We went the easy way. Got married at the local court 1.5 months upon my entry to avoid any kind of wedding planning headache because none of us would know when our visa would be approved etc. I've lived with him since the day I entered the US on a K-1 seeing how I don't have family and friends here and I'm not in the position to lease my own property. Personally, we wouldn't have done it any other way and now we are just going about our lives as normal as possible.
If you want a proper wedding, you can always get married at the court first to fulfill the getting married within 90 days criteria and file for AOS a.s.a.p and then plan a reception for a latter date. Less stressful and you can enjoy it more.
And for us the visa fee was higher, but the medical was cheaper ... cost is forever changing. All costs are easily accessible from the related websites (USCIS, USEM, SLEC)
Please bear with me if this info is buried elsewhere on this site. My fiancee was late getting her passport due to missing voter registration ID, and she just picked up her passport Friday afternoon, completed her D-160 online and went to the bank to pay for the visa application.
My question is this: what is the current fee for the medical exam at St. Luke's? I have looked many places online and come up with figures from $245 to as high as $330. I don't want her to be short handed in cash when it's time for her exam.
Help? Anyone from the Philippines?
St. Luke's Medical Center Extension Clinic (SLEC), the Embassy's accredited panel physician, will begin charging a new medical examination fee of Php 16,042.50 for most immigrant visa applicants effective October 1, 2016. The medical fee increase is based on mandatory gonorrhea testing for all immigrant visa applicants 15 years of age and older as instructed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Yes, normally NOA2 is valid for 4 months. It's stated on the hardcopy of your NOA2. Hence, your deadline is July 23. However, the Embassy has the authority to extend its validity for another 4 months. All you, or your fiance, should do is just contact the Embassy, preferably by email, and ask them to extend your NOA2. You don't have to give a specific reason, just mention work or family circumstances that require you to stay in your home country for a longer time. If you do that, you will have plenty of time to prepare for your TOEFL. Please remember that statistically, people who take TOEFL the second time score 10 points higher on average. They do better just because they get familiar with the format of the exam. I hope this will encourage you!
Don't listen to anybody on the Internet whe tells you that your faince doesn't love you just because he wants you to succed on TOEFL and go to school. To me it's a sign of maturity and realistic apporach to life. Let's be honest. Love is important, but bills must be paid, and two incomes are better than one. Only you can know who is right for you, and who is not. Do yourself a favour, make an effort on your TOEFL. Even if this relationship does not work out, you lose nothing. Your knowledge and TOEFL certificate will remain with you.
I wish you luck in your endeavors.
Visa Approved
Finally the journey coming to a conclusion soon,and the new chapter waiting to begin.
Thank you all for all the help and support!
Hugs!!!
You do SO MUCH in bringing helpful info and experience to so many of us searching for hope and answers. You are certainly entitled to have a life with your loved one's family. Ultimately, that life is what you are working towards....as we all are on here!! You are an inspiration to many....including me. I finally was able to get my NVC case # today by phone with my love on Skype waiting to get the info.
Hey all ... I'm sorry and I feel really bad for not being able to help you with posting the December scans for the last week. We had trouble with the internet connection and the scans didn't run well. We also had his kids with us and that was important for me to spend time with them. So yes I totally forgot to look into VJ and again ... I apologize for not giving a heads up at least.
Let me know if you need to see them here in the November thread or if it is fine to have them in the Decenber thread.
They can completely disregard those xrays. They only care about their own results.
Their are tons of stories about Saint lukes having people do sputum tests even though they have proof of no tb from other hospitals. It's part of the reason I'm nervous about my fiance doing the medical and she's never even had TB before.
In practice, the K-3 is not a popular visa option. In 2014, there were only 392 K-3 visas, compared with 29,913 CR-1 visas. Some have suggested that’s because CR-1 visa processing times are improving. But at least equally important is that USCIS and NVC have conspired to choke off K-3 issuance. First, USICS routinely delays adjudicating the K-3 petition (filed on Form I-129F) so that it is adjudicated simultaneously with the related I-130. Next, the NVC will “administratively close” a K-3 visa application if it receives from USCIS the approved I-130 before NVC finishes processing the K-3 case: this is routine since USCIS sends both to NVC at the same time. Together, these practices defeat the congressional intent embodied in the statute that K-3 visas should be issued to allow the foreign spouse to enter the U.S. to “await the approval of [the I-130] and the availability … of an immigrant visa.”
I-129F Sent : Jan 9, 2017
Received Date: Jan 10, 2017
Case status changed to Approved 45 minutes ago. Still shaking.
Hang on in there, guys! It's gonna come anytime soon now.
Hello all! I want to share this walkthrough I made regarding the medical exam I just took at St. Lukes. I hope this will help anybody in anyway.
I thought of creating this during my 2-day medical appointment, taking notes every step of the way and sketching floor plans in between waiting time. I know that there had been a few written about one’s medical experience at SLMCEC and as much as it helped me prepare and be aware of the whole scenario, I wanted to share something more comprehensive.
But please be reminded that everything here is based on my own experience and someone else’s procedures may vary. All went well on my medical so I assume this is within the typical flow of the whole process.
Ok, to start with:
The Fees:
US$213.35 for 15 y.o. and older
US$185.35 for 14 y.o. and below
Hotels Near SLMCEC
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=48111&st=0
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/lofivers...hp/t130131.html
What to Bring:
- If you don’t have your appointment letter yet, you may bring a photocopy of your NOA2 letter and NVC letter showing your MNL case no.
- Valid Passport (have it photocopied as well)
- Appointment letter – Bring original and have the first 2 pages photo copied.
- 4 pcs. 2x2 photos – white background, with both ears uncovered and without earrings.
- Black ballpen
- jacket (it’s cold inside)
Misc:
- Bottled water. Foods are not allowed, but you can slip through hiding your crackers somewhere in your bag.
- Play Station Portable, Nintendo DS, Ipod Touch, books/pocket books – well, I mean, something you can play/read while waiting in between check-ups and procedures.
The 1st Day
:: Arriving at St. Lukes ::
W/ appointment letter:
I handed over my appointment letter but then the security guard told me to have the 1st two pages photocopied, so I did (just right across the street) and then went back to hand him both the original and the duplicate, he stamped it both with “SLMCEC---something” .. and handed me a queue number. I arrived at 4:45am and got no. 32.
He gave me a form - the Patient Data Sheet (PDS) and the guard will check specific boxes you should fill in. Upon filling out your PDS, you’ll see an ‘Alien Case No.’ – that would be you MNL Case no.
He also handed me an Evaluation sheet to be returned upon release of your medical result – well, it’s just a Rate-Our-Clinic thing, with Excellent-Good-Poor check boxes
and questions on how to improve their service blah-blah.
Without appointment letter – well I guess, it’ll be the same as above as long as you have your NOA2 letter and NVC letter with MNL Case no.
- After you completed filling out your PDS, there’s really nothing more to do but sit down and wait for your number to be called.
- When the guard started to call in the numbers, he called batch by batch, 10 nos. in a batch.
- He guided us to fall in line in front of ‘Digital Photo Room’ to have our --- well, digital photo taken
- Have your PDS, Passport and photos ready. I handed those to the guy who takes the photos, everything was returned to me shortly after that.
- I went straight ahead in front of the releasing counters and fell in line.
- When it’s my turn, the screener asked me a few questions about my medical history … basically, you just have to answer everything he/she asks.. She stapled two(2) 2x2 photos on the PDS and inserted the other two(2) on a resealable plastic and stapled it once again on the lower part of the PDS.
- After it, the screener told me to pay the medical fees at the cashier located at the 5th floor.
- I then took the elevators to 5th floor and found the cashier at the corner, right beside the elevator. Paid the fees and told me to go to 4th floor.
:: 4th Floor ::
- I gave my PDS, Receipt, Passport and the photocopied appointment letter (keep the original, I believe that will be the one you’ll show at the interview) to the nurse at the reception. She gave me an “HIV Consent form” to fill out – I returned it to her afterwards and she then told me to sit down and wait for my name to be called.
- When my name was called, the nurse asked me of the last day of my last period (always remember your 1st and last day of period, they will keep on asking it till you bleed again … kidding)
- After she jotted down some notes on my papers, she gave it back to me and pointed me to go at the blood extraction room.
- Before the nurse started to collect blood sample from my arm, she asked me my name, my age and again, my first and last day of period… This procedure is to assess you of any drug use and of course, HIV.
- After the blood extraction, the nurse told me to go straight to the urine collection area, just right across the other side of the reception, a nurse is assigned there at the ladies C.R. – she’ll give you a plastic container to put your urine sample in. Hand it back to her when you’re done. This procedure is for pregnancy test and probably for other kidney-related illnesses. She told me to sit back down and wait for my name to be called.
- My name was called and they gave me back my papers and passport and told me to proceed to 3rd floor for the X-Ray.
:: 3rd Floor ::
- I gave my set of papers to the nurse at the reception. If you have previous x-rays, be sure to bring the film (if it’s still available) so they can compare (and God knows if that would actually help alter their decision against their own x-ray results at any rate ~_~)
- Anyhoo, since I don’t have an x-ray film with me, they simply gave me a paper to fill out, stating the reason why I don’t have one – I checked the box that reads “No X-ray has ever been taken”. Gave it back to them.
- Somewhere on my PDS, they made me write my first day of my last menstrual period.
- Told me to sit down and wait for my name to be called (well, isn’t it always?)
- So my name is called and another nurse wrote down additional notes on my papers before he allowed me to enter the X-ray room. He returned to me my set of papers.
- Inside the X-ray room (a little room before the actual X-ray room) is a little area with some chairs so we can sit as we wait for our turn. Another small area is a changing room with hospital gowns provided where we should disrobe our upper garments (bra and shirt) .. any necklace should be removed as well. I sat down and waited for my name to be called.
- Upon calling my name, I then gave my set of papers to the nurse inside…. and it’s X-ray time! (I’ve been very anxious about this part ever since coz this is where they would find out if you have something strange in your lungs – hence, they’ll have you undergo the dreadful Sputum test) .. the nurse inside would assist you on how to properly execute the X-ray procedure.
- After I finished the X-ray, the nurse gave me back my papers and told me to proceed to 5th floor.
:: 5th Floor ::
- I walked towards the U.S. counter and handed over my set of papers to the personnel assigned there .. he wrote something on my papers and then a different nurse picked up my papers, he assisted me to follow him to have my body weight and height measured.
- Right after the nurse wrote down the weight record on my PDS, another nurse told me to proceed to the ‘Visual Exam Room’.
- Inside the Visual Exam Room, the nurse conducted a visual activity test where you would have to read a Snellen Chart opposite a mirror. (more like a ‘give me a headache’ test) The nurse will ask if you're using contact lens or eye glasses prior to the exam.
- After the eye test, he told me to go sit and wait for my name to be called. (I’m starting to have the feeling of omitting all these sit-and-wait-for-my-name-to-be-called in this entire entry)
- The next thing done is they measured my Vital Signs - Blood Pressure and pulse rate.
- I handed over to the U.S. Counter my set of PDS after completing the Vital Signs procedure.
- Guess what happens here ………………… Correct!! Sit down and wait for my name to be called.
- My name is called, went to the U.S. counter and they handed me a number. That would be my number for the physical exam.
- It’s been the most agonizing 15 minutes of my whole medical process … waiting while thinking of getting all naked – NOT in front of your fiancé/husband … LOL!
- My turn for the physical exam .. the doctor/physician will ask you all sorts of questions starting from your name to all your past operations/hospitalizations to inhaling mosquito coils to having contact with an alien from the outer space positive with HIV……
- After all the seemingly non-stop questioning, the doctor ordered me to sign papers (kinda like a contract) attesting that I am telling nothing but the truth. She made me sign twice – one for saying that I gave birth 2 times, and the other one for stating that I’ve never had TB nor had contact with people who are infected of Tuberculosis.
- Then she made me disrobe completely, but thank goodness, I still had to wear a hospital gown – at least. I laid down on the bed and she checks certain parts of my body. Doctors will specifically check slash marks for suicidal attempts, needle marks for drug use, tattoos for positive contamination from use of needles…
…. and then the private parts … She’ll make you spread your legs (or make you lie on your left side and bend your knees towards your chest). The physician checked the ####### and the ####### .. I believe they check it for possible signs of Sexually Transmitted Diseases or any abnormalities whatsoever. Don’t worry, if you’re a female, you’ll also have a female physician that will attend to you.
- She told me to go straight to U.S. Counter. I handed my PDS and they attached a slip where it reads, “You must personally claim your results....dah dah dah” in 3 different languages .. what the! … The nurse handed back my papers shortly right after that and told me to go to 2nd floor for immunization interview.
:: 2nd Floor ::
- I gave my set of PDS to the guy on the reception right in front of the Immunization rooms.
- loooooooong wait here ..
- Called for Immunization interview (doctors area). The physician simply asked me a few questions like previous vaccines (don’t worry if you don’t have a record or can’t remember any, just tell the physician about it), sexual contact, pregnancies, if you’ve had chicken pox before, if it left any visible scars, etc … She told me of the available vaccines that I would take if all goes well with my medical results.
- It’s a wrap! The day is done! … and the last thing to do is to check out on the 2nd floor check out counter. There they will tell you to return the next day for the results. They will tell you what time. The only things left in your hands now would be your passport, the receipt, the evaluation letter and your original appointment letter/NOA2/NVC letter.
- Robinson’s place is not far from SLMCEC .. You’ll be as hungry as **** so I suggest you go there and treat yourself
The 2nd Day
- Upon arriving at SLMCEC, the guard pointed me to another guard inside, standing behind some kind of podium, I handed him my receipt and he entered the control no. on a computer database, so this guy sort of has the ‘master’s list’ for all results of med exams.
--------------------------------
There are two things I know by far regarding the results:
If the guard stamped your receipt with “IMMUNIZATION” – then congratulations! You passed the medical exam and if you have anything scheduled after that, like for example - your visa interview in two days (like me), then there should be no worries.
If the guard stamped your receipt with “SPUTUM --- something” then unfortunately, you have to have a Sputum Collection and a 2-month long delay.
--------------------------------
…….. Okay, so I have mine stamped with “Immunization” and this made me proceed to 2nd floor for my vaccines.
- I gave my receipt to the guy at the reception (just the receipt, keep your passport) … and like always, I sat down and waited for my name to be called.
- ZZZZzzzzzzZzZzzz
- The intercom may sound vague most of the times, so you must listen attentively all the time.
- My name was called and they made us fall in line in front of the check out counter on the same floor (2nd floor). The guy behind the counter collected our passports.
- Go back to sleep. I mean, get back to your seat.
- My name is called and it’s time for my immunization. The attending nurse first asked me some few questions about allergies I might have, date of first and last day of my last menstrual period, my name, age and birth. Vaccines may vary for every applicant, I had 4 shots, 2 on each arm (TDAP, MMR, Anti-Cervical and HPV).
- *phew* .. thanks goodness, everything’s done … I was told to wait at the ground floor for the results.
:: GROUND FLOOR ::
- Zzz
- Waited like 3 hours
- My name is finally called but it’s not for the result yet … I went to window 1, the personnel made me sign my PDS and then I surrendered my passport .. told to me waaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiit until I die … kidding … waited for another 2 hours or so.
- RESULTS!! Oh the Wonderful Result!! … I was called to window 6 with a female staff – she asked a lot of questions like a pre-screener at the interview, she seems to ask a lot about what you’ve written on your PDS and a few from the physician comments written on it .. she’s kind of like verifying.
- She finally handed down a CD containing the X-ray details and a Vaccine sheet (these 2 are the only things they'll give you). She also told me that they would be the one to forward the results of my Medical Exam to the U.S. Embassy. They would keep everything including your passport.
- I went out. Took a pedicab to Taft Avenue and bought myself a Baconator for all my day’s worth.
So I'm sitting in my favorite chair tonight watching Lost on Netflix, when my email notifier went off on my phone. Then it went off 3 more times. Every one of them said "From USCIS" and my heart skipped 5 beats.
APPROVED!!!! NOA-2 arrived 93 days after NOA-1 received!!!! I've yet to tell my fiancee. She is taking a shower and getting ready for work. I pleaded for a quick Skype video call.....we are gonna be screaming and shouting!!!
You did very well getting approved in 73 days.....WoW!!! Ours took 92 days, which seems about average. Just got off from Skype where I told my fiancee, and we were both screaming for joy!! Now it's REAL!!
So I'm sitting in my favorite chair tonight watching Lost on Netflix, when my email notifier went off on my phone. Then it went off 3 more times. Every one of them said "From USCIS" and my heart skipped 5 beats.
APPROVED!!!! NOA-2 arrived 93 days after NOA-1 received!!!! I've yet to tell my fiancee. She is taking a shower and getting ready for work. I pleaded for a quick Skype video call.....we are gonna be screaming and shouting!!!
So I'm sitting in my favorite chair tonight watching Lost on Netflix, when my email notifier went off on my phone. Then it went off 3 more times. Every one of them said "From USCIS" and my heart skipped 5 beats.
APPROVED!!!! NOA-2 arrived 93 days after NOA-1 received!!!! I've yet to tell my fiancee. She is taking a shower and getting ready for work. I pleaded for a quick Skype video call.....we are gonna be screaming and shouting!!!
You did very well getting approved in 73 days.....WoW!!! Ours took 92 days, which seems about average. Just got off from Skype where I told my fiancee, and we were both screaming for joy!! Now it's REAL!!
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