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First off, these forums have been a great help in our visa process. My wife and I are preparing for our interview later this month (we live in Shanghai, DCF in Beijing), and there are just a few details I'm not sure about. 1. Police report: we've lived in SH for 10 years, wife's hukou is Jiangsu. Our local SH police station said they can provide a police report covering 2008 to now. Is that sufficient for the interview, or do we need to get something covering a longer period of time, which would require trip back to Jiangsu? 2. For medical exam in Shanghai, when are results available? I've read they are available later same afternoon when done at GZ facility, but not sure about Shanghai. 3. Any idea of what current vaccinations are required? We don't have her records; it seems everyone is in this situation. My wife is still breastfeeding our baby, and I've read that most vaccinations are fine while nursing, but some clarity on which vaccines they will give her would be appreciated. Thanks.

I have read on here before that people went to have their medical exam in Guangzhou a couple days before their interview and that this was fine. However when we received our packet 4, in the information I saw this "You must go to the designated panel physician to have your examination at least two weeks before your visa interview appointment date." Has anyone else experienced this? Is this a new rule? We do not live that close to Guangzhou and were hoping to avoid having to make another trip there just for the medical exam. I was hoping someone who has interviewed since the March 16th changes could clear this up for me. Thanks in advance

FYI My wife just did her medical exam and HIV testing in Shanghai yesterday. She told me that right now both medical exam and HIV testing are conducted at Shanghai First People's Hospital. Both used to be done at different locations. Best luck to all of you!

I read a post in the faq section about the medical exam process in Shanghai, and thought I would add our own experience. We went today to Shanghai Peoples Hospital, and overall, it was a good experience. The price is 900 for adults, and the exams are done M-F 8a to 10a. From central Pudong, the taxi was about 30 to 40 mins in AM rush, and about 25 rmb (Jie grimaced when I gave the driver a total of 30 with tip). Shanghai Peoples has a special section just for the Visa exams. When we got there, about 830 am, there were maybe 6 to 10 others, mostly older folk, perhaps for B2's. We met another K1 (cant miss that blue EMS envelope in her hands) and she was early 20's, her SO in California (town of Campbell I think she tried to say?). We tried to find out if her SO was a CLF-er or not, but she bu ming bai what we were talking about. Her english was not too well. (Uh oh, blue slip?). She did say her interview was Feb 24. Moving on, Jie finished her forms, got BP, weight and eye exam, went to the panel physician for questions, on to draw blood (I almost fainted), urine sample, then down one floor to get a chest xray, and ecg. IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT HIV TESTING: we expected to have to go to a second distant location for HIV testing and pay another 50 RMB, but Shanghai Peoples Hospital NOW INCLUDES this in the blood draw and 900 RMB price. There is no extra fee, and no second draw ! !　 SIDEBAR: we did go to another location because I wanted Jie to start her immunizations. I dont know if this was the right decision or not. I know it is not required for K1, but I do know it is required sometime later in the process, and my thinking (or lack of) was that maybe we save a few bucks doing it in China (296 RMB), and maybe it will speed up the process a little. Anyway, her first round of shots is finished. I almost fainted again. I dont like needles. Even when it is someone else getting them. END SIDEBAR Anyhow, to close the story, the whole experience at Shanghai Peoples was a good one, and the whole exam lasted about 80 mins, arrival to leaving. Jie has to go back on Weds next week to bring her DS156,157, etc forms, certs, etc to finish the infamous 'sealed envelope'. She DID NOT need those today. If your SO goes, just be sure she brings the following: Her passport, GUZ interview letter, Med Exam forms, and passport photos. (I dont want to tell you that you dont need all the other forms on the first visit, I am just saying, we did not for her visit.) Anyhow, that was it for Shanghai Peoples Hospital. Overall, it was a fast, smooth, and relatively easy process. Well, thats easy for me to say, I am not the one who got poked and prodded. Its 4pm now, Jie is out like a light. After a blood draw (took 4 times to find her vein), and 3 immunization shots, I think I will let this poor girl rest for a while. Thanks for reading, and I hope this is helpful for anyone else who will be going to Shanghai Peoples.

CR1togo has given a complete guide to Shanghai medical experience back in June 5 this year. The medical procedure in Shanghai stays mostly the same except that HIV screening is not done seperately as described by CR1togy. I will give an updated version here to share with you. You only need to pay attention to the sentences in Bold below. All details will be provided at the hospital and the Quarantine Bureau office. Step one - visit #1 people's hospital, #585 Jiu long Road, 1st floor Time: 8:00-10:00am M-F Things to bring: interview appointment, passport, medicine examination forms (DS-2053, DS-3024, DS-3026, and for CR1/IR1, DS-3025), two Chinese passport size photos, 900RMB (or 600 for child). Note: Go with empty stomach, fill out personal info part of the forms ahead of time using both Chinese and English. ----Sub-routine 1: line up at the in-room "register" desk, show appointment letter and passport, receive three hospital forms (main form, X-ray form and cardiogram form) ----Sub-routine 2: Fill out personal information part of all medical forms (DS forms in both languages and hospital forms in Chinese), attach photos to forms. ----Sub-routine 3: Report back to the in-room register nurse, check blood pressure, eye-sight, weight (also be given a small slip to write your phone# and Postal code on) ----Sub-routine 4: show your phone# slip, passport and the main hospital form to the hall-way register person, get you bill and ID card. ----sub-routine 5: across the hall way, to pay counter. Pass bill, ID card and money to the cashier, get receipt and have your main hospital form stamped. ----sub-routine 6: line up in exam booth#1 or #2, when it's your turn, show passport, ID, hand in all DS forms and the main hospital form. This is where the doctor performs routine check and fills out the forms. After all that the doctor will advise you the later steps (vaccination and pickup result). The doctor will hand you an information sheet (on the sheet it says that you need to go to a different test center to do HIV screening, this is not true anymore. Watch out!) ----sub-routine 7: line up at lab work counter with passport and payment receipt to show, where nurse take blood samples and then you prepare urine sample. ----sub-routine 8: go down to basement of the same building, do X-ray and cardiogram. This is all you have to do at the hospital. Step two - visit Quarantine Bureau Office: #15 Jinbang Road· (close to Hami Road·), Building#3 Note: this step is not required for K1/K3 Time: 8:00-11:00am, 1:00-3:00pm M-F Things to bring: passport, previous immunization records (if any) and money. ----sub-routine 1: show passport, fill out a form ----sub-routine 2: see doctor, decide which shots are needed, etc. ----sub-routine 3: pay ----sub-routine 4: get shots ----sub-routine 5: a nurse will give you some directions on what to do next, documents received include: a. your would-be Certificate of Vaccination (I call it "yellow book")sealed in an envelop to be handed over to #1 hospital doctor when picking up your medical examination results. Don't open it! b. an information sheet about expected reaction and booster shot schedules for you to read. c. an information sheet about shots received and booster shot schedules for the hospital which will give you booster later. d. a feedback form with return envelop you suppose to fill out after 3 weeks. Step three - pick up medical examination result at #1 people's hospital Time: 8:00am, a week after your examination (or next day if paid 600 extra for expediated service) Things to bring: Passport, interview appointment letter, hospital information sheet. The envelop with yellow book in it(not need for K visas) and all required documents listed in OF-171. ----Sub-routine 1: go to Booth#1, pick out your X-ray film, line up outside this booth for your turn. ----Sub-routine 2: hand over yelow book to doctor, wait for doctor to gather all your test reports, sign on form DS-2053. Need to show you passport. The doctor will give you the filled out hospital forms, along with the whole set of lab test reports to you to be used for Step 4 process later. You will also get your yellow book to keep. ----Sub-routine 3: Wait in line outside Booth#3. The doctor will pass medical forms and X-ray film from Booth#1 to Booth#3. From time to time, the doctor will come out give instructions on how to fill out the registration book and prepare forms. At your turn, all DS forms and the documents your brought will be sealed into an large envelop for you to take to your visa interview. You need to pay 12RMB to the Booth#3 doctor to cover copying cost. You'll also sign on a photocopy of DS-2053. X-ray film will be handed back to you to keep. Step four - get Health Certificate at Quarantine Bureau Office Time: Doctor advise your do this after receiving your US visa. Things to bring: Passport, the main hospital form showing medical examination results, a photo and some money. This step is to replace the hospital forms with a Health Certificate for International Traveller.

Today we started the medical exam in Shanghai. In view of recent posts and some confusion on a few subjects- here are our experiences. Questions about visa fee payment, doing exam in advance, appointment letter, vaccinations and time it takes are below. Arrived slightly before 8 AM at Shanghai First People's Hospital, #585 Jiu Long Road, Hong Kou District (a few blocks away from the Entry/Exit Bureau @ 333 Wusong Lu), Shanghai. Tel: (021) 63240090. Hours: M-F 8:00- 10AM and 1:00- 3:00PM. They required a copy of the GUZ P-4 appointment letter (so no doing it beforehand, I guess). Cost: RMB 900 for a adult/ RMB 600 for a child (See below for additional HIV fee). REGULAR service is 1 week/ expediated 2 day service is another RMB 400 (see HIV below). This is somewhat on the high end, cost wise, of the 7 authorized hospitals on the list. The two places in GUZ and Taishan range 600 to 800 (both Beijing hospitals are listed as US$130, Fujian RMB1,000). We spent 45 minutes on lines and paperwork (filling out the heading of the med exam sheet and a couple internal hospital forms) with name, passport #, date of birth, GUZ file #, today's date and trimming TWO of our offical 2" x 2" Passport photos down to typical Chinese size and pasting them to two of the forms (for sizing- see the Med exam sheet from GUZ in the P-4 ). Typical payment of fees; go here get a stamp, go there, pay money, go BACK to the first desk and get receipt from the SAME person as before. Next, very basic eye exam and blood pressure check at the same desk as where initial forms are turned in. (Busy lady). Then Medical history, blood test, urine test, go down stairs for the Xray and ECG. Done here about 10:10 AM The CURVE BALL: HIV TESTING It is done WAY across town at the Shanghai INSTITUTE OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE office NOT the main building Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Address: 1382 (NOT 1380) Zhong Shan Xi (Road). Phones: 62758710- 1108, 62751144. Took about 40 minutes by taxi in moderate traffic to get there. Don't think you can do this the same day using a bus(es) or Metro. Return trip Wens.: It's located about 12-15 minutes walk from the Hong Qiao #3 Metro line station. Exit Metro, head westerly on Hong Ciao Road, a turn left on Zhong Shan Xi and to the center at 1382. HOURS: M-W-F only! 8:45 AM to 11:00 only! Fee: ANOTHER RMB 50. It takes a minimum of two days to get the results, i.e. test Monday get results Wens. The reason it takes a MINIMUM of TWO days even with the expediated service. One must also return here FIRST, get the results (even with regular service), and return it to the hospital. (Sidenote: to score points with S/O- suggest she talk to others at the hospital and share a taxi to HIV testing. Four of us arrived at the HIV center in SEPERATE taxis within a few minutes of each other. Taxi meter fares ranged from RMB 30 to 40. "We should have shared a taxi" brought out a few laughs/scowls.) Vaccinations: Hospital letter states K1, K3, V visa applicants are exempt but others (i.e., CR/IR-1/2) are required to have them. Determination and shots are at 15 Jin Bang Lu (Turn left at 1701 Ha Mi Lu (Road)). It uses both addresses and there are blue street signs near it. Hours: M-F 8-11:00, 1-3:00PM., Phones: 62686428, 62688851. Shots will be given here, a yellow book issued and hand carried back to 1st People's Hosp. BEFORE they will complete the Med. exam- if required (i.e., CR/IR-1). Also noted: After the physical the person will have to return to the Health Care Center of Shanghai International Travel office for an exit booklet "Certficate of Health Examination"- an ugly orange colored booklet. EDIT 6-7-05: Found this place to be quite distant from the 1st peoples Hosp. and somewhat far from the HIV place. Vicinity of the Shanghai Zoo. Wife is over 19 but less than 65 years of age and no EXISTING shot record. She was given three injections today- expected more but that's it. Shots received: Td Primary series, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and Varicella. She was told she needs a second dose at 42-60 days from now. Can be done in China OR US. Fee was RMB 296. Paperwork put in package for GUZ at 1st People's on 6-13-05 for a CR-1 Two MORE (total of 4) photos, DS-230 Part II, Divorce document (IMMIGRANT'S only), police, marriage, and birth certs, and A COPY of the bio. pages of the passport- actual PP was checked and returned (if applicable police record), Family Composition form (for 16 and older), medical exam certification sheet. Also received the xray. 830 RMB Visa fee, for "K" and "V" visas: So far it states that this fee *may* be paid in advance at CITIC banks (Sorry, but NO SPECIFIC Branches in Shanghai were given to us) OR paid at GUZ. It is NOT required by this Hosp. to do the Medical. After completion of the medical at 1st People's we were given a handful of medical reports and were told we could get the "Certficate of Health Examination" nicknamed the "exit booklet" today also. Again at the Health Care Center of Shanghai International Travel Office- the vaccination place. It costs RMB12 and you will need 1 additional photo.