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Wow thank you all so much for the responses. That makes us feel a little better. I was thinking that also. It seems they are putting more people through it than now now days. I also heard like 99.9% are negative. Thank you for the comments everyone

My fiance has her scheduled to start on November 9. Thats rough because its the day after what was supposed to be her embassy interview we had to cancel. I always thought if someone has TB they would have some kind of signs sometime in their lives. She never has. She is the most healthy person I have ever knowsn. She has changed from Filipino food to all healthy food and drinks and anything that improves the lungs just to be safe. I told her not only for the test but its also good for her health also to eat healthy. She has cut out all meat until after the smear test. Hers should come back negative because she has never had it. She was very saddened because she said her whole life no xray or anything has ever been bad. All a sudden a very small mark on her medical xray brought her to tears because now shes all worried something is wrong. When we know likely now. But SLEC dont tell anyone anything. I can imagine how scary that is to all a sudden be told to take this test and than they dont say anything. They just say come back in 2 weeks. No information at all. Thats very frustrating kind of they do that and make people worry.

Happy to hear you are almost done. Thats only a few days away and if they havent called by now that would be great news for you

Awesome Thank you for all the help. I will update as we go along. Sad thing is that she dont start this until November 9. Which was a day after her interview was setup that has to be cancelled. I was hoping to be there for that day but I have to choose between going there for Thanksgiving or Christmas or for her vaccine day or to pick her up to come here together. I will go for 15 days over Christmas and than hopefully when she gets visa.I wish I could go there right now and just spend 3 months with her until this is done.

Something I dont understand. At the end of the 2 months, do they call you to come in to complete the vaccinations? I keep hearing they dont call. How will she know when to go in to finish her medical? Thanks for all the help everyone. Im not to concerned anymore now that I understand this seems quite common procedure at SLEC. I cant wait until its done and she is hear. I have a journal of every step of everything. Even the little things like her calling me for a document she needed me to scan and send her for her passport pickup last week.

Thank you everyone so much for the encouragement. Starting to feel a little better. It was more of a shock with everything going so fast and all a sudden everything comes to a screeching halt. We were talking this morning and realized. The USCIS says processing is 5-6 months. We were less than 3 months until her interview from acceptance. With this delay we will be at 5-6 months now instead of what I thought was record timing to get visa. That makes me wonder if it was normal time and the USCIS knows that St Lukes does this a lot and factors that in. So instead of the 3 months we were looking at, its now 5. Very funny how that worked out. I would feel much better knowing this is very common. Thanks again everyone for the help.

No children with her. Not sure what that is that you asked exactly. But yes we have no children together. I have 3 daughters myself but none with my fiance.

Yes I didnt realize that. I updated it. Thank you. I am hoping to still go visit her for Christmas. I truly need to see my baby. Its so hard to have that happen and be so far away and not even be able to comfort her and her me. How often does this happen? Does anyone know? I have heard that SLEC this is quite common and like 99.99999% of the time they come back negative.

Mine is the K-1 visa. Yea the 2 months sadly I knew about and she hasnt ever had TB which is why I dont understand what happened on the xray. I wish they would explain to people because my fiance is freaking out and I have no idea what to tell her. Even I am nervous.

Thanks both of you. I am finally a little calmer. I have heard that also that many this happens to. The good news is by Uber, she is only 20 minutes away from St Lukes so at least she dont have the issue some do having to fly in and spend many days there. Thank you both so much for the help. I will keep you up to date also on this. Like I said, it was just a shock that anything even showed up because she is the most healthy person I have ever known and she takes great care of herself and eats right and sleeps well. I wonder how scars appear. We are debating maybe I will go there for Christmas anyway for a few weeks to be with her when the exam is done. If lucky I could actually be there for her interview also if she gets it fast enough after this. She goes for the 3 days on November 9, 10 and 11. So January 11 would be 2 months. Just nervous.

Thank you again. Yea I heard SLEC is known for sending people for the sputum exams. She said there were 6 girls yesterday. Her and 3 others got sent to do it. Only 2 were cleared. So after cancelling her interview, the embassy will auto extend it? That was my big worry also. After all this work to have to start over would be devastating. I thought the petition was only good for 4 months after the USCIS approved it unless I misread it. Than you again. Yea the short setback sucks and we dont have a choice. Just heartbreaking. She has never had any problems with chest xrays until this.

Oh when we cancel the appointment, do we need to tell them why we cancel it and why we are waiting awhile or does SLEC let them know? Sorry one more question, I also heard the medical expires after a certain amount of time. If the worse case is the 6 months which she shouldnt have to do, do we have to pay the entire fee again? Thanks again for the help.

Thank you very much for the response. I agree its a great thing. We just dont understand what or how something showed up on the xray unless its from her cold she had last week. I also hear this is common at St Lukes in Manila? I guess its more of a shock to both of us. We went from record breaking time to get the visa less than 2 months to 2 times longer. She dont have any symptoms of TB. Its almost heartbreaking. We were going to celebrate today. Now shes in tears and worried and now I am.

Awesome Thank you very much for the help. Yes I am sending her the support documents this week. She actually has her CFO this Friday. She is doing it early to get it done than she will go back after she gets the visa to get the CFO stamp on her passport. We have already claimed the visa is ours so she even bought a wedding dress lol I didnt expect that but I am super excited. We have been together 2 years and its like we met yesterday. Gone by so fast. Thank you again for the help.

Thank you very much. VERY helpful information for sure. That was what I was wondering. So now that I have the MNL number, my part is done than? I have nothing left to do for the USA side until she actually gets here? That was what I was confused about. Now it makes sense Thank you.

I have a quick question. Got NOA2 on September 16. I called today and the NVC gave me our case number. They said it would be sent to Manila soon when I asked. My question is, after receiving the case number from the NVC, does that mean they processed it already and is going to be sent to the embassy in Manila? I didnt quite understand what he meant I guess when I called. My NOA2 was approved in less than 30 days after they received it. No idea when the case number from the NVC was actually assigned though. I am someone who worries about everything. I am just hoping I am correct that the NVC will not end up holding onto it. So pretty much what I am asking is, the online tracking says its at the NVC. I got the case number when I called them today. What is the next step? Hope I make sense. Problem is its hard to find the correct information because they talk about all visas. Thank you.

 It'll be dark enough inside the plane They'll dim the cabin lights and close the shades as people generally want to sleep on that long of a flight.

Thank you so much Looking forward to this whole trip.

The only other thing I am not looking forward to is the time changes. Take off at 10:45am here and land at 1:30pm in Tokyo. No darkness at all on the way.

 Glad to know someone who's excited as I am about being on a jumbo Just a word of caution, the Japanese carries (ANA & JAL) tend to keep their cabins warm inflight (roughly 74-75F, sometimes higher). I would suggest bringing an extra pair of appropriate clothing to change into just in case. Have a safe flight.

Thanks for the tip I will throw an extra changing in my carry on just in case. Yea I am very looking forward to taking the large plane. Ive taken alot of local flights but usually 737s so this will be for sure a new experience.

Awesome. You guys are great Thank you so much for all this information. You are answering all of my concerns and making it feel better for me. I am now really getting excited. I even changed my Tmobile plan in the USA so I get free unlimited data and texts internationally. Calls are only 20 cents per minute. To make it free for us we talk on phone everyday but through messenger services both on WiFi so its free. I have unlimited so when I get there we can just messenger talk again. Same as phone call. Plus in Manila I will have 3G coverage so should be easy. Thats true I could just send a message saying where I am. I know she said she will be there waiting even if for 2 hours but Im sure she will go get coffee or something She is wonderful. So is her whole family. Her cousin is a travel agent so she got the domestic flights for us after I get there which was a HUGE relief also. This is my first time also on a jumbo jet. 777-300ER to Tokyo so that will be exciting also. The connecting in Tokyo is a 767 which I have flown on but still big. I just hope I can get some sleep on the first leg during the 13 hour flight. I am just hoping no delays for mine. Long ways to go and weather I hope will be fine for no delays.

Awesome! Then there's definitely no need for you to worry. Safe travels and all the best!

Thank you so much again I cant wait. Yes I also double checked her itinerary for her landing in Manila and yes also says Terminal 3 is her arrival. Thanks again. I feel better hearing from you and knowing this. I am starting to feel excited again. I was so worried and over thinking everything. It was meant to be for sure considering that the arrivals are same terminal and just seems like it fell into place perfect. I have never done this so I was just so nervous which a lot of people from here do have their first time. I love flying but have never been out of the USA and my first time is to the Philippines. You are making me feel more welcome. I also made the mistake of over reading things which only was seeing bad stories. Which was my mistake. I will likely be nervous until I get there but thats just the part of being away from home for so long. But I do feel better about the airport part now. Thank you for the help

Thank you I cant wait to get there and yes she has told me so much about Iloilo and I will take your advice and try it. I am definitely coming terminal 3 because I am flying ANA Airlines from Chicago to Tokyo than to Manila. The airline itself has a permanent gate area at terminal 3. Her flight also says arrives at terminal 3 and we also fly out of terminal 3 so terminal 3 has from I see gotten so much better than a lot of other airports in the world from what people have said. But yea she is flying Cebu Pacific into #3 and I am flying ANA Airlines (Japan airline) and the airline and even the airport map for Manila shows their perm gates in #3 Thank you again. I am feeling somewhat better already.

Here is the ANA airlines website that shows the details. Just double checked like you said DOes say right near top all ANA flights at terminal 3 https://www.ana.co.jp/wws/us/e/asw_common/guides/airports/int/mnl/index.html

It would definitely be easier for you guys if you are both arriving at Terminal 3. There are some restaurants there where she can hang-out and free wifi access too so she will be pre-occupied while waiting for you. What's your airline, btw? Just double check because there are only a few international airlines operating in Terminal 3, as far as I know. Terminal 1 is a chaos and if there's another option, I wouldn't advice it to anyone flying in for the first time to meet somebody outside the arrival hall.

Enjoy your stay in Philippines! and yes, Ilonggo delicacies are a must-try!

Thank you I cant wait to get there and yes she has told me so much about Iloilo and I will take your advice and try it. I am definitely coming terminal 3 because I am flying ANA Airlines from Chicago to Tokyo than to Manila. The airline itself has a permanent gate area at terminal 3. Her flight also says arrives at terminal 3 and we also fly out of terminal 3 so terminal 3 has from I see gotten so much better than a lot of other airports in the world from what people have said. But yea she is flying Cebu Pacific into #3 and I am flying ANA Airlines (Japan airline) and the airline and even the airport map for Manila shows their perm gates in #3 Thank you again. I am feeling somewhat better already.

That a very good rate. Now I see what you mean by airport rates. I definitely will not buy anymore than I am going to at the airports. She said she did find some good places that have good rates like that so thats perfect Thanks for the information.

Yea I am exchanging 200 USD here before just because the days I will be in Manila are going to be so busy that I may not have time to stop and exchange. In Chicago here, its only 6 USD to exchange 200 USD so for that rate I figured that would get me into Iloilo where I will exchange more. But I guess from what I saw and read from recent travelers that they built in a waiting area inside terminal 3 for people waiting for guests to arrive. We will both be at terminal 3. The waiting area from the photos I seen at terminal 3 in Manila are glass walls so those waiting cannot actually go inside but have a area just inside where they can wait. They say the new terminal 3 is a very modern new terminal But anyway yes I am doing 200 USD here so it will get me all through what I need in the Manila part of the trip. Than I am bringing a couple hundred in USD 100$ bills to exchange when we get back to Iloilo outside the airport. If I didnt have to go to the embassy first I would have just connected in Manila to Iloilo but rules are rules and no way am I going to do anything wrong I am happy for all the responses. Thank you very much everyone. I have never been out of the USA and thats where a lot of my nervousness is. I am just worried about the getting there. After that looks A LOT easier and I can finally enjoy the Philippines. Since I was a child, now 39, I have always wanted to come there. Its always been my number 1 country to go to. Now being even better that I have a beautiful, wonderful and sweetest fiance in the world there that is awaiting my arrival. That just made this so much better. I also sponsor 5 children in the Philippines. I just love your country. I always have. Thanks again. The more I hear, the more I feel like I will be welcomed with open arms.

Oh and yes they are just her engagement ring, her wedding band and my band. The rings are not for sale for sure. I am bringing them just for marriage