Kikay K

There is blood testing, but I believe it's primarily for HIV. The amount we pay is just enough for basic tests. Doing further tests like detecting the presence of antibiotics in the blood would require a lot of work and money for them.

But nevertheless, I encourage you to be honest during your medical exam interview. They will ask you about the illnesses you've had, any hospitalizations and surgeries, and medications taken. It pays to be honest. If they discover you're lying, it will cost you your visa eligibility.

And if indeed you tell them that you took antibiotics for 6 months, I don't think you will be delayed in order to make the antibiotics disappear from your body. I've never heard of that and never read something about that before on the CDC docs and here on VJ. As long as you do not have a communicable disease such as HIV or TB, you're fine. For treatable infections, you will just be asked to take further antibiotics.

Oh, I just saw your post. Sorry. But anyway, my friend didn't tell me the details of her conversation with the call center agent. What I advised her is to just ask for an earlier interview date. Hope you were able to get one!

You're welcome. Just PM me if you have more questions. Good luck!

Pahabol: If you already have an interview schedule prior to having the medical exam, SLMEC will be the one to give you a new schedule. If you NEVER had an interview schedule before, you/your fiance will have to call the embassy for that (this happened to me, and the call center gave me a much better schedule than what SLMEC gave my sputum test batchmates who already had their prior interview date). I decided to do it this way since I knew I'll have the 2-month sputum test.

It was to much advantage that I went to SLMEC without my interview appointment date yet. I knew I'll have a 2-month sputum test delay so I didn't bother to set an interview yet prior to that. When I got my medical clearance after 2 months, my fiance called the embassy call center and they gave us an interview schedule two days after I got my vaccines. Compare this to those who already had a prior interview schedule: SLMEC would be the one to give them a NEW schedule. Apparently, they give much, much later schedules, like 2-3 weeks after calling. PLUS, they will set the date that you go back for your vaccines. As for me, I went for my vaccines the day I learned that I passed the sputum test, and I was interviewed 2 days after :-) The joy of knowing and waiting :-) Good luck to you all!

We had the same case (being treated for inactive PTB). Nevertheless, it's still PTB no matter how we look at it, and it will be treated as such in any situation such as our medical exam in SLMEC.

No need to wait for appointment letter. Like I said, just your NVC case number and the other documents that I mentioned are enough. Just make sure you'll appear like you know what you're doing (meaning, you know that this can be done) when you go to St. Luke's and be prepared to defend yourself, because some employees there may not be too knowledgeable about everything. Come to think of it, you really can have your medical taken already because you are expecting a 2-month delay. Anyway, you already have your NVC case number.

If they insist on the NVC letter, just tell them that you don't have it yet but you have the case number. Tell them you're expecting to undergo the sputum test. I did that and they didn't bother to nag about my NVC letter. I gave them the NVC letter when I went there for my pulmonary evaluation test (after the 3-day sputum collection).

Don't go to another hospital for a pre-test. You'll just waste your money and time there. SLMEC won't care for ANY tests done outside SLMEC, they won't even care if you were tested in St. Luke's main hospital.

Yes, you will need to disclose your PTB treatment during your medical exam interview. I did the same. I finished my 6-month treatment in 2008. A very small scar was found in my xray of course. Be prepared that you'll be undergoing the sputum test even if nothing shows up in your xray, even solely because of the mere fact that you had been treated for PTB before. Moreover, you are correct in saying that SLMEC radiologists have the reputation of seeing spots that cannot be seen by other doctors. LOL! So yes, you will indeed take the sputum test.

Good luck to you! I understand how you feel right now :-) It will be a breeze. Next thing you know, you're already packing for your trip and wishing that you're given more time to spend with your loved ones here in the Philippines :-p

Yes. I did that. BUT you need your NVC case number because that's your identification number until you get interviewed. Call NVC and ask for it.

Once you have the case number, just bring the NOA2 letter, your photos, passport, and fee and you're set. The staff will ask for the NVC letter to make sure you gave them the right case number, but that could follow. I told them I'll just give it to them when I return. It didn't cause any problems. My case might be different because I had the luxury of time, since I underwent the 2-month sputum test. Nevertheless, I was allowed to have the medical exam without my NVC appointment letter nor an interview date from the embassy.

Thanks, everyone! We have more options because of your input! :-)

hey guys. im a little confuse with this whole sputum culture test .. from my knowledge it usually just takes 2 days for the medical exam at st. luke. when did the whole 3 day sputum test start? and what is the 2 month culture test about? please please if anyone can give me some information about this i'd gladly appreciate it thanks in advance

If she doesn't have any findings on her xray on day 1, the medical exam will take only 2 days. If she has lung findings, she needs to undergo the 2-month sputum culture test. The 3-day sputum collection usually starts on the following week (but this largely depends on the work volume of St. Luke's). They will definitely tell the client when to go back. For now, don't think of the sputum culture yet. Most applicants don't have to undergo the sputum test. But if your wife has to undergo it, it'll be a breeze. It looked too long a wait for me back then, but now, everything seems to be a nice experience after all :-)

NVC will email the petitioner a PDF version of the appointment letter 2 to 3 weeks after NVC Case completion. Then only your wife can proceed for medical.

Loto

As per my conversation with the NVC staff in July 2010, they no longer send emails. It's only the hard copy of the letter that they send to the petitioner. My fiance just scanned and emailed it to me, and I gave it to St. Luke's on my second visit.

For more info on other options without the NVC letter, pls refer to my previous post above.

Can my wife go and have her exam without an interview date set by NVC?

YES, well, as far as she's from the Philippines, you can benefit from my experience. Here's my story:

- I just counted a few days from NOA2 receipt, then I called NVC to ask if they already got our case. They said yes, and so I asked for our case number. They said our NVC letter is on its way.

- Without my NVC appointment letter and without an interview appointment, I went to St. Luke's on the nearest working day available for me right after I called NVC, and that was Aug.2. I came in with my photos, passport, NOA2 copy, and NVC case number. The guard let me in and didn't even sk for an interview appointment or the NVC letter. I just said I'm a K1 applicant.

- When it was my turn to be received at the counter (where my data will be gathered by the clinic staff), she asked for my NVC letter and appointment letter, I said I don't have any but I said that the NVC letter is on its way. She said that they will just wait for the NVC letter because they only want to be sure that I gave them the right case number. She asked me to just give it to them when I return to St. Luke's. The appointment for interview is NOT a must, apparently. My lack of NVC letter and appointment letter didn't give me a hard time back then.

- I got my appointment for interview on October 12, and I got the Oct. 14 slot.

Hope this helps. Just know what you can do and cannot do and be prepared to defend yourself in case someone asks you.

Thank you for all your wonderful insights! :-) I've shared these with my fiance, and he's excited to see if the church wedding will work for us, too, in December. Otherwise, we can just have the civil ceremony as originally planned. Whatever kind of wedding we'll have this year, we'd still definitely have a "real" Catholic church wedding in 2011 with our families and friends, especially since my family would still have to travel from the Philippines.

Thanks again! :-)

Hi! My K1 visa has recently been approved, and I'm arriving in Chicago on Nov. 24. We'd like to get married asap (within 1-2 weeks) so we originally planned on getting a civil ceremony without guests, and just have a bigger celebration on our second wedding, which would be in the (Catholic) church. I have read on VJ and personally heard from some people that church weddings take a lot of time, especially that churches need to be booked at least 6 months before the wedding. Obviously, we do not have that option under the K1 visa.

BUT today, a fellow K1 holder emailed me that they got married in a military base chapel in Seattle on 10-10-10, and it only took them 2 weeks to prepare for everything! No guests, as well, but at least they were married by a priest. I'm kind of a religious nut and would also want to be married in a church rather than in a civil court, IF it's possible anyway. My friend and her husband aren't in the military. I asked her if we could do the same in Indiana or Illinois, but she said that she doesn't know, because they were given less restrictions and had a stress-free wedding preparation because they were married on 10-10-10, and the chapel had some sort of "promo offer" and they were open for 2 weeks near that date. They're so lucky! Plus, she said the requirements might really depend on the state AND the chapel/chaplain.

Does anyone have ideas on this military church wedding? Or does anyone have ideas on the possibility of having a QUICK catholic wedding other than in the military base chapel? No guests, no flashy clothes and music and decors... just us being wed by a priest. Please share.

Thanks in advance! VJ has always been my favorite site ever since I've become a member :-)

Wow! Thanks! That's the first option on my list :-D No, I haven't asked yet. I've been so busy with work and will be busy with it until a week before my flight. Ugh.

I'll be sending books and some summer clothes (as I'll arrive in the US during winter) and other inexpensive but favorite stuff.

Thanks again!

Hi! I'm flying to Chicago on Nov. 23, but I'd like to send some of my stuff ahead of time so I don't bring a lot and don't pay too much for excess baggage on the plane.

Does anyone know a good way to send a box to Chicago or Indiana? It's ok if it's slow, as long as it's safe and has a reasonable price :-) Any ideas on the price, too?

Thanks in advance!

Yey! Done with my medicals today! Interview is on October 14, which is 2 days from now! For the benefit of those who are waiting for updates from me (especially bhebe hehehe), here's the summary of what happened in my St. Luke's journey as a sputum test lady :-)

- August 2 - First day of medical exam. Before I went home, they told me that I'd be undergoing the sputum test. I was lucky because people usually learn about this on the second day of their medical exam.

- Aug. 9,10,11 - sputum collection

- Aug. 12 - sputum smear result (negative!!!) and pulmonary evaluation. I was given instructions on what to submit via private courier (specifically, my medical certificate from my doctor who helped in treating my asymptomatic TB in 2007-2008). I was also told to call on Oct. 8 for the result.

- Oct. 8 (Friday) - no result yet. I was told to call on Oct. 11 (Monday)

- Oct. 11 - no result yet in the morning. In the afternoon, I was finally told to go to St. Luke's the following day and bring my passport, appointment letter, and receipt. (They won't tell you the result of your culture via phone, but of course it's already obvious since you're already asked to bring your documents.)

- Oct. 12 - I arrived at 10 am and got out at 3 pm. I spent 5 hours there. Here's a list of what I went through today:

1.) Submitted my receipt to counter M.

2.) Waited for my turn on the immunization lobby (2nd floor). This took about 1.5 hours.

3.) When they called me, they told me that I need to have a repeat pregnancy test (MMR should NOT be given to pregnant women).

4.) I went to the 4th floor for the collection of my urine for the pregnancy test.

5.) I went to 5th floor for the pregnancy test payment, (P495?), and then gave the receipt to the 4th floor laboratory, and she told me that the result was already forwarded to the immunization room. This step was pretty quick.

6.) I waited for my turn to be immunized. This took less than 1 hour. I got DPT and MMR. I went out of the immunization room at 12 noon.

7.) I waited at the 1st floor. After a few minutes, I was called to proceed to counter A where I signed some papers.

8.) I had a quick lunch and then went back to continue waiting, then I was called to counter M, when they told me that I need to go to a Notary Public to have an affidavit of discrepancy. My xray from 2009 contains a wrong spelling of my surname. There's a nearby notary public, and it took me 15-20 minutes to complete everything.

9.) After I gave my affidavit of discrepancy, I waited again for less than 1 hour, and then I was called to counter C, which was my last stop. She gave me instructions for the interview and what I need to bring to the US as far as the medical exam is concerned. She also asked for my interview appointment letter.

10.) I paid my $350 (P15,400) K1 visa fee at a nearby BDO.

As far as the interview appointment is concerned, here's my story:

- I didn't call the US Embassy for an interview schedule yet before I went to St. Luke's on Aug. 2 because I knew that I'd undergo the sputum test (thanks to VJ for the advance info!).

- Today, I tried calling the US embassy using a PLDT call card worth P500 (my sis gave it to me for free). I used a smart cellphone (which didn't work), a PLDT landline (which didn't work), and a PLDT payphone (which didn't work). In short, I spent more than 30 minutes trying to reach the call center, to no avail, so I just asked my fiance to call from the US to set my interview date.

- My fiance called them at 10:30 am today for an interview schedule, only to be told that they won't give us one because it's the job of St. Luke's to give sputum test clients a new schedule.

- I asked the clinic staff about this, and they told me that it's wrong information from the call center!!! Since I haven't set any interview date yet, it's our responsibility to call the embassy for my interview date!

- So I asked my fiance to call again. At noontime, they gave him the earliest schedule that I could get, which is Oct. 14, two days after I got my vaccine (today)! I went to a nearby internet cafe and printed my appointment letter (the clinic will ask for a copy).

- On a side note, I have this K1 buddy (we went to the sputum test together), and she already had a prior interview date (which was of course postponed because of the sputum culture). Last October 8 when she got her sputum culture result, St. Luke's gave her an interview date of Oct. 29, which is much later than we expected! I'm so glad I didn't have to go through the same trauma. But then today, I told her that my fiance was able to get a great schedule for me (Oct. 14) via the call center, and so she also gave the call center a shot, and guess what, she got a better interview date -- Oct. 20! Moral lesson: Don't settle with what the clinic gives you. Call the embassy and set a better date. My friend could have gotten an even earlier schedule than Oct. 20 if she persisted some more, just like my fiance did. But anyway, my friend is happy with the new schedule.

That's it! It's been a great day! Thanks be to God!!! :-) Good luck to us all!

I called today, but they said that the result is not available yet. They asked me to call on Monday. Will give you updates next week! :-)

Hi! Bhebe sent me the link to this post. Glad to see my input in the OP :-) This is my last day of sputum culture, and I'm going to call them on Oct. 8 for the result.

Anyone who has a spot, scar, or lines on the lung will undergo the 8-week culture, regardless of whether pneumonia or other pulmonary condition is suspected. Even IF we indeed HAVE pneumonia and we took antibiotics for this, we still need to finish the 8-week culture because this is the most accurate test for TB, and TB is what they want to screen more than any other pulmonary condition. Having another xray, after approximately 12 weeks (3 months, which would be somewhere in December -- Dec. 13 for you) after your first xray some days ago, would be considered safe for your health and would show any improvement or worsening of your lung condition as a result of the antibiotic treatment, and if it is indeed pneunomia or another non-TB infection that was responsive to the antibiotic treatment.

Chrismae, even if they did not give you a definite date to call after Nov. 26, you can still (and in fact, you should) call them. They should understand the kind of suspense that people like us have while waiting for the culture result (although not hearing from them before your 8 weeks is over is a good thing because it means you're not turning positive YET haha!). Then of course, go back on Dec. 13 for your xray.

Hi! I'm on my 6th week of my sputum culture. I'm really praying hard for a negative result! I'm going to call SLMEC for my result on Oct. 8 (Friday). Thank you for the useful info on how soon SLMEC schedules the vaccination and the interview, but as we can deduce from it, the dates they'd give me would depend on the volume of work they (clinic and embassy) have by the time that my result is ready.

I'm posting this because I need to work on my schedule. This is my concern: I'd be very busy on the weeks following Oct. 8, and my next available non-working days would be Oct. 19 and 20 (when I could have my interview), then the days after Nov. 10 :-( As you can see, these available days are already relatively far from Oct. 8. Now, talking about the vaccination before the interview, I can go to SLMEC even on my busy working days BUT hope to get my vaccines before 8 am. After 8, I need to be out because I teach large groups of people and cannot be late.

These are my questions:

1.) Is it possible to get vaccinated before 8 am?

2.) How early do they start accepting people for vaccination? I can start lining up as early as 4 am :-) Or is this too early?

3.) What's considered to be a low-volume day for vaccinations? For medical exam, definitely not Mondays.

4.) How early do they start giving vaccines?

5.) Do they give priority to post-sputum test people?

6.) How many hours did your parents/relatives spend inside SLMEC for the vaccination?

7.) What else do I need to do after receiving my vaccines, and how much time would it take?

I'll worry about the interview date next :-)

Sorry if this sounds too much. I live in Bicol and go to Manila and other provinces to give lectures (that's why I'd be so busy after Oct. 8) and so I really need to study my schedule, otherwise, I might end up being interviewed in November! I should fly to the US on Nov. 22.

Thank you so much in advance!

Oh, my friend did apply for an immigrant visa in 2007, but as you have said, it's on retrogression, and since she didn't want to wait indefinitely, she looked for another employer who offered working visa. She found one just this year, and the employer immediately petitioned her. She will not be working as a typical registered nurse rendering direct nursing care. She'll be a clinical coordinator. She has informed her previous petitioner (for the immigrant status) of her recent undertakings with this new employer, but the former didn't respond (hasn't been in touch with her for 2 years). Her new employer assured her that her prior petition wouldn't be a problem to them.

These two reasons (her immigrant visa application and her job title as clinical coordinator) plus the fact that she's the only employee being petitioned this year by that new employer have raised suspicions for fraud. I hope all these will get ironed out soon. She's held in so much suspense and she's utterly helpless.

Thanks, Pinay Wife! I've relayed your info to her. She doesn't fall under those two categories. Last night, she told me the details of her interview, wow, it's definitely the most difficult interview one could ever have. She was interviewed by the CO at 9, but she came out of the embassy after 4 pm! Based on her stories, it appears that the embassy has access to her Yahoo and facebook accounts. Is this possible?

Hi! I'm writing this for my friend. She had her interview on Sept. 14 for a work visa as a registered nurse. After her interview, she was sent to a fraud protection unit in the embassy and was seen by another consul, who told her that they'd just let her know of their decision later on. They still have all her papers and her passport.

Now, obviously, this could make someone go nuts. Going on 4 days and no news still. Does anybody have ideas on this? Is this a common practice at the embassy? What's the prognosis for my friend?

Thanks in advance!

Hi! Condz, we have the same history. I underwent PTB treatment in 2007-2008, too. Although I was asymptomatic and sputum negative back then and my spot was as small as my pinky nail, I still chose to undergo treatment to stop the worries there and then. True enough, now I feel better while waiting for the sputum culture result, knowing that I've already been treated and that my recent xray shows further improvement in my lung (scar has been getting smaller even 2 years after treatment). I'm going on 5 weeks on my sputum culture this coming week. Looking forward to a negative sputum test result when I call SLMEC on Oct. 8. Good luck and more patience to us! :-)