Manila Embassy Interview

[Sheriff Uling 3]

It wouldn't seem as if we had an sort of choice when the medical exam is as it was scheduled for Nov 27th, a week before the interview.

It does appear that way but SLEC is first come first serve so they are all about money and don't really care when you show up. You can call SLEC and let them know that you want to make an earlier appointment or you can just show up. The USE informed me that the medical exam date scheduled on your letter is really the drop dead date to get it accomplished and that it's preferred if we could take it beforehand.

[zethris 0]

ok thanks for the heads up. I gues Elaine will be heading to Manila a week earlier than planned then.

[Goodman 0]

Why would it be advisable to take the medical not more than a month before the interview? My fiancee wanted to get it done as soon as she had the appointment letter so went to St. Lukes soon after she got it. That would be a couple of weeks more than a month from her interview date.

Is there something else we should be concerned about?

UGH!

[garya505 2]

It wouldn't seem as if we had an sort of choice when the medical exam is as it was scheduled for Nov 27th, a week before the interview.

It does appear that way but SLEC is first come first serve so they are all about money and don't really care when you show up. You can call SLEC and let them know that you want to make an earlier appointment or you can just show up. The USE informed me that the medical exam date scheduled on your letter is really the drop dead date to get it accomplished and that it's preferred if we could take it beforehand.

There's another reason to get it earlier, if you have the possibility of conceiving a child right away.

She will get an MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine at the exam. The medical community recommends a 28-day wait after getting a Rubella vaccine because it contains live attenuated virus with a potential for birth defects (though this has never been known to be caused by the virus in the vaccine yet). The reason for the recommended wait is that it takes about 28 days to make sure her body has killed off all the virus in the vaccine.

[zethris 0]

It wouldn't seem as if we had an sort of choice when the medical exam is as it was scheduled for Nov 27th, a week before the interview.

It does appear that way but SLEC is first come first serve so they are all about money and don't really care when you show up. You can call SLEC and let them know that you want to make an earlier appointment or you can just show up. The USE informed me that the medical exam date scheduled on your letter is really the drop dead date to get it accomplished and that it's preferred if we could take it beforehand.

There's another reason to get it earlier, if you have the possibility of conceiving a child right away.

She will get an MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine at the exam. The medical community recommends a 28-day wait after getting a Rubella vaccine because it contains live attenuated virus with a potential for birth defects (though this has never been known to be caused by the virus in the vaccine yet). The reason for the recommended wait is that it takes about 28 days to make sure her body has killed off all the virus in the vaccine.

But they wont hold that as any sort of issue for the results sent to the interview right? Meaning it's been only two weeks since the vaccine and the interview is scheduled. They realize that it needs to be assumed that people are going to be responsible adults and control themselves until they are ready to have a child, that it's no rush. I'd take issue to having to send Elaine a whole month earlier just because everyone else can't keep it in their pants and they've had to make a regulation that says no visa is issued until 28 days after the vaccination.

[Ken_Maria 0]

How long does it take for Luz to get the "We have your petition" letter from the embassy? Our case got to them on Oct 15. Thanks!

Gary, They receicved our package on 11 Oct, sent to us on the 13th and we received the letter (not the packet) on 30 Oct via snail mail. Payato

[garya505 2]

It wouldn't seem as if we had an sort of choice when the medical exam is as it was scheduled for Nov 27th, a week before the interview.

It does appear that way but SLEC is first come first serve so they are all about money and don't really care when you show up. You can call SLEC and let them know that you want to make an earlier appointment or you can just show up. The USE informed me that the medical exam date scheduled on your letter is really the drop dead date to get it accomplished and that it's preferred if we could take it beforehand.

There's another reason to get it earlier, if you have the possibility of conceiving a child right away.

She will get an MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine at the exam. The medical community recommends a 28-day wait after getting a Rubella vaccine because it contains live attenuated virus with a potential for birth defects (though this has never been known to be caused by the virus in the vaccine yet). The reason for the recommended wait is that it takes about 28 days to make sure her body has killed off all the virus in the vaccine.

But they wont hold that as any sort of issue for the results sent to the interview right? Meaning it's been only two weeks since the vaccine and the interview is scheduled. They realize that it needs to be assumed that people are going to be responsible adults and control themselves until they are ready to have a child, that it's no rush. I'd take issue to having to send Elaine a whole month earlier just because everyone else can't keep it in their pants and they've had to make a regulation that says no visa is issued until 28 days after the vaccination.

No, that medical issue has nothing to do with the scheduling of the interview or issuing of the VISA, but it's something we need to keep in mind. The USE is not concerned about our sexual behavior or family planning, or lack of either.

[zethris 0]

It wouldn't seem as if we had an sort of choice when the medical exam is as it was scheduled for Nov 27th, a week before the interview.

It does appear that way but SLEC is first come first serve so they are all about money and don't really care when you show up. You can call SLEC and let them know that you want to make an earlier appointment or you can just show up. The USE informed me that the medical exam date scheduled on your letter is really the drop dead date to get it accomplished and that it's preferred if we could take it beforehand.

There's another reason to get it earlier, if you have the possibility of conceiving a child right away.

She will get an MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine at the exam. The medical community recommends a 28-day wait after getting a Rubella vaccine because it contains live attenuated virus with a potential for birth defects (though this has never been known to be caused by the virus in the vaccine yet). The reason for the recommended wait is that it takes about 28 days to make sure her body has killed off all the virus in the vaccine.

But they wont hold that as any sort of issue for the results sent to the interview right? Meaning it's been only two weeks since the vaccine and the interview is scheduled. They realize that it needs to be assumed that people are going to be responsible adults and control themselves until they are ready to have a child, that it's no rush. I'd take issue to having to send Elaine a whole month earlier just because everyone else can't keep it in their pants and they've had to make a regulation that says no visa is issued until 28 days after the vaccination.

No, that medical issue has nothing to do with the scheduling of the interview or issuing of the VISA, but it's something we need to keep in mind. The USE is not concerned about our sexual behavior or family planning, or lack of either.

jeeze thank God for that. I think that if the immigration process got any more "1984" we are all screwed.

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Why would it be advisable to take the medical not more than a month before the interview? Is there something else we should be concerned about?

It's advisable not to take the medical exam no more than a month before the interview because the results could be rendered obsolete, which will require the beneficiary to retake the medical exam. And there is nothing else to be worried about that I know of...

Any takers on the last question by Goodman...?

[Gomez 3]

only four days to go for Gomez and Angelmae. you must be looking forward to Monday with great anticipation. good luck again to the soon to be first two approvals in November.

I'm pacing the floor here... we'll keep you posted

only four days to go for Gomez and Angelmae. you must be looking forward to Monday with great anticipation. good luck again to the soon to be first two approvals in November.

I'm pacing the floor here... we'll keep you posted

Angelmae is MIA?

[garya505 2]

Why would it be advisable to take the medical not more than a month before the interview? Is there something else we should be concerned about?

It's advisable not to take the medical exam no more than a month before the interview because the results could be rendered obsolete, which will require the beneficiary to retake the medical exam. And there is nothing else to be worried about that I know of...

Any takers on the last question by Goodman...?

Does the Embassy have an official policy on this or is it just rumor/speculation? We're thinking we will do it 2 or 3 weeks in advance but we could do it 4 or 5 weeks in advance if we got the letter that early.

[Sheriff Uling 3]

Does the Embassy have an official policy on this or is it just rumor/speculation? We're thinking we will do it 2 or 3 weeks in advance but we could do it 4 or 5 weeks in advance if we got the letter that early.

You don't need the "official letter" from the USE in order to take the medical exam. The USE person (Lorainne) in the Immigrant Visa Unit gave me the advice of not taking the medical exam too far out from the visa interview, but 4 -5 weeks out should definitely be acceptable. However, I have not read anything official on the medical exam policies beside what comes in Packet 4. I would also be interested if anyone has stumbled across the official rules, memorandums, or policies on this matter.

Edited November 2, 2006 by Uling

[mychelle 1]

Why would it be advisable to take the medical not more than a month before the interview? My fiancee wanted to get it done as soon as she had the appointment letter so went to St. Lukes soon after she got it. That would be a couple of weeks more than a month from her interview date.

Is there something else we should be concerned about?

UGH!

my fiance had his medical about 2 months in advance and things were okay. as long as you already have an interview appointment, you can always take an early medical. whatever is most convenient for you (unless there are NEW rules installed now...then i don't know what to tell you.)

[zethris 0]

so i'm lost, we are saying don't take it too soon, but don't take it too far away from the interview? What is ideal? and I am not sure of the specific reasons why a week away from the interview date is a bad thing?

[mychelle 1]

if he lived in Manila...a week away would not be so bad. unfortunately, he was flying from Cebu and the 2 months earlier time-scale was the most convenient at that time (there were some business things he can't leave behind).