SLEC Sputum Result and Disposition

[six7one 17]

I just wanted to update my fellow VJers on my Fiancee's Sputum Result and situation. Fortunately, all three results were Negative. However since she disclosed to St. Luke's that she was under PTB medication for 2 months prior to the exam, they have instructed her to continue medication for an additional 4 months at SLEC in Manila. NOTE: She was put under medication by her doctor back home as a precaution because of a spot in her CXR.

St. Luke's has indicated that they will honor the 2 months of prior medication provided she obtain a certification from her doctor back home. When the 4 months of SLEC administered medication is completed, she has to then wait 8 weeks for a culture test results. When cleared, she will then have to take the medical exam again at SLEC which will have to be paid for again.

At minimum, we are looking at a 6 month delay in our K1 and K2 process, but as I said in previous posts her health is the most important thing right now. So happy my future step-daughter is all cleared (she's 100% done with her medical exam and immunization).

Need some feedback on the following...

1. Any recommendations on affordable hotels/apartments near SLEC with monthly rates?

2. Will my petition still be valid 6 months from now when she completes treatment? Do I need to inform US Embassy?

Thanks in advance for your feedback, and most of all thanks for your support.

[Wally G! 58]

1. Any recommendations on affordable hotels/apartments near SLEC with monthly rates?

2. Will my petition still be valid 6 months from now when she completes treatment? Do I need to inform US Embassy?

Thanks in advance for your feedback, and most of all thanks for your support.

Sorry about the long delay on this process. As we all feel you and your fiancee's pain. Just keep looking at the end goal.

Are you looking for monthly rental rates or just for a week or two?

Whats is your budget range?

You can look on craigslist http://manila.craigslist.com.ph/ for apartment rentals or vacation rentals.

St. Luke's will update USEM and they place your petition on hold until the medical is completed. Then you can schedule your interview appointment. Also a good thing to follow up with USEM to let them know the applicant (fiancee) is undergo 2 months of PTB medication.

[TeddyHoney 42]

Sorry top hear that, but it is what I feared as mentioned in my response to your last post. You and your fiancee's situation is just like ours was. As far as hotels/apartments, etc., as my fiancee, now wife had already lived near Manila and SLEC so we didn;t have to do that. I know they have some nice condo's around there though, for like $800.00 a month - kitchen, balcony, entertainment center, all the comforts of home, because Chie's friend and her boyfriend from the USA are in one now. I could get more details if you want, just let me know. Its something we are considering for our first return there together, instead of staying in a hotel. Seems like a better deal for the longer 3-4 week stays.

Just as micharmaz stated, SLEC will inform USEM about your medical situation and they might say that they will cancel your scheduled interview. They told us that but we found out later after everything was completed that they had not cancelled her interview. It wasn't that big a deal but I did have to call the embassy when I was trying to re-scheduled Chie's interview so I could get the correct number to put in the online interview scheduler. I think it was the "Receipt Number" part - I think. It was not her passport number or her VISA payment receipt number but a number that the USEM gave me over the phone that I had never seen before. But you can cross that bridge when you get to it. I would just check to make sure they cancelled your interview and if not then you do it to get that out of the way, and then when her medical is completed and she has the documents for her interview just call the USEM again at that time and ask for the number to put in the online scheduler "Receipt Number". About your petition being valid 6 months later, you will not have to worry about that because SLEC is the one requiring you to do 4 more months of treatment. That was not an issue for us at all, however, after your second medical, instead of the usual 6 months validation for your fiancee's medical exam which they will count as of 4/27/12 but they probably didn't tell you that, you will have just 3 months after her second 2 month Sputum Culture test for her to leave the Philippines. Just be aware of that. I'm sure it will not be a problem for you becasue just like for us I din;t waste any time getting Ritchie her airfare and everything to get here as soon as wwe could after her interview.

If that last part was confusing then look at how it went for us:

- Chie (Ritchie) had her 3 day Sputum Collection sometime Mid-May 2011

- Even though they told her that they would not do the 2 month Culture test because the medication she was on would interfere - they did do one and the results came back negative in mid-late July 2011

- They considered that Culture result as a completed medical exam that would expire 6 months from that date in July, on January 27th 2012

- So Chie would have to leave the Philippines by Jan 27, 2012. But we didn't find out until after her second Sputum Culture test was completed Oct 27, 2011. So 3 months after that was Jan 27, 2012.

Again, no big deal because I'm sure you will not wait 3 months to get your fiancee and step daughter on their way here after her interview, but this is just fyi and something to be aware because we kinda got caught up in the ticketing prices thing because Chie's interview got re-scheduled for Dec 8th, 2011 (and we were lucky to get that - 3 weeks after she finally gor her medical approval and the docuemtns in hand!), and of course we did not actually purchase her airfare until after her VISA was in hand I think 10 business days later around Dec 18th or so. She got here Jan 4, 2012, but it was kind of close, but only because of the Holidays. It looks like you and your fiancee may be getting done close tot he same time of yeasr that we did last year and is why I am pointing this out. Again, just be aware. Maybe they told my Fiancee this early on and she forgot or something, but I found out when I called SLEC to complain about having to pay for the medical again. But again just because of the time of year it may be by then, just a heads up for you because otherwise if it were say the middle of the summer then it would probably be less of a concern.

Anyway, as we said before this wait while a little frustrating is worth it in the long run because she will have been treated for terrible disease and it's something critical they you both can put behind you. What's 6-8 months compared to here long term health?

She will clear her medical in the end and it will be a walk in the park from there (except for the hustle and bustle of running around and preparing - her for leaving and you for her arriving, but that will be exciting and a little fun, too!) I remember flying out to San Francisco to meet Chie when she came out of the customs area there and then we spent the night there and then flew here together the next day!

God bless to you and your fiancee and step daughter!

[six7one 17]

Sorry about the long delay on this process. As we all feel you and your fiancee's pain. Just keep looking at the end goal.

Are you looking for monthly rental rates or just for a week or two?

Whats is your budget range?

You can look on craigslist http://manila.craigslist.com.ph/ for apartment rentals or vacation rentals.

St. Luke's will update USEM and they place your petition on hold until the medical is completed. Then you can schedule your interview appointment. Also a good thing to follow up with USEM to let them know the applicant (fiancee) is undergo 2 months of PTB medication.

Thanks Micharmaz. Already been looking online for places near SLEC for convenience of my Fiancee just walking there or taking a trike. Right now my budget is between $400 - $800 a month and have already been looking at Craigslist. Looking at renting a place for a minimum of 4 months.

I will be calling USEM again just to make sure that they know that my Fiancee will have to undergo 4 months of medication and then another 8 weeks for the culture. Thanks again.

[six7one 17]

Sorry top hear that, but it is what I feared as mentioned in my response to your last post. You and your fiancee's situation is just like ours was. As far as hotels/apartments, etc., as my fiancee, now wife had already lived near Manila and SLEC so we didn;t have to do that. I know they have some nice condo's around there though, for like $800.00 a month - kitchen, balcony, entertainment center, all the comforts of home, because Chie's friend and her boyfriend from the USA are in one now. I could get more details if you want, just let me know. Its something we are considering for our first return there together, instead of staying in a hotel. Seems like a better deal for the longer 3-4 week stays.

Just as micharmaz stated, SLEC will inform USEM about your medical situation and they might say that they will cancel your scheduled interview. They told us that but we found out later after everything was completed that they had not cancelled her interview. It wasn't that big a deal but I did have to call the embassy when I was trying to re-scheduled Chie's interview so I could get the correct number to put in the online interview scheduler. I think it was the "Receipt Number" part - I think. It was not her passport number or her VISA payment receipt number but a number that the USEM gave me over the phone that I had never seen before. But you can cross that bridge when you get to it. I would just check to make sure they cancelled your interview and if not then you do it to get that out of the way, and then when her medical is completed and she has the documents for her interview just call the USEM again at that time and ask for the number to put in the online scheduler "Receipt Number". About your petition being valid 6 months later, you will not have to worry about that because SLEC is the one requiring you to do 4 more months of treatment. That was not an issue for us at all, however, after your second medical, instead of the usual 6 months validation for your fiancee's medical exam which they will count as of 4/27/12 but they probably didn't tell you that, you will have just 3 months after her second 2 month Sputum Culture test for her to leave the Philippines. Just be aware of that. I'm sure it will not be a problem for you becasue just like for us I din;t waste any time getting Ritchie her airfare and everything to get here as soon as wwe could after her interview.

If that last part was confusing then look at how it went for us:

- Chie (Ritchie) had her 3 day Sputum Collection sometime Mid-May 2011

- Even though they told her that they would not do the 2 month Culture test because the medication she was on would interfere - they did do one and the results came back negative in mid-late July 2011

- They considered that Culture result as a completed medical exam that would expire 6 months from that date in July, on January 27th 2012

- So Chie would have to leave the Philippines by Jan 27, 2012. But we didn't find out until after her second Sputum Culture test was completed Oct 27, 2011. So 3 months after that was Jan 27, 2012.

Again, no big deal because I'm sure you will not wait 3 months to get your fiancee and step daughter on their way here after her interview, but this is just fyi and something to be aware because we kinda got caught up in the ticketing prices thing because Chie's interview got re-scheduled for Dec 8th, 2011 (and we were lucky to get that - 3 weeks after she finally gor her medical approval and the docuemtns in hand!), and of course we did not actually purchase her airfare until after her VISA was in hand I think 10 business days later around Dec 18th or so. She got here Jan 4, 2012, but it was kind of close, but only because of the Holidays. It looks like you and your fiancee may be getting done close tot he same time of yeasr that we did last year and is why I am pointing this out. Again, just be aware. Maybe they told my Fiancee this early on and she forgot or something, but I found out when I called SLEC to complain about having to pay for the medical again. But again just because of the time of year it may be by then, just a heads up for you because otherwise if it were say the middle of the summer then it would probably be less of a concern.

Anyway, as we said before this wait while a little frustrating is worth it in the long run because she will have been treated for terrible disease and it's something critical they you both can put behind you. What's 6-8 months compared to here long term health?

She will clear her medical in the end and it will be a walk in the park from there (except for the hustle and bustle of running around and preparing - her for leaving and you for her arriving, but that will be exciting and a little fun, too!) I remember flying out to San Francisco to meet Chie when she came out of the customs area there and then we spent the night there and then flew here together the next day!

God bless to you and your fiancee and step daughter!

Yes indeed that we had similar experiences, and I thank you for all your feedback and insight. It is unfortunate that the additional time to complete the medication will bring a delay, but in the end there will be no dark cloud hanging over our family's health. We could have easily hid the fact she was under medication prior to the SLEC exam and we would just be waiting 8 weeks for the culture. Just like you we chose not to hide any information. Why jeopardize a lifetime for the sake of saving 6 months? To each his own, but I believe we made the right decisions for our family's future.

When she told me that SLEC found the scar in her CXR, I called the USEM and cancelled their interviews. I logged into the portal and confirmed their interviews were indeed cancelled. I will contact the USEM again in the next day or so to ensure that they are aware of her disposition with the SLEC requirement for medication and there will be up to a 6 month delay. I'll see if I get this "Receipt Number" you described. SLEC did inform her that because the treatment would take her past the 3 months for the validity of the first exam, she would have to do the physical portions of the exam again as a new exam. Therefore, we need to pay again for a new exam.

As soon as we complete this process and get their Visas in hand I can make arrangements for their airfare. I'm pretty confident this won't be an issue as there are a few airlines servicing Manila and one even has daily flights.

I have a preference to put them in a condo for several reasons and have made several contacts already. I would however, welcome more information as I haven't made any commitments yet. Please send me any info you can on this condo you are referring to.

Many Thanks for your insight and feedback. I hope our experiences help others who may go through the same things. Maraming Maraming Salamat Po.