CHEST X-RAYS FOR HOME AFFAIRS FOR IMMIGRATION PURPOSES

CHEST X-RAYS FOR HOME AFFAIRS FOR IMMIGRATION PURPOSES
A radiological report of the chest is required in respect of every prospective immigrant 12 years of age and over. 

Contact seethroughradiology@gmail.com 

We provide an x-ray film, a signed immigration form and an x-ray report.

Department of Home Affairs

In South Africa

The Department of Home Affairs requires all persons to submit a Medical and Radiology report with their visa applications.

Applicants can download the radiological report BI-806 and the medical report here

The purpose of the medical and radiological forms is to confirm that the applicant is of sound health and will not pose a risk to South Africa.

What do I need to do with these forms?

Medical Report:

You are required to obtain a medical report from your general medical practitioner relating to your general health. They will detail any physical and mental condition that you may be suffering from.

Radiological Report:

You are required to obtain a report from a radiologist confirming that you have been examined (X-ray) and have no signs of pulmonary tuberculosis. Your radiology form needs to be completed at your local hospital at the X-ray department.

Do all visas require a Medical and Radiology Report?

No. Only the below visas require Medical Reports in South Africa:

• Work Visas
• Family Visas
• Long Stay Temporary Visas
• Business Visa
• Permanent Residency

Please note: Even though you do not need the forms for the initial Short-Term Work Visa when you renew your visa in South Africa, you are required to submit a medical and radiological report.

What are the costs involved?

A general practitioner would charge you a normal consultation fee and you need to pay the prescribed fee to complete your chest X-ray at your local hospital. Check with your medical aid, as they may cover this cost depending on your medical plan.

How long is the Medical and Radiology report valid for?

Medical and Radiology reports will only remain valid for six months and the Department of Home Affairs will not accept if it’s older than six months.

Remember:

• To avoid disappointment, it is always best to obtain these reports closer to the time of submission
• Both reports must be no older than six months
• Pregnant women and children under twelve years of age are exempt from having to provide a Radiology Report but will be required to provide a Medical Report

CHEST X-RAYS FOR HOME AFFAIRS FOR IMMIGRATION PURPOSES

You are provided with an x-ray report, a signed immigration form and an x-ray film.

• WE CHARGE MEDICAL AID RATES FOR MOST PROCEDURES
• We only charge the specified medical aid rate for most examinations as determined by your particular medical scheme.
• 
  Whilst the account remains your responsibility to settle, we will submit your accounts on your behalf to your medical aid scheme if it is in good standing.

WHEN MAKING YOUR APPOINTMENT: 
If you are a member of a medical scheme, please provide proof of your current medical scheme membership when making your appointment.
We advise you to review your medical aid plan details to confirm whether a co-payment would apply for your procedure or would be covered from your medical savings account (where applicable).  In certain circumstances, a co-payment may be required and/or your benefits may be depleted. To the extent that this information is known at the time of service, immediate settlement of the shortfall will be required.

PRE-AUTHORISATION:
Certain procedures, particularly CT and MRI, require pre-authorisation. Our authorisation department will liaise with the medical scheme on your behalf prior to your procedure. Pre-authorisation is, however, not a guarantee of payment and does not absolve you from the responsibility of settling our account.

PRIVATE-PAYING PATIENTS
Our account will be billed at our standard private rate.

A reduced preferential rate will apply if the account is settled in full:

• On the same day as the imaging procedure, or you are admitted to hospital at the time of your imaging procedure, on the same day you are discharged from the hospital.

All non-SA residents will be required to settle their radiology account in full on the day of examination, or discharge from the hospital if admitted as an in-patient at the time of the examination.

All SA residents who have contracts with insurance companies or international medical aid schemes are required to settle their accounts with us on the day of examination or discharge from the hospital, if admitted as an in-patient at the time of the examination.

WHAT IS AN X-RAY

X-ray or radiography uses a very small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the body’s internal structures.

X-rays are the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging.

They are often used to help diagnose fractured bones, or look for injury or infection.
Some X-ray exams may use an iodine-based contrast material or barium to help improve the visibility of specific organs, blood vessels, tissues or bone.

A chest x-ray may assist in the diagnosis of thoracic disease.

What to expect

If you have been referred to us by your physician to go for an X-ray you do not have to book an appointment. 

Note that emergency cases will always be prioritised.

On the day of your exam (depending on the area of study), you might be asked to wear a gown.

Before your procedure starts, the radiographer will position you on the X-ray table to best display the area of study. You may be asked to wear a lead shield to help protect certain parts of your body.

Once you are in position the radiographer will manoeuvre the X-ray machine into the desired position and then walk behind a wall or into the adjacent room to activate the X-ray machine.

You must try to hold very still, and may be asked to keep from breathing for a few seconds while the X-ray picture is taken, to ensure the quality of the image.

X-ray examinations are painless.
If you are injured: In some cases, you may experience discomfort due to the positioning requested by the radiographer or from your injury.

During the exam, you might be repositioned a few times should images be required from a different angle.

When the examination is complete, you may be asked to wait until the radiologist determines that all the necessary images have been obtained. The exam time is generally dependant on the area of study and the number of images required.

The average time for procedure: 10 – 25 minutes
The average time is dependent on the area and the complexity of your procedure and the number of images required.

Before the x-ray

An X-ray requires little to no special preparation, please inform our staff however if:
• you suspect that you might be pregnant
• you have an intrauterine device (IUD) inserted for pregnancy prevention.

Depending on the area of study you may be asked to wear a gown before the exam.

You may also be asked to remove jewellery, removable dental appliances, eyeglasses and any metal objects or clothing that might interfere with the X-ray images.

Depending on the area of study, you may be asked to empty your bladder before the test.

After the X-ray
Digital images and reports will be available to your referring doctor once our expert radiologists have completed their analysis and reports.