The dreaded sputum test at St. Lukes

[andresbonifacio 7]

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!

Thank you Treyu. Yes, I wished I would have known this too, I would have asked my mom to go to her medical exam last March. Oh well, there's nothing we can do now but wait.

When my mom texted me as soon as she was told about the result of her x-ray, I went online and read about this sputum test at St. Luke's and found a lot of similar stories from other people.

There are those who we were so mad that they even wrote their congressmen and senators at Capitol Hill to tell the US Embassy in Manila about these "atrocities" being done by that clinic.

And do you know that if they find someone positive then they'll require that person to go EVERYDAY to their clinic and take their medication in front of them. An intending immigrant who lives in a province far from Manila complained about this and all St. Luke's said was: "Well, there's nothing we can do about that, that's the policy, you have to move in Manila temporarily for your treatment".

Those people who can afford the best and expensive hospitals had a second opinion and the doctors said they are clean and very healthy, but of course St. Luke's clinic wouldn't budge and when they asked for their x-ray the clinic wouldn't release it to them.

Edited May 21, 2010 by andresbonifacio

[kulayblue 1]

Hi guys! Sorry if I didn't give an update sooner but my mom's 3-day sputum collection was negative. She's now just waiting for the result of the culture and I'm really praying that it'll be negative as well. St. Luke's told her to call them for the results on July 5th so I will give you an update then.

[andresbonifacio 7]

Hi guys! Sorry if I didn't give an update sooner but my mom's 3-day sputum collection was negative. She's now just waiting for the result of the culture and I'm really praying that it'll be negative as well. St. Luke's told her to call them for the results on July 5th so I will give you an update then.

same with my mom, she had the 3 day sputum test last week and all three were negative. she has to wait until july 26 though.

[Treyu 0]

My mom is supposed to call on July 5th, and she did, but guess what? No results yet. She called on the 6th and on the 7th, but still no result. She went to St. Luke's on the 7th and asked why her result is not in yet and she was told that they do not know. Hah! They took her culture and they do not know? She was told to call back again today and I am praying hard everything will be alright. I don't want her to go through the 6-month nightmare in Manila.

[Treyu 0]

I have good news! Mom passed her medical! Yeheyyyyyyyyy! She will come back on Monday to do her vaccinations and to get her interview schedule. I wonder when they will schedule the interview? I hope the same week. I thank God for His infinite mercy and love! He has answered our prayers!

I am waiting for AndresBonifacio and KulayBlue to report on their mothers' culture result.

[wworld808 1]

I have good news! Mom passed her medical! Yeheyyyyyyyyy! She will come back on Monday to do her vaccinations and to get her interview schedule. I wonder when they will schedule the interview? I hope the same week. I thank God for His infinite mercy and love! He has answered our prayers!

I am waiting for AndresBonifacio and KulayBlue to report on their mothers' culture result.

Congratulations!!! atleast no more nightmare at St. Lukes. Goodluck on your mom's interview.

[Treyu 0]

Thank you, WWorld808!

For those who are still waiting for their sputum culture result, or those who are just about to take the dreaded sputum test, as Kulayblue termed it, I believe that what the others who have undergone the same test as my mom said: If you are contacted by St. Luke's before the date the clinic told you to call, then most likely your culture result is positive. It is better if you come out positive that you know far ahead than the end of the 8 moth period and begin medication right away. There are those who have to wait the whole 8 weeks only to be told at the end that their result came out positive and that they have to start medication after two months of waiting!

For Kulayblue and Andresbonifacio, if your mom has not received a call yet, more likely than not, it is good news! Hope to hear from both of you soon!

Good luck to all who are waiting for the result! My prayers are with you. Take heart in the CDC data, an overwhelming majority of those who were required by St. Luke's clinic to undergo the sputum test and culture came out negative.

[andresbonifacio 7]

wow Congrats Treyu! thats good news!

I still have to wait 2 more weeks for my mom's result.

No calls from St. Luke's yet and some people here said that St. Luke's usually call after a month if its positive and its been 6 weeks now for my mom.

Please post here when you get your mom's new appointment date, I'm curious to how soon they can give interview dates for those that have to undergo the sputum test.

I badly need my mom here now, her granddaughter is growing up fast.

[Treyu 0]

AB, mom just texted me early this morning. She is set for interview on July 15, 2010. She went back to St. Luke on July 12 to get her vaccinations and interview schedule. Based on mom's timeline, St. Luke scheduled her interview 3 days after her vaccination. Hope this helps.

I wonder how many days it will take for my mom to receive her visa if she requests the CO to pick it up at the embassy? I need to confirm my reservation for her ticket. If anyone has any idea, I will really appreciate it.

Thanks to all VJ'ers for bering with me on this journey and for giving me valuable guides and most importantly, moral support.

Good luck to all who are still in the process. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. Prayers will be our wings to get us through the very end, and beyond!

[andresbonifacio 7]

Thanks for the info Treyu.

At least now I know that my mom wont wait that long for her interview after the vaccination.

[kulayblue 1]

Hi guys! Sorry again for posting this so late. I have been sick and haven't been able to go online. Anyways, my mom's test was negative as well. They told her to call back on July 5th and they had the result when she called that day. Then they asked her to come in the next day, July 6th for their vaccination. Her and my dad's interview was scheduled yesterday and I think it went well. However, my dad got into an accident a long time ago (in 1976) which he had to go to court for, so NBI has a record of it. He has papers proving that the case was dismissed and brought it to the interview though. I guess the consul wanted to verify it first and they were told that the embassy will have to call the NBI first. They were also told that their passports (I guess with their visas - hopefully) will be delivered to them in 10 business days. I'm crossing my fingers that this is it!!!!

Edited July 13, 2010 by kulayblue

[Treyu 0]

Kulayblue, congrats to you too! Mom passed her interview yesterday, July 15, (Praise be to our kind and very generous God) but was told she could not pick up her visa because she has no actual ticket that will show her travel on the 20th. If only I've known...oh well, all's well that ends well. I am still blessed to finally know that my mom will soon be here.

For all those who are yet to be interviewed, here are the 3 very simple questions asked of my mom:

When is your birthday?

Who is your petitioner?

What does your petitioner do?

At Air21, she was also told that her visa will be delivered in 7-10 working days as she lives in the province. I am not sure though whether this means 7-10 working days from the day she had the interview or from the time Air21 actually receives the visa from the embassy for delivery. Kulayblue, I would really appreciate it very much if you could post here as soon as your parents received their visas. Thanks a million!

[kulayblue 1]

Kulayblue, congrats to you too! Mom passed her interview yesterday, July 15, (Praise be to our kind and very generous God) but was told she could not pick up her visa because she has no actual ticket that will show her travel on the 20th. If only I've known...oh well, all's well that ends well. I am still blessed to finally know that my mom will soon be here.

For all those who are yet to be interviewed, here are the 3 very simple questions asked of my mom:

When is your birthday?

Who is your petitioner?

What does your petitioner do?

At Air21, she was also told that her visa will be delivered in 7-10 working days as she lives in the province. I am not sure though whether this means 7-10 working days from the day she had the interview or from the time Air21 actually receives the visa from the embassy for delivery. Kulayblue, I would really appreciate it very much if you could post here as soon as your parents received their visas. Thanks a million!

Treyu,

I will post as soon as my parents receive their visas. By the way, they live in Cavite so it's not too far from Manila, if that matters.

Edited July 15, 2010 by kulayblue

[kulayblue 1]

Kulayblue, congrats to you too! Mom passed her interview yesterday, July 15, (Praise be to our kind and very generous God) but was told she could not pick up her visa because she has no actual ticket that will show her travel on the 20th. If only I've known...oh well, all's well that ends well. I am still blessed to finally know that my mom will soon be here.

Treyu, Did your mom receive her visa yet? My parents are still waiting. Where does your mom live? My parents are in Cavite.

[Treyu 0]

Kulayblue,

My mom received her visa in 4 business days (Saturday and Sunday not included) since the interview. She was interviewed on the 15th of July, and she received it 4 working days after, July 21. It also helps that I hounded Air21 with emails and they even referred my emails to the branch in the US embassy. Anything to speed things up for my mom. You can track the visa online, just go to AIR21.com and enter your tracking number on the space provided and hit the TRACK button.

You can also receive text messages for the update, just text AIR21TRACK space(tracking number) and send to 2948.

Hope this helps. Mom is coming next week! Got her ticket from Mango Tours, a little bit pricey due to the limited time but for those who wish to have a cheaper PAL ticket, just call or visit mango tours and if you hurry, you can get a PAL ticket from August 20 onwards one-way first time immigrant discount for only $675! I got mine for more than a thousand. Oh well!