len ben

The CFO seminar can be done even before you submit your visa application.

12 weeks? Wow! Mine took only 2 weeks.

Where and when did you apply for a new passport? I was affected with that delays that they had last March till May. Here's the links:

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/05/04/11/dfa-tackles-delay-release-passports

http://dfa.gov.ph/main/index.php/public-advisory/3158-dfa-office-of-consular-affairs-advisory-on-passport-release

Cause I applied in Lucena City in Quezon, because that's the only DFA branch that accepts walk in applicants.

New passports will take up to 12 weeks. Changing from maiden to married name is like applying for a new. I just have my name changed to my married name last March 19, have my passport on hand by May 17..

Expect it tomorrow or today.

ONE More thing, if you left 2:15 you have plenty of time if you took LRT instead of taxi. will take you 20-30 minutes max from UN ave to Good Sheperd. Would have been cheaper too, 20 pesos per person.. No need to bother taxi drivers..

Congrats!

Just be patient in checking the 2go site. It took them 3 days to post something there. BTW, my visa was for pick-up. Took 5 days to get visa on hand.

I bet she's gonna call you in 2 or 3 hours to tell you what happened. I bet she did fine!

I provided the link in case he already forgot

I got confused too because in his other thread which is in this link:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/324586-trying-to-be-upbeat/page__st__75

he said that she already passed the medical and YOU as an American CAN accompany your fiancee through the process. However, no other Filipino but the applicant can go in.

We all know the result of the medical is not disclosed until the second day, in their case is today, Tuesday.

There are exceptions for letting the US citizen in, my husband was allowed to come with me cause I'm 5 months preggo, with pregnancy complications and would need constant assistance from my husband and also, we came late in the afternoon around 2pm, the building was almost empty, everyone else is downstairs by the releasing section. There was also another US citizen that was allowed to accompany the wife because they brought their 9 month old daughter with them during the medical. The second day of the medical, I did not make my husband come with me anymore, since I will be going in the morning and there will be a lot of people inside that small building.

Good luck to your wife!

Also, the people selling stuff outside the SLEC are always like that to anyone. Maybe because it is your first time in Manila that's why you are overwhelmed by all of these people coming up to you, selling caps, belts, watches, ID photo services, photocopying services and what not. They offer a lot of different things and services, even for us non-Americans like you. That's just what they do, this is how these people make a living in Manila. If you feel that you were in danger, why not stay in your hotel, since you said in your other posts that it is near almost everything? I assume it is near SLEC.

hello there! just want to ask if anyone knows where i can find a clothes store for a small woman like me? Im moving in Oklahoma soon, so i wonder if i can find clothes and shoes that will fit to me there....thanks u in advance for all ur answers!!! God bless...

I actually shop at the teen's section when I came here.

And besides, out of all the VJers here, I think you will be the first one who actually wrote a letter to complain about not being able to get in, without any valid reason for doing so. But you need to realize that in the Philippines, they are the ONLY HOSPITAL where you can have your medical done for US VISA purposes. There is NO OTHER OPTION BUT TO FOLLOW what they say. And not just the whole 'accompanying my fiance/wife' during the medical, but the dreaded SPUTUM TEST, PSYCH EXAM AND ALL THAT. Everybody else has to do those, why shouldn't you? What made you feel so special about paying for your fiance's medical? I bet you are not the first US citizen that has to pay for their wife's/fiance's medical exam, I'm sure of that, even permanent residents do that for their relatives too. what makes you any different from all of us?

Just wondering.

The guards at St. Lukes did deny me access today. I am inquiring as to why they did so. I will post results as I get them. Another US Citizen did go through with his fiancee. So I am not very happy right now after being lied to by St. Lukes Extension Clinic.

WE also got the NBI. So things are looking good.

WE go back on Tuesday for her results. CFO will Tuesday as well. Things are looking good. So far things are on track.

Medical today took over 6 hours. Be there early. I do not care what anyone tells you. 4:30 to 5:00 am for front of the line. After that you are waiting in back. Got there at 5:38 am and she got in at 6:38 am to reception. From there she was not out until noon. then had to go back at 1 pm for immunization interview. the immunization interview took another 40 minutes. So by the time it was done, it was about 2:30 pm. Long day for first day of medical. But easily expect 5 hours.

the lines was gone at 8:30 am with people able to enter quickly. But from the point of entry, expect 5 hours. (afternoon may go quicker since most of the people are gone,)

Was just sad because I was told I could go through the medical with her, but the Guards refused entry. I am working on getting an explanation on exactly what happened and why the email told me I could accompany her and the guards refusing me to accompany her. the explanation had better be a very very very good one, because another US Citizen got to accompany his fiancee on the SAME DAY at the SAME TIME.

There should be a valid reason for a US citizen to be able to accompany his wife/fiance during the medical, like for example, the wife/fiance needs assistance from the husband or is not ambulatory by herself. My husband was allowed to go because I'm pregnant and diagnosed with placenta previa, which means, anytime, I could be bleeding out and I do need help getting around the hospital. The other US citizen that was with us was also allowed to come with is because they have a 9 months old son that's with them, so she may need extra hand in taking care of the baby.

update: i did the xray and had congenital anomaly scan after a week. baby is ok, everything is normal thank you Lord

If you still feel worried, just want to let you know my baby is ok and still very healthy. 2 months post xray

I brought everything that I was requested to bring during the interview.

You don't need 'red ribbon' for your docs, para Lang sa pupunta ng middle east yun.

I brought everything that I was requested to bring during the interview.

You don't need 'red ribbon' for your docs, para Lang sa pupunta ng middle east yun.

I brought everything that I was requested to bring during the interview.

You don't need 'red ribbon' for your docs, para Lang sa pupunta ng middle east yun.

No, storm the gates and slaughter the infidels!

I never understood this Filipino angst about authority. Seriously.

I'm a Filipino but I have to agree with you on this one.

hi guys!! what is the best time to go to st.Luke's manila? what do i need to bring?? thanks

Went there 2pm, done by 3:30pm..

Got mine for $650 for everything. No "catch" whatsoever. Call Reli tours, they have discounts for first time immigrants, just ask for it. My husband got his plane ticket for $715. we booked both flights July 18 and our flights were July 26 2011. hope this helps.

here is an NBI question. My fiancee is still working on getting a renewed NBI. Was to have aug 10, but still do not have. Her current NBI she only has half of it. The other half went for her passport. Is this ok? Or should we stop by the office in Manila nad get and NBI on Monday or tuesday if she does not have yet?

Are you talking about the personal copy of the NBI clearance (which is the lower half? Look at the date when it was issued, cause NBI clearance is valid for a year from the date it was issued.

here is an NBI question. My fiancee is still working on getting a renewed NBI. Was to have aug 10, but still do not have. Her current NBI she only has half of it. The other half went for her passport. Is this ok? Or should we stop by the office in Manila nad get and NBI on Monday or tuesday if she does not have yet?

Are you talking about the personal copy of the NBI clearance (which is the lower half? Look at the date when it was issued, cause NBI clearance is valid for a year from the date it was issued.

NBI clearance is valid for one year from the date it was issued. Your NBI is still good.

My OB gave me a waiver for xray. she told me its not safe, could lead to leukemia later on. that's why im so worried. but my fiance told me that his mom had xray when she was pregnant with him and his brother before when ultrasound wasnt there yet. so xray was like her ultrasound before.

Then you have to wait for your girl to give birth before she completes her medical, also try rescheduling your interview appointment at another date because they won't interview unless they have your fiance's medical.

LenBen--Thank you very much for the additional and expanded information, as well as addressing all the points/questions one-by-one. Okay, good to know your answers/responses to Q2/Q3. Will certainly follow up on these suggestions. Sorry others have had those "blurry" BCs but I thank you for sharing these experiences and letting me know maybe the situation is not as catastrophic as I might have been worrying about. However, do want to make sure everything by interview time is as best as can be. --RK

No problem, I am the same way before the interview. I want to make sure that I covered everything that they might ask of me. I noticed that most of the entries in my BC is unreadable, maybe because the machine that NSO used is so old, that it can't print properly anymore. I went to my local registrar just to make sure I have something to present in case the Consul decided "I can't read it, therefore, I'll give you a 221g" bleh! So that' s what I did.