Thermite

When I did our bio appointment in Wichita Kansas I wasn't allowed inside only my wife. They didn't even have seating inside so I had to set outside in the sun (They said only people with apointment are allowed inside) Wichita is 1 hour away so its not like I could just drop her off. They needed our marriage license because the name on the passport is different then her married name. So keep that in mind if using your passport for id and the name doesn't match married name just back it up with marriage license most places will accept it.

It didn't take long though we got there early maybe 10 minutes they weren't very busy

Looks like no interview so I am going to have to wait out the long process hopefully EAD comes next month I know she is ready to work

We got to ours early but they were not busy they let her in right away but if your passport name is different then married name then take a marriage license just in case I am glad we took ours. They made me wait outside the building they said I was not allowed in the building without an appointment and they had no seating inside the lobby!

This was for Wichita Kansas

Yeah its a good show and it has a lot more English in it then others so I can understand it a bit more. Its one that I think is getting subtitles in May but not sure when

We have Philippine tv from Directv and wife gets tired of me asking what did they say. She tells me to go back to sleep haha. Luckily soon I think subtitles are coming for the more popular shows.

For Kansas I just checked my wife would need 2 valid ID's Passport and EAD then she would also need proof of residency so I could bring a bank statement. Most likely I would have to bring marriage license too as Passport name is different then married name this is what I had to do at Bio metrics yesterday

Sent mine off 4-1 got NOA's all 3 on 4-10

Bio Date is 5-10 We have our city wide Parade that day but that's the way it goes i guess

Yes I think main problem is just to make sure a location is near your loved ones before you send them the money. For my wife xoom and WU were right next to each other but I think Money Gram is everywhere too normally they have a locator

When I was in the Philippines it was when the Missile landed near the island and the paper said "Philippines will act with our without USA's support" Then at the same time around that the Newtown school shooting happened. I should of taken the paper with me it was interesting to bad I couldn't read it I think tension has been building awhile in the Philippines I would hate to see the embassy if USA did not help

(ICN) Incheon International Airport is really nice I always try to fly through there if i can

It shouldn't be a problem we brought back some dried fish and Magic Sarap and they didn't seem to care I have done this twice now

Western union 3 day is normally 0 dollars transfer fee it has been that way awhile if i forget to send 3 day WU I use xoom instead because its 4.99 and the exchange rate is a tiny bit higher I send Peso I tried sending WU in Us dollars and they gave it to her in Peso anyways so I didn't see the point. WU says 5 dollars next day but the more you send the more it goes up you have to watch that

To save money you can also do the TB skin test at your local heath department for like 10 bucks and if its negative you can take the results to the CS and he will be happy with that. We redid the medical just because of my wife's TB requirement that the POE required for the CDC it was a mess they kept forgetting the skin test was negative and putting positive on everything finally we had to go to a Pulmonologist (lung doctor) he said what she has was not TB it was something that exists all around us in the air and ground.

Amazing all the CS cared about was the skin test but not the CDC. We had to do a Flu shoot and some blood work and minor checkup for 155 then when we went back for the results she needed a MMR and Tdap booster for another 150 but it was well worth it for me to get a new medical saying TB was fine.

Thanks thermite

Maybe the Yellow paper depends on the immigration officer who handles you in the POE. the IO in my POE didnt even ask me question LOL.. he just ask for the yellow envelope. i waited for like 20 mins for him to finish what he is supposed to do because he kept asking other officers about the forms in the yellow envelope.. lol

you can file for the AOS. No need to wait for the Xray. You may or may not need a civil surgeon. But, in my part, i would like to have one.. Just to be sure no RFE..

Yeah maybe its such a mess right now. I got an update on our progress and seems like it will never end

I called HD to see if they got chest x-ray they said no so I was annoyed because this is under the clock by the CDC of course. I called the hospital they were confused I guess normal reception is on vacation lovely. So they get the info for the lady at HD and send her the information so I wake up and call the HD she said they did not note any change on her chest x-ray but she will call to confrim. She said did the doctor tell you about a CT Scan I said no. She said they will schedule you a CT scan surprised they did not tell you. I said they are all confused. She said the CT Scan is so they can see what the anomaly in her lungs is. She also said its up to the doctor if she needs treated for TB. Hehe between starting AOS and going to pay these medical bills its going to be tight awhile

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Oh i did get a bill from HD for 10 dollars for the skin test which is not bad. Considering the upcoming Doctor visit, chest x-ray, and the newly found out CT Scan

Congrats now you can start the next part and start moving along

Documents you normally don't have to pay but if you send items they make them pay a percent of the amount on customs declared

I even had the option to be billed or credited if customs charged of course they did not do that and made her pay at least they called before delivery and let her know

hello everyone!

JUST AN UPDATE FOR THOSE WHO UNDERWENT SPUTUM EXAM IN ST. LUKES AND NOW IN USA

so i have been confused since i arrived last feb 25 here in houston of why others were given yellow paper in POE instructing them to do ff-up check up in their local health department, and why am i not given or informed about this in my POE...

Just an hour ago, the Sr. public health investigator of Houston dept of Health and Human Services and another woman (i forgot her title, but she's not a nurse) visited me. They told me that they have to do TB skin test, sputum exam, culture and sensitivity, and another Chest Xray, this is for those who underwent sputum exam in their countries before they arrived in USA.

They had me signed a paper saying I allowed them to do TB skin test. The skin test was injected on left arm. Result will be 48-72 hours.

They gave me 3 cups for my 3 day sputum exam. They collected the sputum for today and they brought it with them. The second one will be tomorrow (wednesday around 8pm). they instructed me to put in a refrigerator. The 3rd one will be on Thursday 7AM.

They said they will be back on thursday to collect the cups, and to check the Skin test. Whether it is positive or negative, I will have to go to their clinic next week and repeat my chest xray. Also,even if the skin test and sputum exam is negative, they will still have the 3 sputum cultured (8-10 weeks). Meaning i will need to go to their clinic 10 weeks after today.

The FF-UP Check is a must. It should be performed within 1 month after USA Arrival.

THERE IS NO VACCINATION FOR TB.

Whatever the result of the ff-up check up won't affect the filing of AOS. It will not not delay the AOS. The people who visited me don't have any idea about civil surgeons and the "transcribing of vaccination" thing. They said they are not doctors and nurses. They are simply a part of Local Health Department under the CDC.

They said i only need to pay 2$ when I go to their local health dept next week.

If the result is positive, Medications are free. And I thought (even if its raining with free meds, i never want to have TB)

My guess and this is just a guess they started this recently as this is the first time that I have heard of this and the reason they probably give the slip now is because we were delayed by the IO at POE because of this so I guess this is their way to speed up the process maybe. I did not have to pay for anything at the Heath Department yet so I am guessing the state paid for it I will have to pay for the xray and doctor visit. I wonder what ff-up check means does it say ff-up check or is that just short hand. I am currently waiting on the xray results but everything so far is negative. Its good to know we aren't only one going through this it sure is a pain though and my wife was so sad because she thought the TB stuff was behind her now she has to do it all over again I said but at least your with me now hehe

Your experience at Heath Department sounds familiar to my wife's so far if the nurse does not call me by tomorrow I will call Wed and ask if my doctor sent her xray results and see what she says and update you on more information.

Yes, we have to do the ff-up check up here in USA.

They said it wont interfere with the AOS, however, it is a must. They even mention the word "deport" if one does not comply

Yes, i'm planning to get a civil surgeon, i'll try to call the list of CS you mention here. Thanks, by the way. My wedding will be on friday. The judge at Harris Courthouse said the marriage cert will be available after 2 business days. So we will file like March 15. Enough time to prepare the forms, getting a cs. and 1070$ fee

Yeah i was guessing Deport if you did not comply and its handled by the CDC and they take it very seriously and I plan on starting paperwork next week was trying to figure out if i needed to wait for xray for AOS or not I will call around and see if i can find a CS to transcribe her vaccinations. Congrats on your wedding we got married on Valentines Day haha

Yeah it seems if you have unexplained chest xray and pass the sputum culture they still want you retested in the states to see if they can explain the chest xray and I guess if your negative they hopefully leave you alone about it. I am not sure if I am going to take her to a CS since one is so far away and one isn't close or take her to one I haven't decided maybe I will call them. Her vaccinations are fine I am just not sure about this TB part AFAIK its only the CDC involved as I yet , do not know results of chest xray hopefully they call me this week but I will surely keep everyone up to date on what happens

Thanks for your reply, Thermite. It sounds like you having to jump through quite a few hoops.

I have a few questions:

1. Was the immigration officer (IO) at your fiancée's POE the person who contacted the CDC? Did the IO contact the CDC while your fiancée was still at the POE?

2. Did your fiancée have to go in to the Health Department three days in a row to give sputum samples? Did she find out the results of the sputum smear tests shortly (within a few days) after she gave the third sputum sample?

3. Did your fiancée get her chest x-ray from a private doctor instead of the health clinic? Or, did she get a chest x-ray from a civil surgeon's office? If so, did you have to take the x-ray results over to the health clinic?

4. Is the health clinic going to report the results of everything to the State of Kansas, or are they going to report it directly to the CDC?

5. I'm wondering if you will have to take the test results and x-ray results to a civil surgeon.

Yeah its been a mess lets see if i can answer your questions:

1. Yes the lady told me she needed to contact the CDC she wrote down my cell # and address she said the CDC will contact me to make sure its done or needs to be done. Yes she was on the phone with CDC i remember her telling me she just got off phone with them and said this is very serious needs taken care of. This is way we were delayed at POE so long.

2.We went to Heath Department we did first one there then she got two boxes with cylinders addressed to the state and was told to take the next one and put it in refrigerator (THU) and we did the last one on Friday and went to the Heath Department the lady I guess sent them to state lab and she called me 2 to 3 days later and told me now we need to do chest xrays They also did skin test results on Friday when giving last sputum test was a Wed when we went to Heath Department to start skin test and sputum collection

3.Yes she told me I would need a doctor and we had it done at a private doctor. The doctor said she would send the results of both St Lukes the CD and the new chest xray to heath department I have yet to hear on those results

4. I was going to ask her this when we found out about chest xray but I be leave the Heath Department will tell the State the Heath Department was assigned the case we had to pay nothing at the HD so I guess the state paid for it she said for immigrants its different I will have to pay for Doctor visit and the Hospital visit for xray

5. I am wondering this too but I am thinking not since the CDC handles these cases it seems but I have no way of finding out Wish I could get a solid answer I doubt calling the CIS would give me one. I guess I can ask lady at Heath Department that too

The good news is i know her medical file is in the system and not lost because I offered her the print out the IO gave me and she said no need I already have it in my computer. Still doesn't mean it will get lost thought lol

That's good to know I was worried about that but I kind of thought it would not effect AOS it might if you didn't get it checked or in the process of being checked as they have to notify CDC what exactly do you mean by ff-up are you just talking about the TB recheck?

I had similar thing happen to me in Dallas Texas the lady that actually processed the brown envelopes did not show up after about 2 hrs of waiting then we waited 2 more hours for her to process ours and Ours was last because of the TB recheck noted in her file. We had an 5 hour lay over we missed it and Korean Air did their best to secure our luggage but they had to go so they just hid it in a corner and it was dead in those luggage claims when we went to get it and AA re booked us for free but we had to wait another 4 hrs he said we been through enough and told her Welcome to America POE didn't even do that.

I was glad I went just for unsuspected delay at POE

If wife was born:

First Name: Maria Anna

Middle Name: Santos

Last Name: Reyes

and hubby's surname is Smith, after marriage wife becomes:

First Name: Maria Anna

Middle Name: Reyes

Last Name: Smith

That's what my wife did too format wise though the two part first name confuses people as they aren't very used to it they keep thinking its her middle name and I have to say no its a two part first name lol

We did not get a yellow paper we got told in the Visa holding room at POE by the lady doing her file that the CDC will be notified and we will have to do a recheck for TB in the USA they also gave me a copy of her medical file it says:

Class B1 TB, Pulmonary. Sputum AFB smears negative on September 04, 05 and 06, 2012

MTB cultures done on the same date were likewise negative after 8 weeks of incubation (November 01, 2012) Presently asymptomatic

Chemotherapy: No history of Pulmonary Tuberculosis treatment.

Eligible to leave for the U.S.A. If applicant becomes symptomatic prior to departure, she needs to return to St. Lukes's Medical Center Extension Clinic for pulmonary re-evaulation.

Will need medical follow-up within 1 week upon arrival in the U.S.A.

I also wonder how this will effect her AOS the lady at the Heath Department gave me a paper saying Skin Test Negative but she is not a certified CS I posted more of what i went through here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/417396-civil-surgeon/page__view__findpost__p__6019480

Fortunately, Chinook did not have to undergo the sputum collection, smear tests, and the eight-week TB culture. Also, she did not have to undergo another medical exam here in the U.S.

However, you raise a good question: for those people who underwent the sputum collection, smear tests, and TB culture at St. Lukes, do they have to undergo any type of follow-up in the U.S. before they file for AOS? I don't know the answer to that question, but it's possible that some type of followup is required. However, if the St. Lukes culture was negative, I doubt that any follow-up would be required here in the U.S.

That's a very good question because we are in that situation now. We had negative culture and sputum tests at St Lukes but were still required by POE to get her rechecked for all that it was noted on her medical file because of her x-ray they gave me a copy of the whole file. The CDC was notified and they had to get all my information to make sure they could get a hold of me. Lady at POE approval recommended i get her on my Medical Insurance

I went to our local Heath Department they turned us down because they just do skin tests and it would be positive no matter what. So we moved wedding forward and everything I had to find a doctor and that was hard to find around here also but finally found one. Then about a week before we got married the nurse from the Heath Department called and said we need to get your Fiancee in for a TB test I said I was turned down she said it was different for immigrants and the ladies at desk should of asked her. Basically CDC called State of Kansas Kansas called my local Heath Department. They also required it within 1 week of entry i told lady at Heath Department that it was very hard to do with within one week I asked her if we were in trouble she said no.

She got tested the skin test was surprisingly Negative (her doctor was surprised she was exposed in 2010 but got treated) and her sputum was negative also the lady at Heath Department gave me a copy of her report saying the TB skin test was negative this was before sputum results. I was still required to go to her new Doctor and get a chest x-ray so they could compare it to the old chest x-ray and then I guess someone will make decision weather she needs treated or not I haven't gotten anything back from this yet as it was Friday when x-ray was done.

I am also wondering if this is good enough for AOS or even effect AOS as they POE lady never told me it had to be a CS and the state notified my local Heath Department they nearest CS are about 1 hr away.

We send some about every paycheck and we agreed not too much because she is here now and the more we send there the less she has here and she realizes things are more expensive here I always tell her what things cost in Peso hehe

My wife had to pick hers up also and we signed up for delivery they didn't even tell us where to go to get it and Cebu has many I had to call and ask where she needed to go. She just got a text saying passport is ready for pickup

Most people should understand that opening another credit card account could negatively affect your credit score. Thus, a good recommendation was to send a copy of your credit cards with only the last four digits showing. On the flip side of the coin, do your best to provide other financial information, such as each of being the beneficiary on your 401 or retirement account, jointly having one health/dental policy, and better, have a signed letter from your human resource department testifying that your spouse is your beneficiary. Car insurance cards, homeowners declaration page, etc. The heavier the financial sharing, the better.

Ah yeah was going to add her to my 401k as beneficiary I need to get that done and she is already on my heath/dental and my HR person did write a letter explaining she was added to my plan on this effective date and signed it. I could probably do the car insurance it wouldn't hurt and I don't own a home yet been saving with one I live with my mom for now so she was going to write and affidavit for me.

Thanks for the input