George and Movi

It is best to let her do the medical exams at St. Luke's the soonest. Her xray from other doctor will not be relied upon by St. Luke's although she can bring it with her during the med exams. St luke's will do a chest xray. If St. Luke's find something in the xray that would be suspected to be TB, then she will be required to undergo the 3 day Sputum Test. If the sputum tests turns out to be positive, then she has to undergo the treatment. The treatment is normally for 6 months. She will be required to do the "directly observed Therapy' at St. Luke's. That means she has to be at St. Luke's everyday for the next six months, to take her medications. That is the treatment required by the US.

However, should the sputum smear test turns out to be negative, then she has to wait another 2 months for the result of another test - the culture test. Should the culture test result be negative, then St. Luke's will schedule her interview. Otherwise, she will undergo the six months treatment at St. Luke's. My daughter went through this ordeal. \

Pls. bear in mind, that St. Luke's is the accredited clinic by the US embassy to do the medical exams, so its best that she goes for the medical exams the soonest.

Know this is real tough. But an early detection and treatment for her is the best!

Good luck!!

What is a good website that I can use to open a joint bank account in the philippines for my wife and I?

Hi,

Normally the bank will require 2 valid IDs from each of you, a picture and both should appear personally in bank to sign the specimen cards. My fiancee and I opened a joint account in the Phils and he even have his personal savings account (at that time we were not married yet) and he was not required by the banks to present any docs from the Bureau of Immigration at all, except a valid US passport.

hi there everyone..i wonder if someone went through the same story like mine..

my fiance filled for k1-k2 visa december 17 and my (3 kids) already had their vaccines.

As for me, i had to go through phsyc evaluation before i have my vaccine(which i wsnt aware of) ..

i never knew this until the 3rd day of our medical at st lukes.i was suppose to have my interview april 12 but i was

adviced to wait until i get results from the phsyc doctor.OH WHAT A WASTE OF TIME!

The Doctor said that it would take 2 weeks to get the results and to be forwarded to st lukes,

but my fiance just went balistic about it and begged to get it sooner..the doc promised to do it as quick as she

can so now were just waiting 1 week (i hope)..

my question is..CAN WE JUST CALL THE US EMBASSY FOR OUR RESCHEDULED INTERVIEW??instead of getting

st lukes to do the new sched for us??cos ive heard theyd schedule us 2 weeks after i get the vaccine!

we have waited 1 year and 4 mos for my annulment to be over and i think too much time was wasted over

this stupid wait..pls help

Hi,

I understand your disappointment. Waiting is such a stress!! In my case, my annulment took five years before it was finally granted and 11 TRIPS of my fiance to the Phils til we finally get married. Once an applicant does not make it to her interview schedule due to some issues with the medical exams, then it is St Luke's which will set the schedule. But I tell, they will give you the soonest date available once the medical results are completed. In the case of my daughter who was a K2, she was not able to join us in our original schedule of interview due to some tests required after her xray. But as soon as the test turned out negative, St Luke's set a schedule for her interview and it was 2days after her completion of the test and shots.

Just pray and hang on!

Hi, my fiance has been asked to produce the actual court hearing decision from her annulement when she was taking her medical at St Lukes today. This seems strange that they require this during the medical. Is this a requirement? We do have the other court documents (marriage licence with annulment on the side, Finaility of Annulment). Do they ask for this at the interview?

Hi,

My previous marriage was also annulled and I took a certified copy of the court decision during the medical exams. I think the reason that St Luke's requires the applicant to present the court decision is for them to know the grounds of the annulment. One of the most common grounds is psychological incapacity. St Lukes is interested if the applicant was declared psychologically incapacitated, in which case she will be required to undergo psychological evaluation to be conducted by an accredited psychiatrist of St Luke. The medical examination conducted by St Luke's covers physical, mental and psychological condition of the applicant. Thus, once the applicant is declared psychologically incapacitated in the annulment order, then, it is imperative for St Luke's to evaluate the psychological condition of the applicant.However, if your fiancee was not declared psychologically incapacitated then she will not be required to undergo psych evaluation. I have read a number of applicants who were declared psychologically incapacitated in the annulment proceedings but surely passed the psych evaluation conducted by St Luke.

In my case, the doctor just read the dispositive portion of the court decision to check who was declared psychologically incapacitated. She did not read the several pages of the decision at all. I was not required to undergo psych evaluation by St Luke.

The court decision and the Order of finality is presented and asked during the interview.

Good luck!

Thanks to all for the reply...

My 1-94 expires in June, so we have decided to get SSN after the marriage. I have one question again....

We are planning to start the AOS right after we get married... Considering the cost for AOS, am thinking that we won't buy wedding rings for now, and save that for our church wedding in the philippines....

Do you think this is a good idea? Are there couples who have tried this?

Thank you and take care everyone.

I understand that the cost of AOS is quite a blow. We got married last month and intend to do the filing of AOS before this month ends. There are three of us ( my son, daughter and I ) to file AOS and of course the fee also means three times.I know that as Filipina, you really wish your wedding be something special with your family and friends to attend, thats why you still love to have a church wedding in the Phils. We got married here. It was nice and simple with a touch of the filipino tradition, but I tell you, while preparing for it, there were times, I really wished that we're getting married in the Phils hahaha!

Anyway,I dont think the wedding rings are necessary.In my opinion, those rings are only used during ceremonial rites. Do whatever you think you can in order to save. In my case, I had my gown and our wedding rings made in the Phils before we left. I made the bouquets and all decorations for the wedding. We saved big time! Remember to enroll in a refresher course is also expensive and the cost of other trainings that they required us to have.

By the way, I applied for SSN after the wedding and I already received my card. Next week, will apply for driver's license.

Best wishes!

Hi, i'd like to inquire what tests they conduct or perform during the medical? would it take longer than a day? How soon can the results be released granting the medical is clear?

They conduct HIV test, hepa test, chest X-ray, pregnancy test, physical examination and other routine tests. The tests are usually done on the first day and once the applicant records and tests are cleared then the vaccination is done the second day. In our case, my son and I had our vaccination shots, one working day before the interview, so St Luke's gave the sealed medical reports to us and we submitted the sealed envelopes to the US embassy during the interview. However, in the case of my daughter, even if she completed the vaccination 2 days before the interview, the medical report was not given to us to be hand carried. We were told by St Luke's that they will submit it to the US Embassy.Both cases worked for us ( hand carried and not hand carried)

The medical results are completed on the 2nd day as soon as the applicant signed and received a copy of the CD xray and vaccination supplemental report.

Good luck!

I signed up with CFO to see how it works and I was able to log-in. After I created my account, they sent me the following email:

Your Login E-mail: xxxxxxx@yahoo.com

Your Password: xxxxxxx

Click the link to redirect you to start your On-line Reservation! http://reservation.cfo.gov.ph

I logged in using the "log-in email" as username and then the password afterwhich the next window opened up the registration page.

You might want to check your Inbox and check for the email from CFO.

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.Good for you it works. But after several attempts before I made the original post, I no longer try it.

By the way, last year, I was able to make an online reservation for peer counseling. It worked! but then the other day, I tried to make one and it didnt work for me at all.

This time, that online reservation box in the website of CFO didnt work for me at all. I did receive a reply that they will send to my email but i never received any in my email. My fiance even signed up but same didnt work for him.The other day, I sent an email to the CFO about what happened but so far, I just received an info that they received my email. but no reply as to my inquiry.

I made several attempts to call their reservation numbers but no avail. I sent an email to the site inquiry but no reply. I even called the chairman's office which gave me the same numbers i was calling,but I told her I need the services of their office and the numbers they gave do not answer the calls and that i do not receive any replies from the email i sent.

Finally, i send an email to pdosreserve@cfo.gov.ph (after I remember reading abt it last year) asking for a reservation for my children. I did not fill out any reservation form at all. I just included in my email all the related information which I think they might need. And at last, I received a confirmation!!

It always like pulling a tooth when getting a reply from government offices.

Whew!! what a relief. Glad i got a confirmation for my children.

I agree, St. Mary's in Katipunan is so much easier to deal with, no appointments needed, you can walk-in anytime during their business hours. They have a CFO Satellite office at the back so you can get your CFO Stickers and Certificates of Attendance the same day (basta you have your visa with you already...or else they will ask you to return when you have the visa).

Hi,

What i was referring to in my post is Peer Counseling which is intended for 13-19 years old and who are not partners nor spouses of foreign nationals.

St Mary's and PRISM are NGOs accredited by CFO to conduct guidance and counseling to spouses and partners of foreign nationals. The guidance and counseling is conducted by these two agencies while the Peer Counseling is conducted by the CFO and reservation is required.

Anyway, thanks for the reply.

I think, theres no need for you to register or make a reservation. I just called St. Mary's last week, and was told that you can come anytime from Monday to Friday (they have time skeds anyway =)

Thanks for the reply.The one conducted by St Mary's and PRISM is the guidance and counseling and not peer counseling. That one does not require reservation. The peer counseling is conducted by CFO and it requires reservation.

Anyway, I was finally able to make a reservation for my 2 children.The numbers they posted on the website for peer counseling reservation is so busy and if it rings but nobody answers. I was not able to get through for 2 days. It was an email to pdosreserve@gov.ph.com that finally worked and at last I received a confirmation.

Hi guys,

I know for a fact that the CFO required the participants for Peer Counseling to make a reservation 5 days before the schedule date of the seminar.( it was based on their website).

I intend to make a reservation for CFO Peer counseling of my two children. I checked the website of CFO and clicked online reservation. I was required to sign up which I did. I was asked for user email and password which i gave.

After which I sign in to make the online reservation. I was asked for my user name and password. How can I gave my username when I was not asked for such when i sign up. I tried my luck, by typing the email address I typed when I sign up and my password, ad as expected it says "your username and password do not match".

I called the CFO several times, but either the number is busy or nobody is answering at all. Even the operators are all busy.

So here, I am confused on how to make the reservation for Peer Counseling for my 2 children.

Please to those who have make a reservation for Peer Counseling with the CFO, I need help on how to make the reservation.

Your help is very much appreciated.

Hi,

My 19 year old daughter had her K2 visa approval last jan 22, 2010. Please refer to my post.http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=238453

oh, i almost forgot. what happens if you do have to wait 2 months? do you have to file new paperwork? does the embassy just wait for you? do we start the process over? i'm really confused.

thank you

In the case of my daughter, after 2 months and the results was negative. St Luke's advised us to report to their clinic for her vaccination and pregnancy tests( since the last preg test was Nov.2009, thus has expired by then). St Luke's gave her a new appointment for interview. We did not file new paperwork.

You are so lucky congrats. My wife tested positive after her 2 month spetum culture (negative after the 3 day) and we are now finished with the 6 month Daily Office Treatment (DOT)...first day med exam is complete...awaiting day 2 and interview date...soon we hope!

Glad she religiously and patiently went to the St Lukes for her daily medications. Thats a long wait but an early detection and early treatment is worth all the troubles. I believe she has to undergo another medical exams and pay again the medical fee of $213.35 coz the validity of the medical exams of St Luke's is only 6 months.

Goodluck!

Avoid the misery. I had my wife and anak take a complete medical before we even started the immigration process. Daughter had evidence of TB and was treated and cured before the St. Lukes medical.

My daughter, my son and I had a medical our medical exams even before we went to St. Luke's. We were all clear. However, the St Luke's medical exams shall prevail as its the duly accredited clinic by the US embassy. Besides, it was explained to us during the pulmonary evaluation, that even if the doctor can not say that it is TB, it is a matter of the US policy that she be subjected to the culture test, to which we have to abide.

We are glad that after all the tests, she was declared negative.

Congratulations on finally getting your daughter's visa.

Thanks a lot and God bless!!

congratulations! a longer journey than you expected but it's all worth it!

Thanks! Youre right. Its worth it!

having to do the 3-day sputum and the 2 months waiting is so stressfull and devastating. we felt the same...i even cried right in front of the doctor and nurse but i didnt care.

i always have faith in God, so i was confident that my sputum and culture results are negative...which they were.

anyway, congratulations and have a safe flight soon!

Thanks a lot! It was one of the situation in our lives, that I stayed so calm. I need to be strong so my daughter will not feel so devastated. We hold on to each other and support each other.My fiance said "One for all, All for one."

The very stressful time was after the 3 day sputum smear when we were waiting for her turn for the pulmonary evaluation. As her turn gets closer, the anxiety level gets higher too. We felt like there was a bomb ticking, ready to explode in any moment. It was a great relief when the doctor told us its NEGATIVE. The next two months of waiting was not as stressful as the waiting for the pulmonary evaluation though.

I kept a diary of the details. I can say that even the falling of leaves has its reason.

Glad she is not inflicted with TB and so are we!

congrats po ate movi..finally po..soon ull be here with ur fiance and daughter...

muah..

daisy

Thanks my dear! kaya nga e, its indeed a long journey. George is so positive that my daughter will have a negative results, so when he bought the tickets last december, he bought for 4 of us.

As of this time, im taking care of my audit reports and nclex documentation. Believe it or not, my clearance is not yet approved, it is still in manila. Hope i will receive the authority to travel before the 11th of Feb.

God bless!!

Congrats on a long jpurney finally completed!

Get your CFO for all of you and you are ready to get on the plane!!

Welcome to America!

-Phil

Thanks! Yes, this Feb 11, my kids , my fiance and I will be heading to manila. We will get our stickers since I already attended the guidance and counselling at SMEF last Nov.

Last Nov 16, 2009, my daughter, son and I went to St Luke's for our medical examinations. We arrived at 9am and it was smooth and orderly. By 4pm, we were informed that my son and I passed the medical examination while my daughter's chest x ray results showed that there was a nodule on her left lung.

It was like a deafening bomb that exploded right in front of us! I was shocked at first, but did'nt question the findings at all. The nurse told us that my daughter has to undergo sputum smear tests for the next 3 days. If the smear tests turns positive then my son and I will not be allowed to go for the interview which is scheduled Nov 23. In addition, if it turns positive, my daughter will be required to appear daily at St Luke's for the next six months for her medication.

For us who live in Mindanao, the possibility of her staying in Manila for six months while undergoing treatment means very very expensive. Add that to the anxiety and stress that we were going through at that moment.

For three mornings, we accompanied her to St. Luke's . She was wearing mask upon entering the premises and joined the other persons doing their sputum specimen production. It was gross and tough but no choice. What we had in mind at that time was that :an early detection and early treatment is for the best of everyone!

Three days later, her sputum smear tests turns negative. But it did not end there. The specimen needs to be subjected to culture tests for the next 2 months. We were told that if the culture test turns positive then, my daughter will be required to undergo the DOTS ( six months treatment). If negative, then she will be given a new schedule of interview.

My son and I were allowed to attend the interview and got our visas approved.

We waited for 2 months and called on Jan 18, 2010 (the scheduled date St Luke's told us to make the call). After making several attempts, we got in touch with St Luke's. We were informed that the culture tests turns negative. We were advised to report to St Luke's on Jan 20 and her interview is scheduled Jan 22 at 830am.

St Luke's did not offer any medical explanation on what was the nodule about.The vaccination was administered to her after requiring her to undergo another pregnancy test and requiring us to pay P495.

I accompanied my daughter to her interview. The pre screener just asked for the following:

1. Birth certificate

2. NBI clearance

3. Family pictures together. (the pre screener even asked for baptismal pictures but I had not brought one)Good thing, my fiance started visiting us since 2003 to 2010. For the 11 times that he visited us, like a family we have pictures together during the important occasions like Christmas, graduation, Proms, birthdays, children's activities in school and family trips and adventures together.

4. Affidavit of support ( I presented a photocopy of the affidavit of support I submitted last Nov)

The consulate officer who speaks tagalog fluently was impressed about the fact that my fiance visited us for 11 times. He asked the following questions:

1. Who is the petitioner?

2. What is his occupation?

2. How many children you have and their ages?

I answered "Two, daughter is 19 and son is 17"

3. Where is your son?why is he not with you ?

I answered "We already had our interview last Nov and got our visas.

4. Are you married to the father of the children?

I answered "We were married and we have an annulment."

The consul asked the following question from my daughter:

1. What is your name?age?

2. Why were you not able to attend the interview last Nov?

My daughter replied " I waited for the results of of the tests from St Luke's"

The consul said "Ok, let me take a look at your case". He went over the medical results.

3. Are you studying?

4. What are your plans when you arrive in the US?

He typed on his computer and then said "Congratulations, your visa is approved."

We got inside the premises of the US embassy at 710am and left at 12:30pm.

When St. Lukes does reschedule the interview, What is the time span between them actually doing it and then having the interview itself? Would it be within 1 month of her being cleared from St. Lukes that she would have interivew?

Hi,

My daughter had undergone the sputum smear tests last Nov 17-19, 2009. Her tests were negative and we were advised to make a call on Jan 18, 2010 for the culture results. Today, I called and was advised that on Jan 20, 2010, we bring her passport, the receipt and the original appointment for interview and her new interview is scheduled on Jan 22.

just got a phone call from my Mom.Air21 just delivered my daughter's visa.I am soooo happy! Thanks God!

Congratulations!! finally your daughter will be with.God bless!!

I kinda know about it and thought that everybody has debts. I just didn't know that it will turn out like this. This is so bad. He told me mainly because of his travel to the Philippines to visit me. He visited me 5 times before I got here in the USA and we went back this year for his major dental problem but it didn't get fixed.

Is it my fault that he visited me many times thats why he owes too much? I didn't force him to.. although i liked it and enjoyed the company but i didnt think that in the future right now that I and him would be in deep debt.

Sorry that you are in such a predicament. Please dont think that it was because your husband visited you 5 times then it was your fault that he is indebted this much. It will just add to your misery.

To tell you, for 7 years now, my fiance visited me for the 11th times now here in the Philippines. His average stay in the Philippines every time he visits me is 3 months. He is a part time employee. He afforded the 11 trips to the Philippines because of proper financial planning. His priority is to make sure he saves, to pay the full amount due on his credit card upon due date and to use the credit card only if he has enough amount in his account to pay for it. (I do the same)

I maybe an Accountant by profession, but i can say he is far off better than me when it comes to financial recording and management. I am amazed at how he kept records of all his transactions. He even records how much we owe each other. He uses quicken while i just do the manual recording of my income and proposed budget. We stick to our budget.

We have talked about financial concerns and issues even during the first few months of our relationship.(by the way, we are not married yet but will be in 3 months) We opened our financial records to each other so as not to be caught unguarded when we are already married.

I know how focused and determined you are to work on your financial problems and how it has affected you. I suggest you prepare a working paper(excel format) which will show the financial effects of what you are suggesting and recommending to him. Sometimes, a concrete proof or report is better than verbal statement.

Lastly, a person who has a complete records of his financial resources and expenditures will have a basis in making a sound economic decision.

Good luck!!

QUOTE (50 cool 50 @ Jan 1 2010, 10:29 AM) *

sorry naturalised

Well, I did hope for more of a response from a Brit', a tribe known for quick-wit, than just, "Sorry naturalised."

Did I touch on a nerve for highlighting a misspelling?

Have no fear, 'Redcoat'. You're in good shape. The forum 'Mommy' tied you to her apron string and corrected the spelling of your Title. You are WHOLE again.

Cheers,

George

Dear 'British Newbie',

I've always had a great appreciation for the well-timed, intellectualized, sarcastic humor of those Brit's I've had occasion to meet. That being said, I feel confident, had this exchange been verbal in lieu of the written word, your retorts and our resultant laughter would have us spilling our beer.

You state, you want to be "Neutralised." Go to Detroit or Chicago at night time. Someone hard to spot in the night will 'neutralize' you in short order. However, on the more probable chance you meant you want to be, 'Naturalized', as a citizen, (considering all you wrote), I would have to say, in the Brit and U.S. vernacular, you are screwed.

Do some quick research on the consequences of not abiding by the immigration rules. Rule 1 - Follow the rules. Rule 2 - Immigration only has sympathy for those who swim the river on the southern U.S. Border. The swimmers can say they came to reclaim their party pinata and get a visa. You...you are screwed.

Your marriage deal...I see a simple answer there. If you want to get married then do so. However, it doesn't sound that way. So, don't.

Remember the old saying about prenuptial agreements, "Honey, I trust you. It's your lawyer I don't trust."

It seems you're in a pretty good mess. Maybe get a log cabin in a back-woods community, raise your daughter with your woman, home school her and sweat sweat out the installation of new conservative government replacing the socialist one we have now.

My best to you,

George

i want to go visit my girl in mania and her family. how safe is it for americans to visit the philippines? has anyone here recently traveled to the philippines and had any saftey problems? every since she went back home i miss her so much and want to go see her.. but i hear bad things about the philippines.. if u guys have been there can u give me advice. is it ok to travel there will i be ok to travel there?

So you want to visit your girl in "mania." You may get your wish. Just check out the definition of 'mania." [An abnormally elevated mood state characterized by such symptoms as inappropriate elation, increased irritability, severe insomnia, grandiose notions.]

Firstly, your 'inappropriate elation', may be your thoughts just before arriving in Manila. You are entering the fifth most polluted city in the world. The air you breathe may be more deadly than anyone who might have their eye on your wallet.

Secondly, the 'increased irritability' will not take long to set in. This comes after you've become acclimated to the 'elation' of seeing your woman. You now have a chance to get fed up with the various annoyances that come your way. That will pass. Many NEW things to get fed up with will force out becoming focused on the original ones.

The "sever insomnia", in your trip to 'mania', that being all sectors of Manila will find you in need of either a set of foam ear plugs or some real good drugs designed to put-down a bull elephant. (I swear to you, bring those foam ear plugs.)

Cab drivers and jeepney drivers would honk their horn if there was not another existing soul on earth. This blast occurs at intervals of about 10 seconds. Multiply that by the number of Jeepney's within earshot of your hotel room window; well, you get the idea. Add to that, the buzz of thousands of air conditioners, barking dogs and the scourge of the earth, videoke machines with a self-deluded singer at the working end of a microphone, will find you in need of the aforementioned plugs or elephant tranquilizer.

The final part of your visit to 'mania', is your "Grandiose notions."

Regardless of the all consequences, insecurities, threats, cost, bouts with uncontrolled intestinal release, culture shock and language barriers your "Grandiose notions" will still find you wanting to marry your 'Pearl of the Pacific."

Take heed to the others suggestions for staying safe and staying next to those in the know. I don't care if I was visiting a monastery. I do not want to look like a tourist. So, if for no other reason, don't look like a tourist. Though off subject, don't show up looking like a BIG LOSER. Get a haircut. Wear decent clothes.

I live in General Santos City, Mindanao. Movi, the member of this forum, asked me to contribute my thoughts. I can tell you, on Bohol and Panglao, Movi and I have took a motorcycle trip on a Honda 250 Enduro, into the interior of the island of Bohol and the entire circumference of the island of Panglao.

On the island of Mindanao, Movi and I have 4-wheeled up into the mountain villages, where almost none here have gone and only a few have ever heard of. I've ridden my mountain bike a total of about 400 miles; up into the mountains and in places the locals think even they might be kidnapped.

All-in-all, I've made 11 trips to the Philippines. No problems.

I say, if the State Departments of the various nations want to issue alerts for their people to not venture into Mindanao, then issue alerts for their people to not go the cities in the U.S.A. where the murder rate far outstretches ANYTHING you would find here.

If you are killed in Mindanao because you are a U.S. citizen. You are dead. If you are killed in Detroit, U.S.A., because some ghetto fool wants the $5.00 you have in your wallet ... you are dead. Detroit is a hell of a lot more dangerous than here.

Enjoy your stay with your "Pearl of the Pacific."

George

Visit our web site at: www.gracegeneralsantos.org

Hi, I am from GenSan too. May I know where you got your NBI? Thank you...

NBI office in Gensan is just a few meters from the Mercury Drug store in Lagao.