Another St. Lukes MIS-diagnosis

[Kevin & Liz 1]

Just received the "scar tissue" diagnosis on the X-RAY from SLMCEC. It seems this is commonly a mistaken diagnosis, for whatever reason. So it is on to the Sputum Testing next week and another 2 months wait. I personally believe this to be BS since she was an OFW for 6 years and had medical exams and x-rays every 6 months by the employer. My fiancee wants to "handle it filipino style" to get her approval. Would like to hear any comments from others who have been caught up in the same BS. Also, my fiancee said SLMCEC will take care of rescheduling the interview. If anyone can confirm this I would appreciate it since my deadline is Aug. 9th for rescheduling. Thanks.

Kevin

[adiiann 163]

Just received the "scar tissue" diagnosis on the X-RAY from SLMCEC. It seems this is commonly a mistaken diagnosis, for whatever reason. So it is on to the Sputum Testing next week and another 2 months wait. I personally believe this to be BS since she was an OFW for 6 years and had medical exams and x-rays every 6 months by the employer. My fiancee wants to "handle it filipino style" to get her approval. Would like to hear any comments from others who have been caught up in the same BS. Also, my fiancee said SLMCEC will take care of rescheduling the interview. If anyone can confirm this I would appreciate it since my deadline is Aug. 9th for rescheduling. Thanks.

Kevin

Been through on that too..... I must say its bureaucracy. I am not even so keen with their standards. On my xray during my medical, they told me I have scar in my lungs and have to go Sputum Test... and blah blah which took 2 months. That was so damn 'coz a month before having medical, I have over-all check-up at St. Lukes Medical Hospital which is 100x better than them.

Maybe if US embassy will have at least 2 choices on where do you want to have medical, then you have second opinion, and they will be more critical with their diagnosis.

Anyway..... GoodLuck!

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

First, if she even offers to grease the wheels with cash (which I assume is "Filipino Style" then she will never get a Visa for the US.

In the Immigration process the only thing you should ever handle this was is expediting getting paperwork, not changing the contents of that paperwork.

Regarding "Knowing the scar is BS", a few points:

1. Why would you trust a medical from an employer who is financially motivated to keep her health records clean over a medical for US Immigration purposes that is motivated to protect the US from infectious diseases?

2. Wouldn't you prefer to know if she is positive for TB and have it treated ASAP?

3. I understand is sucks to be apart for any length of time but it this was someone else's fiancée wouldn't you want to know they were properly screened/treated before entering the US and coughing next to you at a museum?

[wizardfitz 13]

Just received the "scar tissue" diagnosis on the X-RAY from SLMCEC. It seems this is commonly a mistaken diagnosis, for whatever reason. So it is on to the Sputum Testing next week and another 2 months wait. I personally believe this to be BS since she was an OFW for 6 years and had medical exams and x-rays every 6 months by the employer. My fiancee wants to "handle it filipino style" to get her approval. Would like to hear any comments from others who have been caught up in the same BS. Also, my fiancee said SLMCEC will take care of rescheduling the interview. If anyone can confirm this I would appreciate it since my deadline is Aug. 9th for rescheduling. Thanks.

Kevin

Philippines has a prevalent TB situation, hence, everyone WILL most likely get s positive test. Were her employers specifically testing for TB then as well? How long ago was this?

There is no such thing as handling it Filipino style, St Luke's is 'governed' by the US Embassy/US Dept of Health/CDC. When I had my sputum test there, both DOH & CDC were there to observe their procedures to make sure everything was being done as they want it.

Lastly if you already have an interview date, yes, STL will reschedule for you. If not then you would need to handle that yourself.

[Kevin & Liz 1]

First, if she even offers to grease the wheels with cash (which I assume is "Filipino Style" then she will never get a Visa for the US.

In the Immigration process the only thing you should ever handle this was is expediting getting paperwork, not changing the contents of that paperwork.

Regarding "Knowing the scar is BS", a few points:

1. Why would you trust a medical from an employer who is financially motivated to keep her health records clean over a medical for US Immigration purposes that is motivated to protect the US from infectious diseases?

The company is motivated to keep there employees healthy and there production lines moving. It is not likely they would let something go and risk infecting a highly trained workforce.

2. Wouldn't you prefer to know if she is positive for TB and have it treated ASAP?

My concerns are it is a false diagnosis considering the frequency of the situation based on others in visajourney and elsewhere.

3. I understand is sucks to be apart for any length of time but it this was someone else's fiancée wouldn't you want to know they were properly screened/treated before entering the US and coughing next to you at a museum?

I'm not condoning exposing americans to an illness and certainly urged my fiancee to accept the situation but this smells of something and I am only hoping to hear from people you have had similar experience. Judging by the many other similar threads this does not appear to be a rare occurrance.

Thanks

[Kevin & Liz 1]

Philippines has a prevalent TB situation, hence, everyone WILL most likely get s positive test. Were her employers specifically testing for TB then as well? How long ago was this?

There is no such thing as handling it Filipino style, St Luke's is 'governed' by the US Embassy/US Dept of Health/CDC. When I had my sputum test there, both DOH & CDC were there to observe their procedures to make sure everything was being done as they want it.

Lastly if you already have an interview date, yes, STL will reschedule for you. If not then you would need to handle that yourself.

Thanks for your reply. The odd thing here is that she spent 71 of 72 months in Taiwan between 2003 and 2010 and received biyearly exams, including chest xrays just like the one last week at st. lukes, without any issue. She has only been back in phil for 6 months so it seems unlikely there would be scarring already or that it wasn't previously noticed.

[Kevin & Liz 1]

Been through on that too..... I must say its bureaucracy. I am not even so keen with their standards. On my xray during my medical, they told me I have scar in my lungs and have to go Sputum Test... and blah blah which took 2 months. That was so damn 'coz a month before having medical, I have over-all check-up at St. Lukes Medical Hospital which is 100x better than them.

Maybe if US embassy will have at least 2 choices on where do you want to have medical, then you have second opinion, and they will be more critical with their diagnosis.

Anyway..... GoodLuck!

Thanks for sharing your experience.