What to Expect
Your visit includes a medical examination, vaccinations, the laboratory tests and chest X-ray. Our staff will guide you through each step.
Your appointment time
Appointments are scheduled at five-minute intervals, but this is your arrival time—not the duration of the examination. Please arrive on time. We decide which part of the process you start with according to the day’s workload.
Our doctors speak enough Persian to conduct the medical examination, so a Persian interpreter is normally unnecessary in the examination room.
When you arrive
We will check your documents and direct you to the physician’s office on the 4th floor or the Düzen Laboratory on the 3rd floor for tests and a chest X-ray.
You will be asked to remove clothing as needed for the physical examination, so please wear clothes that are easy to change out of.
You do not need to fast for the routine examination.
Will I need to return?
You may complete the laboratory tests before seeing the doctor. If so, our staff may ask you to return to your hotel and come back at a specified date and time. Confirm your return appointment with our staff before leaving.
The laboratory sends results directly to us; you do not need to collect them. The physician will review your medical history, examination, X-ray and laboratory results before completing your report.
When will my report be ready?
Most routine cases take two working days. If your appointment is before noon, your report may be ready on the next working day, but this is not guaranteed. Leave at least two working days between your medical appointment and Embassy interview, and follow our When to Come guidance.
Additional tests, specialist consultations or treatment can delay completion. Waiting times at the clinic may also change if another applicant needs urgent medical care.
How will I receive my report?
We will tell you at check-in whether your case uses eMedical or a paper report.
- eMedical: We submit your medical report and chest X-ray electronically. Your vaccination record is emailed to the address you provided when booking. You will not receive a sealed paper medical report to take to the Embassy.
- Paper report: We give you a sealed envelope to take to the Embassy. Do not open it. You do not need to take the chest X-ray itself to the Embassy interview, but keep the X-ray copy supplied to you and take it to the United States. Your vaccination record is emailed to the address you provided when booking.
How long is the report valid?
Medical clearance is generally valid for up to six months; some TB classifications have a three-month clearance. Check your individual expiry date.
If your report expires, you need a new appointment and examination, including the vaccinations, tests and X-ray required for the new assessment. Previous negative results do not automatically replace repeat testing. See Repeat Medical Examinations.
What if I need additional TB testing?
TB symptoms, certain X-ray findings or other medical circumstances may require three sputum samples. Testing includes smears, cultures and a molecular test on the first sample. Cultures take at least eight weeks to establish a final negative result, and the process may take longer if repeat samples or treatment are needed.
See our Sputum Smears and Cultures for TB FAQ for answers about why testing is needed, waiting times, fees and report validity.