Job Discussion Forums

simon-in-staffs · Joined: 11 Aug 2011 Posts: 13

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 · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 1151 Location: Wuhan, China

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 · Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Posts: 178 Location: US

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 · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

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 · Joined: 23 Sep 2011 Posts: 16

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 · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

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

dean_a_jones · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 1151 Location: Wuhan, China

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

Tefl Novice · Joined: 23 Sep 2011 Posts: 16

creeper1 · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 10:58 am Post subject: stuff

I recently got the Z-visa from the Chinese Visa Centre , London, UK.

No medical exam was required.

I will need one when I arrive in China however.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Clearly Drs in Mexico and UK do not enjoy the confidence of the Chinese authorities.
I'd rather be told about an issue before leaving home than when I arrived in China. Smile

Denim-Maniac · Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 1238

Im from the UK and my employer asked me to complete the medical check before coming here last September. I was sent the medical check list, which I took to my local GP and discussed with her. She said she COULD do some of the items on the list, which would of course incur a fee, but there were a number of items she COULDN'T do. I think the X-ray and ECG wouldnt have been possible.

I exchanged a number of emails about this with my employer, who was initially quite keen for me to do it in the UK. I was also pretty sure that even if it was completed at home...I would have had to re-do it in China anyway. Seemed like it could be a waste of money for me...I wasnt keen on that.

What I did instead, was complete a HIV test, and forward it to them. A HIV test can be done free in the sexual health clinics in the UK, and they gave me a letter confirming my results. They do ask why you want to have a test, and it may be advisable to mention any risky sexual behaviour, which gives them a reason to conduct the test.

When I forwarded it to my employer, he did ask why it didnt have a red chop on it, and wasnt sure it would be acceptable! (The 'red chop' is a seal/stamp that goes on official Chinese docs)

A medical check isnt needed to apply for the Z visa from the UK Chinese embassy, but it is required to get the Z visa changed in-country.

After several emails, my employer eventually took note of my concern and sent me all the visa paperwork and I had the medical here in China on their coin. I think some employers may insist on it prior to issuing paperwork and visa invites, some may not. I dont know if this is a rule, circumvented by their guanxi, or relationships with visa offices locally, or if its based on their previous experiences.

Challenge your employer over it...and see if they can relax their requirements on having it done at home. If your contract states they will pay for your medical expenses, the very high cost of having a complete check done in the UK may put them off and persuade them to allow you to have it done locally instead.

I would recommend having the HIV test done at home anyway though. Sending that to your employer might show some concession on your part, and to be honest....finding out you are HIV+ in China would be the worst thing in the world. Although the risks of a positive test are minute, I was happier to have that test done at home.

On a side note....I had to re-do the HIV test here anyway. I guess my letter which confirmed my results wasnt acceptable here.

Denim-Maniac · Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 1238

and I'll just quickly add, The Chinese embassy in the UK do not require any evidence of a medical health check to issue a visa. It is not a pre-requisite of the visa process as far as they are concerned. This was the case in July 2011 as that was then I spoke to them with the same query.

That is not to say that a medical check is not a requirement of local PSB offices who issue invitation letters etc.

simon-in-staffs · Joined: 11 Aug 2011 Posts: 13

Guys - thanks for all the advice.

I have contact my new employer about this. They are quite insistant that I must get this done. So not much choice about this.

Spoke to my GP who will organise all of this.

However - I am now fully expectant that I will have to do the whole process again as soon as I arrive in China.

But thanks for the advice

DrGrafenberg · Joined: 12 Feb 2012 Posts: 28

I came in from Vietnam and I had a problem with my medical there. The Drs in Vietnam didn't write "no problems detected" on the medical form, this must be some kind of legal requirement as the Chinese embassy wouldn't accept the results and wouldn't issue me with the Z-visa.

I had to go back to the clinic and get them to change the form, all of which took about 5 extra days.