LQ1
Member
Posts: 19
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Post by LQ1 on May 24, 2012 0:23:15 GMT
We are going next week for orientation and visa medical. For the visa application, do we need anything else beside passports, photos, visa application? I was not told to bring my degrees' transcripts. However, the relocation guide indicates that I have to submit the transcripts for visa application. I already submitted with my BI form. I know I will contact my Relocation advisor and ask I can get a hold of her! Any input?
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Post by Overland on May 24, 2012 2:32:44 GMT
Just did that yesterday in Houston. I gave her the passports, photos and forms. She already had my diplomas in her master file and did not ask for additional copies. Just make sure that your passport photos are very clear. Ours were a little fuzzy and will likely demand a retake.
Worst part of the medical deal is the stool sample. Nasty process just to figure out you don't have any parasites. You get to do it yourself in the hotel the night before you visit. I consider it part of the gauntlet a candidate must run to make the cut...
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LQ1
Member
Posts: 19
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Post by LQ1 on May 24, 2012 19:39:23 GMT
Overland: thanks for the info. And the heads up!
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Post by carrottop on May 24, 2012 19:59:46 GMT
At what point in the hiring process will I be required to have my medical exam? I understand that as part of this physical and testing and sample gathering process, I am required to provide the appropriate medical personnel with a stool sample, in the container they provide me. Will this physical be completed during my time in Houston, for the initial interview, or after an offer letter has been made and accepted?
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LQ1
Member
Posts: 19
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Post by LQ1 on May 25, 2012 1:15:19 GMT
The visa medical is done during the final stages of the process. It is after the offer acceptance and after the approval of one or more of the contingencies (background investigation, medical questionnaire, schools).
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Post by Hadia on May 25, 2012 3:26:51 GMT
Our visa medical was done simultaneously with BI.
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Post by Overland on May 25, 2012 12:31:37 GMT
carrottop,
"They" don't take the stool sample. "They" give you two small jars and a margarine sized tub and YOU get to do it yourself. The jars must be filled until your sample reaches a line. Takes a little while and is not as easy as doing a PSA sample. Lots of instructions one must read. Once completed, you get to hand the bottles over to "them". All in all, lots of fun!
The test is intended to deterimine if you are carrying parasites. This is not uncommon in areas where water treatment is sketchy. Not common at all in the US unless you make a habit out of drinking from irrigation ditches or streams without micro filtration. Giardia is something they will be looking for.
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Post by GroveWanderer on May 25, 2012 18:41:52 GMT
They don't take stool samples just to test for parasites.
Testing stool samples is a standard procedure, often done as part of a full medical check-up.
Among other things, a stool sample is tested to:
1. Help identify diseases of the digestive tract, liver, and pancreas.
2. Help find the cause of symptoms affecting the digestive tract.
3. Screen for colon cancer by checking for hidden (occult) blood.
4. Look for possible causes of infection, such as bacteria, fungus, or virus.
5. Check for poor absorption of nutrients by the digestive tract.
And yes, finally, it can be to:
6. Look for parasites, such as pinworms or Giardia lamblia.
However looking for parasites is probably not the primary reason in most cases, unless the patient happens to have symptoms consistent with a parasitic disease.
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Post by Overland on May 25, 2012 20:43:23 GMT
GroveWanderer: I would concur that there is a whole host of information that can be derived from a stool sample if one was so inclined. But it appears that the candidate medical evaluation is only interested in the Ova and Parasite component of the ysis. The kit provided indicated it is specific to O&P sampling. And the written paperwork for required candidate tests is O&P specific. It would be my opinion that they would have not stated O&P only if their intent was to test beyond that. Here is the list provided in my medical package: US Checklist of Required Tests Candidate 1. Chest E-Ray - PA 2. Urinalysis 3. Stool Specimen - OVA and Parasites 4. HIV Antibody (Western Blot if HIV positive) 5. Hep B 6. Hep C 7. PPD for Tuberculosis 8. Malaria Smear 9. Blood Type Spouse and Dependents (16 or older) 1. Hep B 2. Hep C 3. HIV Antibody (Western Blot if HIV positive) 4. Blood Type I understand that the majority of the tests are necessary to satisfy SA consulate requirements. Urinalysis is self explanatory. They will find out just how much caffeine I ingest every morning  |
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Post by fsaeed81 on Jul 14, 2014 20:33:32 GMT
We have a visa medical tomorrow and I want to confirm the information ...
Spouse is not supposed to provide Stool Specimen or Urinalysis? Only the application provides this?
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Post by aussie hopeful on Jul 15, 2014 7:23:18 GMT
fsaeed81,
I had my visa medical and as a spouse I had to do both. :?
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Post by fsaeed81 on Jul 23, 2014 23:04:32 GMT
Glad to see the forum back online!
So we went in for our visa medicals in Houston last week and I was to provide Stool Specimen (something I'd like to forget) and Urinalysis samples along with X-Ray. My wife only had blood tests performed. I take it different process for different countries.
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