[Going2NZ]

OK, maybe I'm missing some detail but there are no panel doctors are listed for the US on the NZIS website. I think that Terry Murphy (US marketing director) told me that any US doctor here would be alright to use but I would rather go to someone who is familiar with the paperwork. After all, I would hate to miss the April 4 deadline on restrictions, lose ground and have to get it re-done.

So, the question is: how have any of the American folks handle this? Just go to your regular PCP and keep your fingers crossed? Or is there some kind of listing with immigration-savvy doctors somewhere?

Plus, has anyone been out-of-pocket on the costs (beyond co-pays) or did it just fall under a regular, but thorough, physical?

I would appreciate some advice 'cause I'm puzzled. Thanks!

Susan

[Going2NZ]

:oops:

I guess I should have done a search before posting...since this seems to have been covered recently.

In the immortal words of Homer Simpson, "D'oh!"

Susan

[Kate]

Hi Susan,

Just to add to what may have been written already, my husband and I had our medicals through our primary care doctor through our HMO. They treated it like a physical and we were not charged for anything.....however, I'm sure that will vary depending on your coverage.....I would check with your GP on the costs.

We filled out as much of the application as we could in advance and then went over with the doc....so they would have to fill out as little as possible. We had a weight conversion chart with us so we could convert the weight and BMI to metric for the doc also.

It's really pretty straight forward.....just be familiar with all the questions so you can work with the doctor. If you have any conditions that need to be explained the doc will need to write up an explanation with the length of condition, medications, prognosis.

Hope this helps.
Kate

[RoadRunner]

Susan,
Just go to your regular PCP and keep your fingers crossed?
Since we had recently moved to Tucson, we didn't have a PCP. It took me quite a while calling around to find a doctor who was willing to do an immigration medical!!

In Tucson, doctors have never heard of these forms or filled them out so the doctor we found was pretty clueless about the whole procedure. A conversion chart sounds like a good idea - ours messed up the conversion so much that he ended up adding several kilos to my weight! :eek

Also, US doctors typically budget only 15 minutes for the appt, which is not nearly enough to complete the forms. I tried to warn the nurse/receptionist but it did no good. So, the doctor had so little time, he just blazed down the form, filling out "no" without asking!

My recommendation is to make sure you know the questions/forms so you can help hin/her fill it in. I think some parts say that you should not fill it in unless in the presence of the doc - check this. I understand some get pretty upset if you prefill the wrong parts!

Good luck with this!
Cynthia

[sweetpea]

I asked my PCP if she would be willing to fill it out. She said, sure, bring the form in next time you come and we can schedule the tests and stuff first (they always make us go to an off-site lab for bloodwork, etc) and then schedule an appointment to fill in the rest of the form. Luckily I've had to go in for preventative rabies vaccs, so I've seen her a lot lately.

I basically told her the medicals were like a New Patient form where they have a zillion checkboxes for every conceivable disease, but with an Ellis Island twist. I didn't mention it was 30-40 pp, but then again, there's so much whitespace on that form (the post April 4 version, at least) :roll: Anyway, she'll have time to review/fill in the form before my appointment, and I'll probably some Postits with any info I can to make it quicker to complete.

[spodie]

Is there any kinds of waiver for immunizations. Example: if I don't know when I was given my immunization shot for whooping cough, is there any way to get a waiver.
Don't all Americans have to get these shots when we are young?

[RoadRunner]

Hi Spodie,
We couldn't remember when we had our immunization shots either so we left that part blank on the Medical form. We included a copy of the CDC immunization requirements for school children to show that we obviously must have had them at some point or we never would have been allowed into school. Seems to have worked because they never questioned it! :clap
RoadRunner

[spodie]

The form is a little misleading.
"Please specify date of previous immunisations (if the applicant remembers)."
So as long as we know the year or month, it should be o.k.? :mrgreen:
Here's hoping!
thanks Roadrunner