First Time UK entry, Need Medical Examination on Immigration at Heathrow Airport

[gaius]

Hey guys! I really do need some basic information or latest updates on how the process of medical examination at immigration area in Heathrow Airport in London.

I was told by some folks in which i don't know what to think. That theres a medical examination right at the immigration before i granted to enter the UK and right after i arrive in London. Since, I have no health problems, I would like ask you guys or anyone here whom had gone on this process especially those who are recently first time to enter in UK.

Can anyone share what are those basic things that done on the medical examination process? I'm kinda curious to know so i might be able to prepare if in case.

Or anyone can share what are those things i need to do during at the arrival area because this is my first time to enter in UK.

I would love to read some thoughts regarding this matter.

Thank you so much! I'll be off leaving the Philippine for UK next week.

[gaius]

Are Philippines X-ray and Pap-smear tests accepted at Heathrow airport?

[menchkin]

No need to worry. When I arrived in Heathrow London airport last Oct. 18, I was just asked by the UK Border (immigration officer) to go first to the health control room with a form since I will be staying in UK for more than 6 months. I went there and the lady just took my address and stamped the form and instructed me to go back to the immigration officer and that's it. I was allowed to proceed to the flight connection departure section to wait for my connecting flight to aberdeen. I was told that I will receive a letter from them in 2 weeks time that will request me to go to a clinic to undergo x-ray. You will also be told the same thing.

Better start packing and get here while it's still not too cold. Congrats again!

[DianaKevy]

hhhhhmmmm i never had a medical examination when i arrived here though that was in Gatwick airport of june this year...

[menchkin]

Are Philippines X-ray and Pap-smear tests accepted at Heathrow airport?

I brought my APE (annual physical examination result) and showed it to the health control. But I will still have to undergo x-ray here.

[anview]

Hi dont worry, when I arrived at heathrow I went to medical room that was all women in one men in another, i changed into white gown in privacy and had a chest xray it took only few minutes I think they are just seeing you have no infectious dieseases like TB good luck

[reginacarlson]

Really? I haven't heard about this....does the medical exam/x-ray only apply to first time visitors in UK or is this implemented to all incoming foreigners that are staying for more than 6 months?

[menchkin]

Really? I haven't heard about this one yet. Does the medical exam/x-ray only apply to first time visitors in UK or is this the new rule for all incoming foreigners that are staying more than 6 months?

it's a new rule i think.

[anview]

this was more than 2 years ago,its nothing new its just for people coming to live here in the UK,which is nothing to worry about if you are fit and healthy

[aromulus]

Can anyone share what are those basic things that done on the medical examination process? I'm kinda curious to know so i might be able to prepare if in case.

If you see some burly blokes walking towards you wearing scrubs and bright yellow rubber gloves.............

Start worrying......

[joebloggs]

Really? I haven't heard about this....does the medical exam/x-ray only apply to first time visitors in UK or is this implemented to all incoming foreigners that are staying for more than 6 months?

high risk countries are being checked first

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/tbscreening/

the philippines was suppose to be added to the list, i think it has, but it's not shown here

[PeterB]

If I understand correctly, that is a list of countries where the test is carried out prior to departure. Immigrants from other countries are being tested upon arrival.

What I don't understand is why testing for Infectious TB is only being carried out on those staying for longer than six months. Can't the infection be passed on in the first six months?

[Ann07]

it's a new rule i think.

They always have new rules

I entered UK at Newcastle in 2006 no hastle. A young woman immigration officer just checked my passport with a nice smile and thats it.

[joebloggs]

If I understand correctly, that is a list of countries where the test is carried out prior to departure. Immigrants from other countries are being tested upon arrival.

What I don't understand is why testing for Infectious TB is only being carried out on those staying for longer than six months. Can't the infection be passed on in the first six months?

that's the idea, your tested b4 you come here, not every immigrant is being tested, i think its those countries where there is a higher risk of them having TB.

the TB program was described as ..

'When the programme is fully implemented, the policy will apply equally to all residents of those countries which are both high risk for TB (i.e. have an annual incidence of over 40 cases per 100,000 population) and send the greatest numbers of long-term visitors to the UK. In that context the provision is nationality neutral. However, it is likely that some nationalities could be affected by this measure more than others because the overwhelming majority of residents in a particular country are liable to be nationals of that country. It is therefore arguable that the application of this measure amounts to indirect discrimination towards nationals of the countries to which the provision will apply. The first phase of the programme will apply only to entry clearance applications made to UKVisas operations in Bangladesh, Sudan, Tanzania and Thailand (where applications from Cambodia and Laos are also dealt with). These countries all have high rates of TB and also represent the various kinds of entry clearance operation we have globally, but represent relatively low numbers of entry clearance applicants. A decision on the countries to be included in the next phase of the programme has not yet been made, but we will review the impact of the initial phase after six months to help inform the future roll out of the programme. Where low numbers of infectious cases have been identified through the pre-entry screening we will consider whether this represents a proportionate use of resources both for the applicant and the visa-issuing operation. We consider that the programme - and by extension the new clause to the Bill - could amount to indirect discrimination towards nationals of the countries to which the provision will apply. In this instance, we believe that the measure is justified by and is proportionate to the public policy objective of reducing the level of imported TB, protecting public health and ensuring public confidence in the migration system. '

[joebloggs]

They always have new rules

I entered UK at Newcastle in 2006 no hastle. A young woman immigration officer just checked my passport with a nice smile and thats it.

As of October 2007, the countries where applicants required the certificates were: • Bangladesh • Ghana (which also takes applications from Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo and Niger) • Kenya (which also take applications from residents of Eritrea and Somalia) • Pakistan • Sudan • Tanzania, and • Thailand (which also takes applications from Cambodia and Laos)

and there is another list, which did have the phils on it

[Ann07]

As of October 2007, the countries where applicants required the certificates were: • Bangladesh • Ghana (which also takes applications from Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo and Niger) • Kenya (which also take applications from residents of Eritrea and Somalia) • Pakistan • Sudan • Tanzania, and • Thailand (which also takes applications from Cambodia and Laos)

and there is another list, which did have the phils on it

Didnt know that joebloggs, thanks

hehehehe where is the list?

[doonat]

as for my case they only asked for the "result paper" of my chest xray, no need for the film.
but if you dont have one they will ask you to go inside the xray room and have it there. result will be given asap, im not sure if you will pay for it...

[joebloggs]

Didnt know that joebloggs, thanks

hehehehe where is the list?

The British Government will be extending the TB testing requirements to those applying for visa entry from a further 6 countries: China, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa and Zimbabwe. We will tell you when TB screening is due to start in these countries as soon as we are able to.

why test people only who are coming for 6 months or more, probably the problems and delays it would cause if they asked everyone who came to the UK for a TB cert or to do an x-ray at the airport

also my misses tells me, it can take 6 months to treat TB, so if your here for less than 6 months, why bother and also the problems it would cause for the NHS. so for those coming for 6 months or more is where the gov has set the marker, and also if your here for 6 months or more, your probably here on a visa leading to settlement , so it would be a good idea to test those and treat them

[marylen]

what about pregnant women? do we have to undergo the same thing? as we arrive heathrow airport as well before going to Aberdeen...

[Piamed]

I thought you were going to go via Amsterdam amiga! Pia and I came via Amsterdam to Leeds. I went in the 'foreigner' queue with her and all they did was look at her pasport and in he came.

[andypaul]

what about pregnant women? do we have to undergo the same thing? as we arrive heathrow airport as well before going to Aberdeen...

I think if your transit your not required to have a check at heathrow from what i have read from others doing the same. If they do and your Pregnant you will not be required to have a xray.

From what i know its only Heathrow which performs the check ups.

[marylen]

yeah sorry piamed, it was our plan before to book a flight via KLM and that we gonna suppose to stop Amsterdam but unfortunately its quite bit expensive for the two of us...then now.. we found a better deal from cebu-hongkong (via cathay pacific) and hongkong-heathrow(via british airways, and lastly heathrow-aberdeen(via british airways) that route will be quite a bit cheaper than compare to the other way around.

My husband will come over this coming Nov.1 and we fly together on Nov.3..I am on my 27th weeks pregnant exactly on that day forward.....so i assume i need to bring a medical certificate along with me in case......although i got one here.....We are taking Cathay pacific and British airways.................i hope that i won't having any problems dealing with immigration stuff.....


Note: I will be on my 27th weeks pregnant this coming Nov.3 the day we fly with my husband along.

[andypaul]

yeah sorry piamed, it was our plan before to book a flight via KLM and that we gonna suppose to stop Amsterdam but unfortunately its quite bit expensive for the two of us...then now.. we found a better deal from cebu-hongkong (via cathay pacific) and hongkong-heathrow(via british airways, and lastly heathrow-aberdeen(via british airways) that route will be quite a bit cheaper than compare to the other way around.

My husband will come over this coming Nov.1 and we fly together on Nov.3..I am on my 27th weeks pregnant exactly on that day forward.....so i assume i need to bring a medical certificate along with me in case......although i got one here.....We are taking Cathay pacific and British airways.................i hope that i won't having any problems dealing with immigration stuff.....


Note: I will be on my 27th weeks pregnant this coming Nov.3 the day we fly with my husband along.

Your be Fine i know they look after Pregnant ladies well on Cathay as two guys were sitting next to me and due to one of their screens not working they swapped them over with a lady travelling on her own who was pregnant. she was looked after very well and checked on regularly though out the flight they also let her off the plane first etc.

[gaius]

I arrived yesterday here in London from Philippines and brought my Chest PA xray result and the film copy. fortunately when i meet at the immigration area for health check up, they asked for my xray result if ever i did have one and gave them my result. no more check ups or any medical exam as long as you have your own medical certification that show your xray is normal.

I finally made it through. Thank God.