St. Luke's Caveats

[Mike V 56]

My finance and 3 children completed day 1 at St. Lukes yesterday (Wednesday)   After she had spent all day Tuesday at Cebu CFO, then flying to Manila and started the physicals at St.Lukes on 3 hours' sleep with a couple missed meals, she was perhaps not alert as she should have been but ...

 

1.  Don't left St. Lukes know when you are really leaving Manila.  We had planned to do their physical exams this week (Wed-Fri) and do the embassy interview next week (Mon-Tue).  When St. Lukes learned that she was leaving next Wednesday, they insisted on scheduling a test for Wednesday of next week at 6 a.m.  This means no embassy interview, and thus far they seem completely insensitive to our need to do the embassy interview next week.  Getting everyone together in Manila costs me $3000-3500 per visit.  This is a very expensive annoyance.

 

 

2.  There apparently is some new test mandated by the U.S. that takes two months for the results to be return.  She was too tired to get the details, will ask again today, but these are from our Skype chats on Wednesday:

 

Quote

 

Love at first step in st.luke i fill up ,the eoman told me that im not sure i can go interview on monday or tuesday because theres a new examin indorse buy u,s two months result we are 8 applicant

 

they said its a new category examin send by u,s,a ...  im thinking your country so strict  ...  cos they said that is the new requirement in u,s,a

 

Ok,im pity to the woman with her husband and daughter,cos they have already ticket going to floreda,then they cannot go

 

 

If there is now a commonly required test that takes 2 months for results (and I can't imagine what that would be), it's at variance with the embassy's instructions to visit st. lukes 5-7 days ahead.

 

 

3.  If the embassy sends you an email telling you that your interview is being expedited and you may show up at the embassy between 7:30 a.m. & 10 a.m. any Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs, well ...  St. Lukes doesn't appreciate that.  They want to have a real letter with a fixed interview date/time for St. Lukes petty bureaucrat to stamp.  This was the email:

 

Quote

 

Subject: (case status update) LASTNAME, Firstname Middlename and children MNLnnnnnnnnnn

 

We received the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)-approved visa petition (Form I-129F) filed on behalf of Firstname Lastname  from the State Department's National Visa Center (NVC) today, March 27, 2017.

The applicants may come to the Embassy's Immigrant Visa Special Services Window (Window 36) Mondays through Thursdays (excluding U.S. and Philippine holidays) between 7:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. for the visa interview. The applicants should present a copy of this email to facilitate entry into the Embassy.

K1 and K2 nonimmigrant visa applicants must pay the visa application fee of $265 (for each applicant) before the visa interview. For details regarding K visa payment instructions, the applicants may visit a link to our website at https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/.

The applicants should follow all interview preparation instructions located on the Embassy's website at https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/fiancee-visa/the-interview/
[1]. The instructions contained on the website will provide the applicants the required documentation and procedures to follow prior to the interview date.

Applicants are advised to have their medical examinations done at St.
Luke's Extension Clinic in Manila 5 to 7 working days before their visa interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy. Applicants are encouraged to register online at the St. Luke's website (www.slec.ph [2]) prior to their medical exam.

St. Luke's Extension Clinic is located at 1177 J. Bocobo Street, Ermita, Manila. The phone numbers are (632) 524-6082, (632) 521-0020, (632) 521-8647, and (632) 526-4327.

The applicants should compile all the required documents and complete the medical examination before the visa interview. Please note that the medical examination may take more than one day to complete.

To facilitate timely processing of visa applications, we recommend that each applicant register a delivery address online. To register online, the applicants should click on the "Select Document Delivery Address"
link under the Immigrant Visas section of our website (http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/).

Please note that the submission of a formal visa application and undergoing the visa interview does not guarantee visa issuance. The adjudicating consular officer will determine if additional information is necessary as the application is processed. Further, since many factors affect visa issuance, we are simply unable to predict if or when an applicant would qualify for a visa. We advise our clients not to finalize travel plans, dispose of their properties, or give up jobs until the visa is actually delivered to the applicant.

Correspondence Team/dsm |  Immigrant Visa Branch  |  Embassy of the United States of America  |  Manila, Philippines  | +(632) 301- 2000  | HTTPS://CEAC.STATE.GOV/CEAC/ [3]  (online case status)  | https://ph.usembassy.gov/

Find us online at blogs.usembassy.gov/Philippines [4]          [5]
[6]    [7]    [8]

OFFICIAL - PRIVACY/PII

UNCLASSIFIED

 

The sentences I bolded pretty clearly indicate that this email is for the purpose of expediting the processing and is  in lieu of any letter

 

That was day 1.  I should start hearing about day 2 in a few hours.  I'm due to join them over the weekend for the embassy interview that now likely won't happen.

 

 

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

Only test can think of that takes that long is if they had x-rays done and they saw something and need to do the culture test. That is not a new test but something that has to and has always been done for TB. And it is a lengthy testing. Whether they have a new requirement to do the TB testing regardless of the x-ray, hard ot say haven't heard that.

 

As to the Wed-Fri medical and Monday interview, I myself as well as on the CEAC site always state give 1-2 weeks between medical and interview so that St Lukes can finish everything and send the embassy all the paperwork.

 

Unclear myself on the embassy "expediting" interviews but that could be a special case thing....

Edited March 29, 2017 by Ben&Zian

[Sagot 1,548]

53 minutes ago, Mike V said:

My finance and 3 children completed day 1 at St. Lukes yesterday (Wednesday)   After she had spent all day Tuesday at Cebu CFO, then flying to Manila and started the physicals at St.Lukes on 3 hours' sleep with a couple missed meals, she was perhaps not alert as she should have been but ...

 

1.  Don't left St. Lukes know when you are really leaving Manila.  We had planned to do their physical exams this week (Wed-Fri) and do the embassy interview next week (Mon-Tue).  When St. Lukes learned that she was leaving next Wednesday, they insisted on scheduling a test for Wednesday of next week at 6 a.m.  This means no embassy interview, and thus far they seem completely insensitive to our need to do the embassy interview next week.  Getting everyone together in Manila costs me $3000-3500 per visit.  This is a very expensive annoyance.

 

 

2.  There apparently is some new test mandated by the U.S. that takes two months for the results to be return.  She was too tired to get the details, will ask again today, but these are from our Skype chats on Wednesday:

 

 

If there is now a commonly required test that takes 2 months for results (and I can't imagine what that would be), it's at variance with the embassy's instructions to visit st. lukes 5-7 days ahead.

 

 

3.  If the embassy sends you an email telling you that your interview is being expedited and you may show up at the embassy between 7:30 a.m. & 10 a.m. any Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs, well ...  St. Lukes doesn't appreciate that.  They want to have a real letter with a fixed interview date/time for St. Lukes petty bureaucrat to stamp.  This was the email:

 

The sentences I bolded pretty clearly indicate that this email is for the purpose of expediting the processing and is  in lieu of any letter

 

That was day 1.  I should start hearing about day 2 in a few hours.  I'm due to join them over the weekend for the embassy interview that now likely won't happen.

 

 

There is not a NEW test at SLEC.    Telling SLEC you plan to leave next week has nothing to do with them scheduling a test for next week where the results can take two months.  That is the SPUTUM for TB, apparently your fiancee's x-ray showed cause to do SPUTUM.  If there were 3 kids, are any of them of the age that the medical required 3 days?  Where their xrays/skin tests clear?   

 

DO TAKE NOTE OF THE VERY LAST PAGE OF THE EMBASSY INSTRUCTIONS LETTER.

 

Not sure what that expedite email is about.  Did you file for an expedite at some point?

 

Plus SLEC isn't going to expedite anything with regards to the medical.. especially if SPUTUM is involved, so that letter doesn't mean squat for St. Luke's, it only pertains to USEM... ONLY.

 

There is nothing in the embassy instructions letter about completing the medical (no earlier than) 5-7 days before interview day, that was removed a few years ago when applicants started carrying the medical file to the interview.

 

https://ph.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/82/2016/08/K1-and-K2-Applicant-Interview-Preparation-Instructions-08112016-English-336KB.pdf

 

There are many little pots holes to this process, being aware of them helps to be prepared.

 

http://visaconnection-philippines.com/index.php/2-visa-process/3-usem-k-1-visa

Edited March 29, 2017 by Sagot

[Mike V 56]

Found this earlier, could not get back in to post for a while:

 

That matches up pretty well with what she described.   It takes 2 months for the culture to grow before they have a result.

 

And from the Washington Post a year ago:  TB cases increase in U.S. for first time in 23 years

 

Quote

Health officials said progress toward eliminating TB in the United States will require a redoubling of domestic and global efforts — especially in China, India, Mexico the Phillipines and Vietnam, the  countries responsible for more than half of the foreign-born tuberculosis patients in the United States, the report shows.

I'm guessing that what is probably "new" is not the procedure but the frequency with which it will be required.

 

 

 

Edited March 29, 2017 by Mike V
more info

[Mike V 56]

1 hour ago, Sagot said:

...

 

Not sure what that expedite email is about.  Did you file for an expedite at some point?

 

...

 

There is nothing in the embassy instructions letter about completing the medical (no earlier than) 5-7 days before interview day, that was removed a few years ago when applicants started carrying the medical file to the interview.

 

Her oldest son who was to accompany her turns 21 on 12 April.  I've been in touch with embassy and they have been watching for her file for the last week.  The email came directly from the Immigrant Visa section of the Manila embassy.  This paragraph clearly indicates that we can proceed using a print of the email as an authorization:

 

Quote

The applicants may come to the Embassy's Immigrant Visa Special Services Window (Window 36) Mondays through Thursdays (excluding U.S. and Philippine holidays) between 7:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. for the visa interview. The applicants should present a copy of this email to facilitate entry into the Embassy.

 

And this paragraph, send by them in the same email on Monday, March 27, clearly reiterates the 5-7 days verbiage, so it has not, as you claim, been "removed":

 

Quote

Applicants are advised to have their medical examinations done at St. Luke's Extension Clinic in Manila 5 to 7 working days before their visa interview appointment ...

 

[Sagot 1,548]

37 minutes ago, Mike V said:

 

Her oldest son who was to accompany her turns 21 on 12 April.  I've been in touch with embassy and they have been watching for her file for the last week.  The email came directly from the Immigrant Visa section of the Manila embassy.  This paragraph clearly indicates that we can proceed using a print of the email as an authorization:

 

 

And this paragraph, send by them in the same email on Monday, March 27, clearly reiterates the 5-7 days verbiage, so it has not, as you claim, been "removed":

 

 

That explains the expedite .. the son turning 21 soon will create issues.

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-through-family/green-card-through-special-categories-family/k-nonimmigrant

 

You should find the topics posted by MNDY as they were dealing with an aging out child also.

 

Yes the letter states you can proceed.. and the "red" you highlighted clearly states for presenting it to the embassy..   

 

Like said before that expedite isn't going to do much for you at St. Luke's.  The normal medical process is 2 days.. hard to get quicker than that.   SPUTUM is 60 days.. no options!  CDC lays out that requirement.

 

The 5-7 day thing in that email is "old news", meaning they haven't updated the boiler plate of that generated email.   Many do their medical well under the 5-7 days now.

[Mike V 56]

In response to an email I sent, the director at SLEC met with my fiance Thursday and informed her that the new directives require the 60-day sputum test for ALL examinations for United States & Canadian visas.  I have not seen any public documentation of this requirement.

 

I will be there on Monday (for the embassy interview that appears unlikely to happen) and find out for myself.

 

If this is correct, it's going to throw a big wrench into a lot of people's plans.  In our case, it means that the embassy collected a non-refundable $265 visa fee, and St. Lukes collected a $320 (P16042.50) exam fee for a child turning 21 on 12 April who cannot possible complete the process in time.

[Sagot 1,548]

You are the first to report back from SLEC regarding this new directive for TB testing.

 

So all three children and your fiancee were instructed to complete SPUTUM testing?  

 

Yes the pooch is screwed for the one turning 21 soon.  

 

Plus side to all having to complete SPUTUM is; IF any have TB the medication is included in the medical fee.

 

Philippines is listed as one of the top ten countries for people having TB.  

 

I was just on the SLEC website, there are no changes listed for the process that involve EVERYONE completing the SPUTUM.  If there is a new directive, as you state, SLEC hasn't updated their website.

 

http://www.slec.ph/us-visa-applicants.shtml#required-docs

 

Edited March 30, 2017 by Sagot

[Sagot 1,548]

Nothing new listed on the embassy or DOS website regrading TB testing.   Embassy still states TB testing will be completed IF deemed necessary by St. Luke's

 

https://ph.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/82/2016/08/K1-and-K2-Applicant-Interview-Preparation-Instructions-08112016-English-336KB.pdf

 

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ApplyforImmigrantVisa.html

[Mike V 56]

I tried to get more exact info out of her this morning (Friday a.m. in Manila).  She is positive she has been told it is a new requirement but now thinks maybe t was everyone over 40.  It's hard to deal with this from 8000 miles away and she is not the sort that tackles things things head on & gets them resolved.

 

However St. Luke's is not completing all the children's exams until the primary beneficiary's sputum test culture is completed, which really leaves it an open bool regarding future visits and expenses.  They took the P57K for the 4 exams but will not complete the children's exams at this point.

 

It costs me about $3500 for plane tickets & lodging to get us all in Manila together.  I don't want to keep repeating that expense.

 

My flight leaves in < 10 hours.  I am seriously considering cutting my losses.

[Mike V 56]

They went back to St. Lukes just now (early Friday afternoon there) and were told again that no exams would be completed for the children until the mother's sputum test is complete.

 

This is really a crock -- they have pocketed the exam fees but won't complete 3 of the 4 exams.  One doesn't matter as much since he will age out due to the delay, but that still leaves 2 incomplete.  So I am supposed to spend thousands more to bring everyone back to finish and maybe eventually interview at the embassy?  And how does one reasonably plan for this nonsense when a family is involved?

 

In the last 3 weeks I have spent $6K in visa fees, physical exam fees and travel expenses in an effort to get this done in time for the one child's 21st birthday, and it is all money down the drain unless I throw more money -- I'm guessng about $4500-5000) -- at it for a couple more trips to Manila.

Edited March 31, 2017 by Mike V

[Sagot 1,548]

4 hours ago, Mike V said:

They went back to St. Lukes just now (early Friday afternoon there) and were told again that no exams would be completed for the children until the mother's sputum test is complete.

 

This is really a crock -- they have pocketed the exam fees but won't complete 3 of the 4 exams.  One doesn't matter as much since he will age out due to the delay, but that still leaves 2 incomplete.  So I am supposed to spend thousands more to bring everyone back to finish and maybe eventually interview at the embassy?  And how does one reasonably plan for this nonsense when a family is involved?

 

In the last 3 weeks I have spent $6K in visa fees, physical exam fees and travel expenses in an effort to get this done in time for the one child's 21st birthday, and it is all money down the drain unless I throw more money -- I'm guessng about $4500-5000) -- at it for a couple more trips to Manila.

You won't have to pay new medical fees for the children, they will complete their medicals (vaccinations) when your fiancee has cleared the SPUTUM hurdle, IF the result is negative.

 

SPUTUM is not anything new, as stated earlier, there is no requirement for people over 40 to complete the SPUTUM .. quite simply your fiancee's x-ray was not clear of shadow/scaring.   SLEC is following protocol set by CDC.

[Mike V 56]

On 3/31/2017 at 6:24 AM, Sagot said:

You won't have to pay new medical fees for the children, they will complete their medicals (vaccinations) when your fiancee has cleared the SPUTUM hurdle, IF the result is negative.

 

SPUTUM is not anything new, as stated earlier, there is no requirement for people over 40 to complete the SPUTUM .. quite simply your fiancee's x-ray was not clear of shadow/scaring.   SLEC is following protocol set by CDC.

 

Back from Manila, have not been able to pin down exactly what was "new" but it is pretty clear that TB testing has been ramped up.  My fiancee was repeatedly told that there were "new" requirements.  However, there has been no TB testing of her children at this point.  Two of her children have to return for follow items in a couple months; 3rd one also has to come back to get his results (no follow up items for him, but he ages out in 6 days).

 

All I got to do was sit outside & wait.  Tuesday morning the queue lined up for sputum sampling (different entrance) was about 2X the length of those showing up to start their physical exams.  Most in the queue would meet the "over 40" description but there were quite a few younger.

 

When the samples are taken they do a smear and evaluate it.  Even if the smear is negative, the sample is sent off for the two-month culture.

 

Recommendations I would make for those going into this:

1. Plan on the two-month delay.  Be thankful if things work out faster.
2. Try to leave your return flights open, as St. Luke's may take as much time as you have and then some.  In my fiancee's case, the 2-3 days planned for St. Luke's were drawn out into six days (plus a weekend).  I finally bought their Thursday tickets back to Cebu on Tuesday, once she was fairly certain St. Luke's would be done on Wednesday.
3. Don't buy your tickets for the U.S.A. or wherever until the medical exam is complete (we didn't but one couple there already had their tickets to Florida ...  oops!).
4. If you have a derivative (K-2) beneficiary who is aging out, try to delay paying his/her visa & physical exam fees at least until you know if the primary beneficiary is going to be delayed for the two-month sputum culture. 

[Sagot 1,548]

"a couple months" is 60 days.. the required time for SPUTUM testing for TB.   Nothing new there.    No one is being singled out because of age.

 

The Philippines is on the top 10 countries list for TB ...     TB kills- finding and curing saves lives.    

 

https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/default.htm

 

 

As for tickets to the USA - DO NOT BUY TICKETS UNTIL THE VISA IS IN HAND as is clearly stated in the embassy instructions letter.

 

 

[Palawan1 11]

My wife is having her 3 day sputum collection done in early May...they also did not do my daughter's skin test for TB. I guess that will happen in early July when we return for my wife's results. Good luck on your journey.