The Final Process: The Medical Exam for the Visa

The below is an account of every step and detail provided by a parent. It describes what it was like to have the Medical Exam, which is required to receive a Visa for the child. There are only three approved doctors* that can preform the Visa Medical exam in Haiti. This is only one place and one person's expereiences.

To get a Visa to travel to the United States, the child has to go through a medical exam no later than 2 weeks before the Visa is issued. The word "Exam" is SO overrated. Plan and pack for an ENTIRE day. I believe that all local patients are seen before Visa Medicals – but it could have just been how it appeared.

We left the Guesthouse around 9am. We returned to the guesthouse about 4pm. Its sooooooo fun waiting in an unairconditioned waiting room for 6 hours with 5 kids.

First we went to the US Embassy (also the place Visas are printed) where they gave each one of the parents a letter stating we needed a Visa Medical Exam for the purpose of a Visa– of which never left our possesion and no one requested to see. Then we went across town to the doctors office. After many hours of waiting, we finally got some paperwork straightened out (including passport pictures of our children provided by our facilitator), and were taken into the back.

We paid our $40 (cash) at an enclosed window. I assume someone was behind the window because my money disappeared, but I never saw her/him. Afterwards, we were separated into two rooms further in the back. Jen's Jeff and my Jean were in one room. Jan's Tamar and Tessa in another. Very small, but air conditioned rooms. Without a hello or greetings, we were told to undress our children. We did. The doctor came in, listened to their heart, their stomach, and their lungs. He pushed their stomach, looked at the whites of their eyes, and said "All Done." What?!?!?!?! And that was that. No blood work. No shots. Nothing.

(Friends of mine agreed with everything above, however, had a slightly different expereience in which the rooms that they were sent to were shared by other patients. The patients would be in this same, small room with you, but they had already completely undressed and were waiting on the doctor. Just be mentally prepared.)

After that, we went into another room where they weighed the children, took their height, and asked us if they had any horrible diseases. They told us we had perfect children and sent us on our way. Again, WHAT?!?!?!?!?! I’m not going to argue, but what kind of medical exam is THAT?!?!?!?!?

They gave the woman that was with us some papers to give to our facilitator. They gave us, the parents, nothing. That was it. Five minutes in the back and that was the Visa Medical appointment.

Checklist of items to bring:

  • Correct birth date and exact spelling of your child(ren)’s full name.
  • Toys
  • Sweat rag
  • Diapers
  • Tissues (for using the bathroom with no toilet paper.)
  • Snacks and LOTS of liquids (water, kool-aid, etc.)
  • LOTS of baby wipes. This is a doctor’s office with some REALLY bad diseases.