the X-Ray and the hepatitis test, and probably a couple more. You can probably put n/a for bilharzia, but not for all of them. And then there is the charge your GP is entitled to make. Last time I used my GP for this he asked me when I last saw him - I said four years ago for a similar test. "Fine" he said, "no charge - you don't trouble me and I won't trouble you." Few GPs will have that attitude though, and they can officially charge something like �60 just for putting the ticks in the box.

Things change, so maybe usool is correct, but I would check up if your employer is going to remburse you as he is obliged to. If he is use Harley Medical - they are quick and efficient. They also have a separate office that processes visas for Saudi at a reasonable cost.