liraC

Hello, my friends! I am planning to have my medical examination at St. Luke’s in a couple of weeks. Please offer me any advice that might facilitate the exam and may actually help me pass it. Something like specific do’s and don’t’s and your experience at St. Lukes might help. Also, please post any relevant matter that might not have been covered at the Embassy’s website. Thanks.

Make a copies of your immunization record..don't leave any blank in the form that you are going to fill up..

{CAUTION}=St.lukes staff some are MALDITA,MATARAY... }

Hello VJ's members...8th weeks ko na waiting for my sputum culture result,tumawag friend ko sa st.lukes on my behalf kasi parang di ko kakayanin kung ano man ang sasabihin ng st.lukes,pero sabi la pa daw ang result...My schedule to call is on APRIL 1,i am thinking to call back again on monday next week,sana meron na at sana talaga NEGA para matapos na ang paghihirap na'to,sobrang nakakakaba talaga..Ask ko lang dun sa mga nakadanas ng sputum test,sa tingin nyo kaya NEGA na,huhuhuhu..

Helo Vejers....!!

Who among you here got CENOMAR?

I just got my cenomar in NSO just this morning...Below the cenomar it states that i am requesting for this for "REFERENCE PURPOSES"...In relation to this, should I ask to NSO for the specific reason or purpose for getting my cenomar that state that my purpose for this is for the FIANCEE VISA APPLICATION (to be specific)...?or is it okay that the NSO gave to me will not be corrected?...Is it matter to CO about this thing just "REFERENCE PURPOSES"?

Please do help just a little bit confused...

Any opinions and ideas are highly appreciated...

I am sorry,i can't answer you about this. .Am getting confuse also about it,i got my CENOMAR and stated for MARRIAGE.. :

I am considering flying to Manila on the first flight, probly getting there around 10 AM. I hope to spend as few days as I can in Manila bcuz I can't miss my classes and it's rather expensive there.

Went there 7 am and that was tuesday,done around 11 am.!!!

hi everybody was surprised how fast my visa arrived, just had interview last wednesday march 18 then now friday march 20 Air 21 delivered my visa. wowowowoowo God is good..

OMG sis........ ..am so so happy for you.God is so great...Takce care and goodluck sis...

I don't think they'll be allowed in till they're totally cured... whether they're Smear Negative or Smear Positive, the embassy won't grant them visa unless they're clean

Yes, I think you are correct, but this is just plain WRONG to stop them from traveling if they are smear negative. My brother-in-law went to the Philippines last May to pick up his 2 children and they tested positive as well. They were allowed to travel and simply ordered to be treated for TB once they arrived in the US. It seems as if the NVC policy has changed...but for the worse. The way they had it before was the right way to handle things.

Am so sorry to hear that your step son will undergo sputum test,am on the same boat and waiting is really sucks..My smear test turn out negative but am here,still waiting for the culture result as of january 29,2009...

Thanks for your thoughts, and I am so sorry to hear that you are going through the same thing. It is so frustrating! I suppose that it will actually be a lot longer than 2 months, as the interview will need to be rescheduled, and then a new flight booked...all for no reason (if the smear is negative, that is).

According to what I have read since my original post here, the proper protocol is to start administering 4 different medications right away while waiting for the culture test. The assumption is that the culture will not only come out positive, but will identify the particular bacteria that is present in the body. After about 2 weeks of medication, the patient is usually no longer contagious (assuming a positive smear test), and SHOULD be cleared for travel. It seems that St. Luke's, or the NVC, whoever is responsible for this terrible policy, is going too far with their precautionary measures.

BTW, did they start you on the 4 medications yet?

Assuming for the negative result of my sputum culture..If the smear test is positive will start for the medication and if turn out negative have to wait 2 mos for the result of sputum culture,and if the result tuns out postive then start for the medication..There are some member here in VJ who undergone sputum test and smear test turns out negative but the culture test turn out positive,..

hello guys!i am an august filer at califonia service center and after 7 months of waiting the uscis approved the petition last march 6, 2009...just recently.the annoying thing is that during that course of time, my lawyer did the follow-up but then they said they have not processed the petition yet.she requested to expedite my case.on march 10, the california service center emailed her saying that my case can't be decided yet because it's under investigation.my frustration adn depression went high even more.but on march 11, she received an email and my fiance also received a hard copy of the approval notice (NOA2).i just can't believe how unsystematic they are.now my fiance called the nvc and asked for the case number.he was given a case number yet the operator said it's not forwarded to manila yet because it's still under investigation at washington dc (background check).how long does this normally take?

MINE,TOOK 2 DAYS IN THE NVC,AND 6 DAYS AFTER USEM GOT THE CASE..

my second concern is about the baptismal certificate.i learned that some were asked of this.i was a catholic but now a christian convert and was baptized just last year.will my recent baptismal certificate do?or should it be the one from the catholic church when i was still months old?please guys i need some enlightening here.

I DONT THINK BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATE IS NEEDED?FIRST TIME I HEARD.,BUT FOR THE ADDITIONAL PERSONAL INFO,WHY NOT..!!

God bless you all!

Proverbs 3:5-6

"trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean on not your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge HIM and HE will make straight your paths"

Hello,

Luckymom's husband here. Luckymom, my Filipino US temporary resident alien wife, is currently in the Philippines to be with her 13 and 18 year old sons, both of whom I have petitioned to join my wife and I here in the USA.

She left for the Philippines on March 8 and accompanied her 2 boys to their medical examination at St. Luke's Medical Center in Manila a week ago. Both boys are scheduled for their interviews next Monday, March 23rd, but we have run into a snag. The 18 year old was never skin tested for TB, but instead was given a chest x-ray (which he passed). The 13 year old, on the other hand, was given a TB skin test (which he failed), and then was sent for a chest x-ray. The x-ray came back as abnormal, though they don't know if it is TB or not - nothing conclusive. As a result, he has been ordered to have BOTH a sputum SMEAR test and a sputum CULTURE test. The smear test only take a few days, but the culture test requires him to remain in the Philippines for an additional 2 months, which means his interview must also be rescheduled. They also said that if the culture is positive, then he would be required to remain in the Philippines for 6 months while he is being treated.

I have done some research on the net on these tests as well as talking to a doctor at our government sponsored TB clinic here in the US, and from everything I have discovered, the procedures being followed at St. Luke's are incorrect and do not follow typical protocol. From what I have learned, they SHOULD be ordering ONLY a smear test at this point. If he is smear negative, then he should be allowed to travel, as he is not contagious and is not a health threat. If he is smear positive, then he should begin medication to attack all 4 of the possible bacterial variations and have a culture test administered at that point in order to isolate the bacteria and adjust the medication to best combat it. They also said that after about 6 to 8 weeks of treatment, he should become smear negative, and as they already said, he should be allowed to travel to the US.

My questions:

1. Is St. Luke's policy typical of the new medical protocol as of July 2008?

2. Is the official NVC policy on this available for me to read somewhere?

3. Is there a phone number I can call where I can talk to to someone with the authority to do something about this?

4. Do you have any other ideas on anything else I can do here in the US to stop this injustice?

I feel so incredibly helpless right now. My wife and 2 stepsons are in the Philippines and I can't seem to do anything about the situation. If the boy tests smear positive, then obviously they are making the right decision in keeping him there, as that means he is contagious and a health risk. But the TB professionals have assured me here in the US that there is no reason for him not to travel if he is smear negative, and under normal conditions it should only take 6 to 8 weeks for him to become smear negative (if he is now smear positive), not 6 months. What are these people doing????

Thanks,

Bob

P.S. - Moderators, if this is in the wrong forum, please move the thread to the correct forum.

Am so sorry to hear that your step son will undergo sputum test,am on the same boat and waiting is really sucks..My smear test turn out negative but am here,still waiting for the culture result as of january 29,2009...

I just hope the phil govt brings her a$$ back in PI so she can face the consequences.. this is really an embarrassment to our country.

She is more than worst than the gold digger,maybe the conscience killing her softly..I never believed she was raped,not at all..

want to share my happiness, I passed my visa interview just this morning with flying colors. The pre screener was nice, the consul too didnt take 5 minutes inside. she asked my baby's US passport and CRBA certificate. Just asked my name, age, birthday, work of my husband, then thats it. she said your visa is approve.. will travel to to US this coming May 7 PAL. Las Vegas is my port of entry.... thanks to everybody who post their experiences and help a lot to everybody here.

My dear sis,a big big CONGRATZ to you ..Am so happy for you,very happy..God bless you and have a safe trip back to davao..mwahhhh

Glad you found it earlier,but we dont know maybe she was already cheating on you from the start and now its her time to get BUSTED. .God loves you!!!

Thanks MAE232,thank you so much..I really hope and praying it will turn out negative,dont have enough sleep for thinking too much about it,i dont want to think about it but sometimes it'll crosssed my mind and made me feel nervous..Everybody who are in the same situation,you're in my prayers...May God with us always...

Its my 7th weeks waiting for my sputum,but i feel i am more worried now than the first 2 weeks..Wanted to try to call SLEC but feel scared the result..Help me VJ's who are in the same boat...

Hi!

I hope someone will share their experience on this matter. I received an email confirming my appointment for the embassy. But, due to sputum test, the appointment was canceled. I was wondering why they send me this confirmation email of my appointment for my interview tomorrow. I am just freakin' out a bit because I was confirmed by the SLEC that they'll be the one notify the embassy that I undergo sputum test and I need to wait for 2 months. They got a copy of my confirmation email.

I am wondering if the email I received is just an automatic appointment reminder from the embassy because it doesn't have their signature.

Thank you for any response.

Hello..Thats nothing sis,i got the same email the day before my interview date..I was bit confused that time becuase i undergo sputum also..Goodluck and may god be with us always....

Whew! Thanks a lot! I haven't told my fiance because he might freak out too. Anyway, just a piece of an advice I got in some forum, I saw in your timeline that you are waiting for 6 weeks already, you can try to call SLEC anytime next week so that they can schedule your interview. Good Luck!

thank you for the idea,i have that in my thoughts but to be honest i feel scared..

Hi!

I hope someone will share their experience on this matter. I received an email confirming my appointment for the embassy. But, due to sputum test, the appointment was canceled. I was wondering why they send me this confirmation email of my appointment for my interview tomorrow. I am just freakin' out a bit because I was confirmed by the SLEC that they'll be the one notify the embassy that I undergo sputum test and I need to wait for 2 months. They got a copy of my confirmation email.

I am wondering if the email I received is just an automatic appointment reminder from the embassy because it doesn't have their signature.

Thank you for any response.

Hello..Thats nothing sis,i got the same email the day before my interview date..I was bit confused that time becuase i undergo sputum also..Goodluck and may god be with us always....

I can't say for certain, but I don't think a sexually transmitted disease like HPV/genital warts would keep someone out of the country. According to some estimations, upwards of 80% of sexually active women in the States have had HPV at some point in time (some strains eventually "disappear"). Plus, the medical exams don't conduct STD tests, so if the warts are burned off, how would they even know? There's action in Congress right now to lift the HIV ban, so something like genital warts pales in comparison...

i wish this would be the case..PI medical is kinda strict for reasons i don't even know..lol. they dig so deep on issues like this..

I AM FROM PANABO CITY,DAVAO DEL NORTE...proud ako sa place na ito cuz this place is one of the BANANA producer na iniexport sa ibang bansa..At ang mga companyang ito ang bumuhay halos sa mga taong naninirahan dito sa PANABO and company na ito has been know for decades...

My fiance is from FREDERICKSBURG,VIRGINIA..but grow up in PHILADELPHIA..

When I was in Davao many, many years ago, TADECO, which was owned by the Floirendo family was the biggest banana planter in Davao del Norte. Is it still the case today?

TADECO is still operating up to now and still owned by the floirendo family,..My father works there before for almost 20 years...

Look at the brighter side,there are so many couples out there are still now planning to file VISA,but look at you?you are now waiting for the approval and who know you'll be approve very soon...Keep on praying..God is great!!!

I got the letter from the US Embassy by Air21 delivery together with the K1 Visa packet. Is that what you were talking about?

same here,delivered by air 21..

Cherel and I went through the same thing. Don't wait the full 8 weeks before you call St Lukes. Call them about 10 days before they told you to. They often have the results at that time.

Good Luck

Bob

Hi Bob,thank you for the idea..I actually thinking of that but feel scared sometimes the moment i thought of it. but still,i'll try to call st.lukes 10 days before the given date..Thanks again and god bless u always..

Hi Davra..

God is very nice and he plans everything for all of us.. We will just pray for the results that it will turn out negative.. You will be with your love soon Davra,,I am on the same concern too but I always have positive thoughts that everything will just going to be fine..I pray for your results to be negative too Davra,, Take a deep breath and you will feel peace after you do that, raised it all to HIM.. He knows whats best for us and for you

Negative results is waiting for you

God bless you,,and Good luck to your journey to US

I agree with you BEAUMENCH...God is nice and great,thank you for that thoughts and i truly appreciated it,and yes,i feel peace and i raised it all to him already..Thank you,thank you so much...

To ENGLISHFAMILY and to HEY-WASSSAPENIN,thank you guyz for the encouragement..God bless you always..

Hello VJ's...Its my 6th weeks waiting today for my sputum culture test,hopefully no call till my 8th weeks..Please,i am

asking for a prayer for me,that hopefully my result turns out negative..This is like a torture but i know everything happens for a reason,..God is great... God bless us always

Congratulations ..NOA2 hard copy will follow,case goes to NVC for few days and then MNL case #...yeepeeyyy...Goodluck guyz,and tell to your fiancee to stay healthy always..May god bless you always..

Congratzzzzzz

Best Wishes...

Hello..Am on my 6th weeks next week for my sputum culture and i started cant sleep..My problem now is i forgot which contact # i gave st.lukes,if it is my landline # or my cell # or i dont know if i gave both kc memorize ko # ng landline ko samantalang ang cell # ko ay hindi kc that time ng medical ko ay bago ko lang pong bili ang sim ko..2 days after i arrived from manila,na misplace po ang sim ko for a month but i found it already just yesterday..Sa mga araw na nawala ang sim ko lage akong nkabantay sa landline phone ko dahil lng sa sputum na yan,although kinakabhan ako everytime the phone is ringing..Nitong umaga lang siguro mga 10 am,my landline phone was ringing 3 times at di ko nasagot because i was in the bathroom,pro di na ulit tumawag..Dko rin macheck kung sino kasi walang caller ID ang phone ko,i am worried at paranoid na ata kakaisip...Tapos,tiningnan ko ang cellphone ko,la ding tawag...Anong dapat kung gawin ngayon?pwede ba akong tumawag sa st.lukes and ask kung anong contact # nabigay ko?Need an advice,please...thank you!!!