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The dreaded sputum test at St. Lukes

#1 kulayblue

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Posted 29 April 2010 - 10:22 AM

My parents' interview is scheduled for May 6 but when they had their medical done, they saw something in my mom's x-ray and asked her to come back for 3 consecutive days (May 4-6). She was told that St. Luke's will reschedule their interview at the embassy. My question is how long of a delay is this going to be? If after those 3 days and the tests comes out negative, will they have to wait for a long time for interview? Has anyone been through the same situation? I
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I-130 (IR-5) FOR BOTH PARENTS
Consulate: Manila, Philippines

09/17/09 : Mailed I-130 (through USPS Express Mail)
09/29/09 : Received NOA1 (dated 9/24)
01/21/10 : Received NOA2 (Petition Approved!)

NVC
02/04/10 : Received DS-3032 Packet in the e-mail
02/04/10 : Paid $70 AOS Fee and e-mailed DS-3032
02/06/10 : Mailed DS-3032 (through USPS Priority Mail)
02/11/10 : Mailed I-864 (through USPS Priority Mail)
02/16/10 : IV Bill Status Paid
02/25/10 : Mailed DS-230 Packet (through USPS Priority Mail)
03/01/10 : NVC received DS-230 Packet
03/12/10 : CASE COMPLETED
03/25/10 : Interview letter received (May 6, 2010)
04/27/10 : Medical - need to do Sputum Test (2 month delay)
07/13/10 : Interview
08/01/10 : Visa Delivered

#2 wworld808

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Posted 29 April 2010 - 01:20 PM

Hi, I remembered my friend also had that situation she went to her medical exam then found out she had abnormality on her x-ray in which she was suprised coz she's not expecting it sinced it wasn't seen the last time she had an X-ray. Then she was ordered by sputum test for 3 days and you have to pay for it too. It came positive so she need to do it again for couple of days and gave her medicine too until it went clear. Her interviewed was scheduled April but due to that situation she got interviewed on June and she passed.
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I-130 Petition for alien relative (mom)
01/08/2010 - Mailed I-130 form via express mail
01/11/2010 - Received Application and signed by JPM
01/19/2010 - Received NOA1
03/10/2010 - Received approval notice via e-mail
03/15/2010 - Received NOA2 via mail

NVC
03/16/2010 - case no. assigned and registered both my mom and my e-mail addresses
03/18/2010 - Received DS-3032 form and AOS fee bill from NVC via e-mail
03/18/2010 - PAID AOS fee
03/20/2010 - e-mailed signed DS-3032 to NVC
03/23/2010 - Mailed I-864 packet via USPS
03/25/2010 - NVC received DS 3032 thru e-mail
03/26/2010 - NVC received I-864 packet
03/31/2010 - PAID IV Bill online
04/10/2010 - Received RFE, missing DS-230 and entire documents..... still waiting for my mom to send me her stuff. omg!
04/22/2010 - Mailed DS 230 packet via USPS Priority Mail.... huh! finally I received my mom's docs.
04/26/2010 - NVC received DS 230 packet
05/07/2010 - Sign-in FAILED....great!
05/10/2010 - Talked to the NVC operator and said "CASE COMPLETED" on 05/10/2010
05/13/2010 - Received Interview Appt. on 06/02/2010 via e-mail
05/17/2010 - Medical Exam
06/02/2010 - Interview Appointment PASSED
06/23/2010 - Returned her passport to Singapore Embassy for issuance of visa
06/30/2010 - Visa Received... Yehey!!
09/16/2010 - Arrived in Hawaii
10/02/2010 - Received Welcome Notice
10/12/2010 - Applied for SS #
10/13/2010 - Received 10 years permanent card
10/18/2010 - Received ss card

#3 Scott and Mhay

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Posted 29 April 2010 - 05:10 PM

If she goes through the sputnum...which I think this is what they are doing...there is a 2 month wait for the culture to grow.
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29 March 2012 Received everything back...wrong fee. thought we didn't have to pay biometrics since we were sending fingerprint cards and passport photos.
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17 April 2012 Received NOA1 dated 6 April.
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#4 kulayblue

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Posted 29 April 2010 - 06:39 PM

If she goes through the sputnum...which I think this is what they are doing...there is a 2 month wait for the culture to grow.

Thanks! So that means they won't find out whether it's positive or negative until after two months?
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I-130 (IR-5) FOR BOTH PARENTS
Consulate: Manila, Philippines

09/17/09 : Mailed I-130 (through USPS Express Mail)
09/29/09 : Received NOA1 (dated 9/24)
01/21/10 : Received NOA2 (Petition Approved!)

NVC
02/04/10 : Received DS-3032 Packet in the e-mail
02/04/10 : Paid $70 AOS Fee and e-mailed DS-3032
02/06/10 : Mailed DS-3032 (through USPS Priority Mail)
02/11/10 : Mailed I-864 (through USPS Priority Mail)
02/16/10 : IV Bill Status Paid
02/25/10 : Mailed DS-230 Packet (through USPS Priority Mail)
03/01/10 : NVC received DS-230 Packet
03/12/10 : CASE COMPLETED
03/25/10 : Interview letter received (May 6, 2010)
04/27/10 : Medical - need to do Sputum Test (2 month delay)
07/13/10 : Interview
08/01/10 : Visa Delivered

#5 Treyu

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Posted 30 April 2010 - 10:05 AM

My mom has the same experience and it is really very devastating for her and for all of us who have been waiting for so long to see her here in the US! I just wish that the sputum tests come out negative and that she does not have to wait for the culture test anymore so she can go to her interview on the 13th without being delayed. I guess this post is like my prayer. I am praying really hard for her to get through this the quickest possible way. Kulayblue, she is also scheduled to do the three day sputum tests on May 4,5, and 6. They will know whether she gets a negative or positive sputum test on the third day, May 6. I just hope there is another way out of the 2-month long delay.

Wishing both our moms the best, negative sputum tests, and no two-month long delay for the sputum culture. It would be a nice Mother's Day gift for both of them.
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11/17/2009 - I-130 for mom sent via Express mail
11/18/2009 - USCIS received petition
11/24/2009 - Check cashed
11/24/2009 - USCIS NOA notice date
11/30/2009 - Received 1st NOA (Thanksgiving delay)
02/17/2010 - Received 2nd NOA
02/23/2010 - AOS and IV Fee Bills Received
03/01/2010 - Paid AOS and IV Fees
03/09/2010 - AOS and IV Fees Showed as PAID (delay = system was down)
03/10/2010 - Sent IV and AOS package to NVC (I have a representative)
03/12/2010 - Package received by NVC
03/17/2010 - Package registered in the System
.......................waiting for interview schedule, sent mom a copy of the AOS and IV package
3/25/2010 - Case completed at NVC. Waiting for email notification for interview date.
4/13/2010 - Interview date set for May 13, 2010
7/12/2010 - Medical passed
7/15/2010 - Interview Schedule
7/21/2010 - Visa received from Air21 (Visayas)
8/02/2010 - US entry at POE

#6 kulayblue

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Posted 05 May 2010 - 10:17 AM

My mom has the same experience and it is really very devastating for her and for all of us who have been waiting for so long to see her here in the US! I just wish that the sputum tests come out negative and that she does not have to wait for the culture test anymore so she can go to her interview on the 13th without being delayed. I guess this post is like my prayer. I am praying really hard for her to get through this the quickest possible way. Kulayblue, she is also scheduled to do the three day sputum tests on May 4,5, and 6. They will know whether she gets a negative or positive sputum test on the third day, May 6. I just hope there is another way out of the 2-month long delay.

Wishing both our moms the best, negative sputum tests, and no two-month long delay for the sputum culture. It would be a nice Mother's Day gift for both of them.

Treyu, let's pray for the best! My mom told me that she was talking to someone there and that the person's 3-day sputum test was negative but after two months, the culture came back positive so she had another 6 month delay for the treatment. I really hope that our moms won't have to go through that.
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I-130 (IR-5) FOR BOTH PARENTS
Consulate: Manila, Philippines

09/17/09 : Mailed I-130 (through USPS Express Mail)
09/29/09 : Received NOA1 (dated 9/24)
01/21/10 : Received NOA2 (Petition Approved!)

NVC
02/04/10 : Received DS-3032 Packet in the e-mail
02/04/10 : Paid $70 AOS Fee and e-mailed DS-3032
02/06/10 : Mailed DS-3032 (through USPS Priority Mail)
02/11/10 : Mailed I-864 (through USPS Priority Mail)
02/16/10 : IV Bill Status Paid
02/25/10 : Mailed DS-230 Packet (through USPS Priority Mail)
03/01/10 : NVC received DS-230 Packet
03/12/10 : CASE COMPLETED
03/25/10 : Interview letter received (May 6, 2010)
04/27/10 : Medical - need to do Sputum Test (2 month delay)
07/13/10 : Interview
08/01/10 : Visa Delivered

#7 sachinky

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Posted 05 May 2010 - 11:10 PM

Good luck to both of you. I hope everything works out.

Keep us posted.
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03/27/2009: Engaged in Ithaca, New York.
08/17/2009: Wedding in Calcutta, India.
09/29/2009: I-130 NOA1
01/25/2010: I-130 NOA2
03/23/2010: Case completed.
04/09/2010: Medical completed.
05/12/2010: CR-1 interview at Mumbai, India.
05/14/2010: Passport delivered via courier.
05/20/2010: US Entry, Chicago.
03/01/2012: ROC NOA1.
03/26/2012: Biometrics completed..
12/07/2012: 10 year card production ordered.

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#8 kulayblue

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Posted 06 May 2010 - 12:07 PM

Good luck to both of you. I hope everything works out.

Keep us posted.

Thanks sachinky! I will post more info as soon as I hear back from my mom tomorrow
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I-130 (IR-5) FOR BOTH PARENTS
Consulate: Manila, Philippines

09/17/09 : Mailed I-130 (through USPS Express Mail)
09/29/09 : Received NOA1 (dated 9/24)
01/21/10 : Received NOA2 (Petition Approved!)

NVC
02/04/10 : Received DS-3032 Packet in the e-mail
02/04/10 : Paid $70 AOS Fee and e-mailed DS-3032
02/06/10 : Mailed DS-3032 (through USPS Priority Mail)
02/11/10 : Mailed I-864 (through USPS Priority Mail)
02/16/10 : IV Bill Status Paid
02/25/10 : Mailed DS-230 Packet (through USPS Priority Mail)
03/01/10 : NVC received DS-230 Packet
03/12/10 : CASE COMPLETED
03/25/10 : Interview letter received (May 6, 2010)
04/27/10 : Medical - need to do Sputum Test (2 month delay)
07/13/10 : Interview
08/01/10 : Visa Delivered

#9 sachinky

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Posted 14 May 2010 - 05:14 AM

Hey, any updates, guys?
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03/27/2009: Engaged in Ithaca, New York.
08/17/2009: Wedding in Calcutta, India.
09/29/2009: I-130 NOA1
01/25/2010: I-130 NOA2
03/23/2010: Case completed.
04/09/2010: Medical completed.
05/12/2010: CR-1 interview at Mumbai, India.
05/14/2010: Passport delivered via courier.
05/20/2010: US Entry, Chicago.
03/01/2012: ROC NOA1.
03/26/2012: Biometrics completed..
12/07/2012: 10 year card production ordered.

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#10 andresbonifacio

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Posted 18 May 2010 - 11:26 PM

they required my mom to take the sputum test too :angry:

this is stupid, how come they only to these tests for immigrants and not those who apply for visitor's visa?
even if you're just visiting you can still infect other people if you've got HIV,TB,etc. right?

Edited by andresbonifacio, 18 May 2010 - 11:30 PM.

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11/05/09 - Sent I-130 for mother via snail mail
11/13/09 - Received NOA1
03/05/10 - Received NOA2
03/11/10 - Case entered into NVC system, MNL case # assigned
03/18/10 - Sent DS3032 via E-mail
03/24/10 - DS3032 entered into NVC system
03/25/10 - Received IV Fee bill by E-mail, PAID both IV and AOS Fees on-line
03/26/10 - AOS Bill showed as PAID (still waiting for 2009 Tax Transcript from IRS)
03/29/10 - IV Bill showed as PAID (still waiting for mother's documents from the Philippines)
04/09/10 - Sent AOS Package by snail mail
04/12/10 - NVC received AOS package
04/19/10 - Sent IV Package by snail mail
04/21/10 - NVC received IV package
04/28/10 - AOS accepted (received checklist re:IV package even if NVC received it already)
05/03/10 - Sign In FAILED!!!!!!!!!!!
05/05/10 - AVR message: "CASE COMPLETED ON 05/04/10"
05/12/10 - Received interview letter via e-mail
05/17-18/10 - Medical Exam
06/16/10 - Interview Appointment @ the Embassy (Canceled because of sputum and culture test, 2 months waiting)
08/05/10 - New Interview Appointment
08/07/10 - Visa delivered 2 days after interview
08/27/10 - LAX P.O.E.

#11 friendsforever

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Posted 19 May 2010 - 06:15 PM

they required my mom to take the sputum test too :angry:

this is stupid, how come they only to these tests for immigrants and not those who apply for visitor's visa?
even if you're just visiting you can still infect other people if you've got HIV,TB,etc. right?


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#12 beback

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Posted 19 May 2010 - 06:31 PM

Goodluck to all of you! I hope everything is ok, any updates? I just sent my mom's petition im a little bit worry too. I guess i will ask my mom to go to the doctor and get x ray done or sputum test before she goes to her medical, maybe it will help.
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#13 andresbonifacio

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Posted 19 May 2010 - 07:47 PM

Goodluck to all of you! I hope everything is ok, any updates? I just sent my mom's petition im a little bit worry too. I guess i will ask my mom to go to the doctor and get x ray done or sputum test before she goes to her medical, maybe it will help.

the best thing your mom can do is go to her medical exam at St.Luke's as soon as you get her MNL case number so that there's more than enough time for the 2 month sputum culture (just in case they find some scar on her x-ray too) before her scheduled interview at the embassy.
now my mom's interview will be moved to end of July instead of June 16. :angry:
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11/05/09 - Sent I-130 for mother via snail mail
11/13/09 - Received NOA1
03/05/10 - Received NOA2
03/11/10 - Case entered into NVC system, MNL case # assigned
03/18/10 - Sent DS3032 via E-mail
03/24/10 - DS3032 entered into NVC system
03/25/10 - Received IV Fee bill by E-mail, PAID both IV and AOS Fees on-line
03/26/10 - AOS Bill showed as PAID (still waiting for 2009 Tax Transcript from IRS)
03/29/10 - IV Bill showed as PAID (still waiting for mother's documents from the Philippines)
04/09/10 - Sent AOS Package by snail mail
04/12/10 - NVC received AOS package
04/19/10 - Sent IV Package by snail mail
04/21/10 - NVC received IV package
04/28/10 - AOS accepted (received checklist re:IV package even if NVC received it already)
05/03/10 - Sign In FAILED!!!!!!!!!!!
05/05/10 - AVR message: "CASE COMPLETED ON 05/04/10"
05/12/10 - Received interview letter via e-mail
05/17-18/10 - Medical Exam
06/16/10 - Interview Appointment @ the Embassy (Canceled because of sputum and culture test, 2 months waiting)
08/05/10 - New Interview Appointment
08/07/10 - Visa delivered 2 days after interview
08/27/10 - LAX P.O.E.

#14 Treyu

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Posted 21 May 2010 - 11:05 AM

Treyu, let's pray for the best! My mom told me that she was talking to someone there and that the person's 3-day sputum test was negative but after two months, the culture came back positive so she had another 6 month delay for the treatment. I really hope that our moms won't have to go through that.



Kulayblue, I doubt it very much. Both our moms do not have spots or scars on their xrays, right? what they have are just a little blurring on the results. Do people have blurred lungs, really? Why don't they just repeat the xray if it is blurred? Blurring is not caused by tb virus, or is it? Frankly speaking, I am just angry right now. They destroyed the reunion I had been planning. My mom said it was not the right time and that it is ok to wait. I am with her on that, but the fact that they suspected her of tb based on a blurred xray still leaves me fuming.
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11/17/2009 - I-130 for mom sent via Express mail
11/18/2009 - USCIS received petition
11/24/2009 - Check cashed
11/24/2009 - USCIS NOA notice date
11/30/2009 - Received 1st NOA (Thanksgiving delay)
02/17/2010 - Received 2nd NOA
02/23/2010 - AOS and IV Fee Bills Received
03/01/2010 - Paid AOS and IV Fees
03/09/2010 - AOS and IV Fees Showed as PAID (delay = system was down)
03/10/2010 - Sent IV and AOS package to NVC (I have a representative)
03/12/2010 - Package received by NVC
03/17/2010 - Package registered in the System
.......................waiting for interview schedule, sent mom a copy of the AOS and IV package
3/25/2010 - Case completed at NVC. Waiting for email notification for interview date.
4/13/2010 - Interview date set for May 13, 2010
7/12/2010 - Medical passed
7/15/2010 - Interview Schedule
7/21/2010 - Visa received from Air21 (Visayas)
8/02/2010 - US entry at POE

#15 Treyu

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Posted 21 May 2010 - 11:12 AM

the best thing your mom can do is go to her medical exam at St.Luke's as soon as you get her MNL case number so that there's more than enough time for the 2 month sputum culture (just in case they find some scar on her x-ray too) before her scheduled interview at the embassy.
now my mom's interview will be moved to end of July instead of June 16. Posted Image



AB, your baby is so cute! I am with you on this. I just wished that I have known this before so I could have advised mom to go to her medical as soon as we received the case number way back in March. She would have been here by now. No use crying over spilled milk, anyhow, but just can't help wishing anyway.

I have some friends who went to St. Luke's yesterday with just their case number and approval notice, but guess what, the guard asked for an interview letter from them and did not let them in until they talked to their lawyer in the US and the lawyer told them to insist on being admitted because they already have a case number. After a few minutes, they were admitted but not before they have been told to stand aside and were subjected to embarrassment! What's up with St. Luke? Why do they accept some, and reject others? I guess it depends on the guard on duty. So now if you want to have an advance medical with just your mnl number and approval notice, you are at the mercy of the guard on duty, whether he will let you in or not.

This sure sucks!
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11/17/2009 - I-130 for mom sent via Express mail
11/18/2009 - USCIS received petition
11/24/2009 - Check cashed
11/24/2009 - USCIS NOA notice date
11/30/2009 - Received 1st NOA (Thanksgiving delay)
02/17/2010 - Received 2nd NOA
02/23/2010 - AOS and IV Fee Bills Received
03/01/2010 - Paid AOS and IV Fees
03/09/2010 - AOS and IV Fees Showed as PAID (delay = system was down)
03/10/2010 - Sent IV and AOS package to NVC (I have a representative)
03/12/2010 - Package received by NVC
03/17/2010 - Package registered in the System
.......................waiting for interview schedule, sent mom a copy of the AOS and IV package
3/25/2010 - Case completed at NVC. Waiting for email notification for interview date.
4/13/2010 - Interview date set for May 13, 2010
7/12/2010 - Medical passed
7/15/2010 - Interview Schedule
7/21/2010 - Visa received from Air21 (Visayas)
8/02/2010 - US entry at POE
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