Passport privilege
While applying for this visa stuff, I'm seeing passport privilege in real time.
I'm handling the paperwork and looking at the Resident Visa Health Check that I need to do. The tests include Tuberculosis, Syphilis, Measles & Rubella, Hansen's disease and Parasites.
I only have to do the Tuberculosis, Syphilis, and Measles/Rubella tests. I was vaccinated throughout my life so the Measles and Rubella is a breeze, and the other tests are easy. My only complaint is that they are expensive. Syphilis blood test is $40 and the TB X-ray is probably going to be over $100 with insurance. I haven't been billed yet.
For the Parasites, they want a stool test. Which if you don't know, means you poop in a cup. I am so grateful that I don't need to do that. I was thanking my mom the other day for deciding to relocate here. She loves her culture but hates her motherland, and no longer calls it home. Some people underestimate that the US is a decent country for many when it comes to accessibility to basic health systems, like important vaccines, which are about $2-$15 in my state. Although we were dirt poor back when i was a kid and I'm pretty sure we got free measles and rubella vaccines. Thanks Obama, or whomever.
Outside of vaccine healthcare you gotta cough up that money tho. In Taiwan the full body health check is apparently only $50USD.