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FAQ New Zealand IME
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Australian IME OverviewYou can download the entire overview document (seen below) by clicking here. For a summary of information regarding your IME, please read the below instructions carefully. For more detailed visa information please visit: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/home BEFORE booking your Panel Physician appointment: Obtain a HAP number From your visa/travel agent, or Register for an “ImmiAccount” on https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/home and follow the instructions. Once you have your HAP number, you will receive a document stating what you are required to complete, for example: 501 = Medical Examination 502 = Chest X-Ray 507 = HIV Test There may be other tests on the list depending on the visa type (check ImmiAccount) Contact ShipMed to book an appointment by using: Website Portal Telephone 031 261 8291 Email ops@shipmed.co.za AT your Panel Physician appointment: All applicants bring the following to your appointment at ShipMed: ORIGINAL Passport of each applicant. (No copies of any kind are accepted). HAP number of each applicant. No photos are required. All required paperwork will be provided at ShipMed. If blood tests are required (check ImmiAccount) they will be done at ShipMed. X-ray (502) requirements Check your ImmiAccount for if you need a 502 exam (chest x-ray) The X-ray must be done at Lake, Smit and Partners (Panel Radiologists) at Entabeni Hospital (Ground Floor) after your medical exam (501) is complete. ORGINAL passports for each applicant must be shown. ShipMed (Panel Clinic) Location Our rooms are within the Ear, Nose and Throat Centre 25 Glenwood Drive, Glenwood, Durban, 4001 Payment Options Credit Card EFT (Proof of Payment must be provided at the appointment) Cash Note: We do not deal with medical aid under any circumstances. Costing As each visa requires various and different investigations, the pricing varies: (Please check ImmiAccount for what you need) 501 (Medical Examination) R1650 502 (Chest X-ray) +/- R1700 707 (Blood test -HIV) R250 Tuberculin Skin Test R250 Hepatitis B Blood Test R250 Hepatitis C Blood Test R250 Pricing is per 2023 Duration of Medical On the day you will be required to: Fill in multiple forms (only available at the Panel Clinic) Have a photo taken Be checked by a nurse Be examined by the Panel Physician It will take approximately 30 – 45 minutes per applicant (e.g. Family of four will take approximately three hours) Preparation for the Medical No fasting or special dieting is required. Clothing – shorts and a T-shirt are preferable. You will be required to remove clothing that cannot be easily manipulated to reveal most of your body (a gown is provided in this instance). Specialist Reports – your Panel Physician will advise you at the appointment if any further specialist reports are required. Menstruation – as there is a mandatory urine test for all applicants, we suggest that you wait until seven days after your period ends to have your appointment. What will be examined? All the major systems will be examined. Genitalia will not be examined A breast exam will be performed if there is a history of breast cancer either in the applicant or the applicant’s direct female relatives. AFTER your Panel Physician Appointment Once the medical is complete you will go for your chest x-ray (if required) Processing times: if there are no apparent problems with your medical (501), chest x-ray (502) or bloods (if required) then your medical will take up to TEN working days to be submitted, via eMedical, to the Australian Government. If further information is required due to findings made during the exam, then you will be informed by your panel clinic of what will be required next and of the expected timeframe for submission. Please do not contact ShipMed with queries regarding submission if it is within 10 working days (two full weeks). Note: the nature of the IME medical is to assess your health in order to be assessed for a Visa by the Australian Government. It is not a “fit to fly/travel” medical. If an applicant is concerned about their fitness to fly then we strongly advise that you see your personal doctor for a “fit to fly” assessment.
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Will I need blood tests or a chest x-ray?This depends on the instructions you receive via your ImmiAccount and with you HAP number or travel agent. See the below steps you should follow to obtain a HAP number: Obtain a HAP number From your visa/travel agent, or Register for an “ImmiAccount” on https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/home and follow the instructions. Once you have your HAP number, you will receive a document stating what you are required to complete, for example: 501 = Medical Examination 502 = Chest X-Ray 507 = HIV Test There may be other tests on the list depending on the visa type (check your ImmiAccount or ask you travel agent).
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What do I need to bring fro my Australian IME appointment?All applicants must bring the following to your appointment at ShipMed: ORIGINAL Passport of each applicant. (No copies of any kind are accepted). HAP number of each applicant. No photos are required. All required paperwork will be provided at ShipMed. If blood tests are required (check ImmiAccount) they will be done at ShipMed. X-ray (502) requirements Check your ImmiAccount for if you need a 502 exam (chest x-ray) The X-ray must be done at Lake, Smit and Partners (Panel Radiologists) at Entabeni Hospital (Ground Floor) after your medical exam (501) is complete. ORGINAL passports for each applicant must be shown.
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How do I get to ShipMed?For Google Maps directions click here. From the North Coast: From N2 take Gateway exit onto M41, head towards M4. Take M4 until Bram Fisher Rd, then turn right (still M4). Carry on straight, merge onto N3. From N3, take Exit 3 (Berea Rd South). At robots, left onto Mazisi Kunene Rd. After Entabeni Hospital, take first right (into Glenwood Drive). Look for the Ear, Nose & Throat Centre (on the left). We are inside the ENT Centre! From the South Coast: From N2 take exit 165 (EB Cloete Interchange) onto N3, towards Durban. Take Exit 3 (Toll Gate Bridge) for Mazisi Kunene Rd. At robots, turn right to go over the bridge. Carry on up the hill. After Entabeni Hospital, take first right (into Glenwood Drive). Look for the Ear, Nose & Throat Centre (on the left). We are inside the ENT Centre!
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How much will my Australian medical cost?Each visa requires various and different investigations and so the pricing varies: (Please check ImmiAccount for what you need) Prices per person: 501 (Medical Examination) R1650 502 (Chest X-ray) +/- R1700 707 (Blood test -HIV) R250 Tuberculin Skin Test R250 Hepatitis B Blood Test R250 Hepatitis C Blood Test R250 Pricing is per 2023 Payment Options Credit Card EFT (Proof of Payment must be provided at the appointment) Cash Note: We do not deal with medical aid under any circumstances.
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How long will my medical take on the day?Duration of Medical When you get to ShipMed on the day of your Australian IME each applicant will be required to: Fill in multiple forms (only available at the Panel Clinic) Have a photo taken Pass a urine sample (ages five years and upwards) Be checked by a nurse (height, weight, eyesight, urine check) Be examined by the Panel Physician (review of medical history, systemic examination) It will take approximately 30 – 45 minutes per applicant (e.g. Family of four will take approximately three hours) At Lake, Smit & Partners (Panel Radiologist) If you require a 502 (chest x-ray) this will be done at the Lake, Smit & Partners, Entabeni Branch. Please call Lake, Smit & Partners for any questions related to the 502 (chest x-ray) procedure. You can find the contact details of Lake, Smit & Partners, Entabeni branch here
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Do I need to fast or specially prepare for my medical?Preparation for the Medical No fasting or special dieting is required before the IME. Clothing – shorts and a T-shirt are preferable. You will be required to remove clothing that cannot be easily manipulated to reveal most of your body (a gown is provided in this instance). Specialist Reports – your Panel Physician will advise you at the appointment if any further specialist reports are required. Menstruation – as there is a mandatory urine test for all applicants, we suggest that you wait until seven days after your period ends to have your appointment.
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What will the Panel Physician check during my exam?The Panel Physician will conduct the following on each applicant: Personal Medical History - this is an in-depth enquiry into the applicant's medical, surgical and psychiatric history. Important aspects of this will be recorded on your IME profile on eMedical. Review of Specialist Reports - the Panel Physician will review any specialist medical reports that you might have brought along. If needed, the Panel Physican will request a recent medical report describing a specific problem that you might or might have had. Physical Exam - each body system will be examined. Genitalia - genitalia will be examined. Breast Exam - applicants with a significant personal or family history of breast cancer will require a breast exam (for example, if the applicant's mother, daughter or sister had breast cancer). This will be done by the Panel Physician with a female chaperone present in the case of a male Pannel Physican. An applicant may decline the breast exam at the Panel Clinic, but then a mamogram report, not older than three months must be provided.
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How will the Australian authorities get my medical?The Panal Physican makes use of an online platfrom (eMedical) to capture the various elements of your IME (medical, chest xray, blood results) which is then submitted directly to a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (an Australian medical official) who will review your medical and make a final decsion. You can keep track of the progress of your medical via your ImmiAccount or via your travel agent.
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How long will it take the Panel Physician to submit my medical?At ShipMed, the turnaround time for your medical to be finalized and submitted is between 3 and 14 days depending on: What results are outstanding (xray and blood work). Application load at the time of your visit. If it has been less than 14 days since your appointment, please do not call in to enquire about your medical - rest assured we are working to submit it as soon as possible. You can keep track of the progress of your medical via your ImmiAccount or via your travel agent.
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Does the IME tell me if I am fit to travel?The IME is a medical related to your visa application and is not a test of fitness to travel or fly in an airplane overseas. If you have any concerns or questions about your fitness to travel, please consult your personal doctor before you travel.
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I'm pregnant, should I do the chest xray?"You must inform the Panel Physician and the Panel Radiologist of your pregnancy. There are risks involved in exposing your fetus to the radiation of any xray. Please call Lake, Smit and Partners, ahead of your medical appointment, to discuss the risks involved so that you can make an infromed decision. If you choose not to do your chest xray, your medical will be put on hold until you commplete the chest xray after you have given birth.
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