Manila Embassy Interview

[YnaYeBa0808 0]

Hi all,

The people at the st luke's clinic will determine which shots you need and will provide those to you (typically) on the 2nd day of your medical exam for free

from my experience, i was only given the MMR shot (mumps, measles, rubella) and i was given a sheet of paper telling me i need to get the Td shot (tetanus/diphteria) in the US (because apparently they dont have that vaccine here -- some people have said tho that if you have a private doctor or such in the philippines you can probably get that shot but it's a bit expensive)

i havent asked how much this Td vaccine costs here so i cant share that info with you...neither do i know how much it costs there

anyhow, just wanted to assure you that the shots is the last thing you should worry about...the people at st luke's have got that covered

goodluck!

thanks jeeleebee for the information. im thinking perhaps my fiance can get an early medical appointment, figure out which ones he still lacking based on the list and have the other missing shots administered in manila if they do not offer it in st. lukes...

on a lighter note, are you excited? it's three days away! congratulations!

djcess, dont worry about the pain... it shouldnt hurt too much. im terrified of needles too so i know how you exactly feel but im sure it's going to be fine. it's just like a bee sting... the thing is, the bee is as big as JOLIBEE... yak corny!

hahaha it wouldve been funnier if it were said in tagalog but oh well...

[rebelheart 0]

HI jeeleebee!! how you've been???

regarding about vaccines, yes its covered in the fee you'd paid st. lukes ... i remember ive got 1 shot of MMR and Td should be taken here in US. as for pricing of Td shot in US, its FREE you could get it in local center, i did got it on our family doctor.

On the contrary, when st' lukes DS form of vaccines check the completed series of my vaccines like MMR, the civil surgeon of USCIS here in the US says, they require 2 shots of MMR eventhough i explained and point the form, st. lukes checked i am immune and completed the series of MMR even it 1 shots.

I cannot complain about it because they were the "registered" civil surgeon of USCIS, that will complete your form for AOS. But things ive done is .. i go back to our family doctor and take a blood test (titer) to see if im immune or not to take a 2nd shot of MMR because its really expensive doing the vaccines here in US specially with the registered civil surgeon of USCIS.

about k2, as for my son ... he took skintest here in US for TB testing and need to complete vaccines before his school starts.

regards to everyone!

**************************

More smoother doing stuff in Manila to start K1 or K3 .... most painful to process for us is the AOS thing now. It's like starting the K1 again and asking for more documents ...... and soooo expensive

Edited July 3, 2006 by rebelheart

[Pinay Wife 47]

On the contrary, when st' lukes DS form of vaccines check the completed series of my vaccines like MMR, the civil surgeon of USCIS here in the US says, they require 2 shots of MMR eventhough i explained and point the form, st. lukes checked i am immune and completed the series of MMR even it 1 shots.

During my medical, me and my son were given two shots, one for MMR and one for Varicella. And then, I was specifically instructed by the doctor to get dose no. 2 of MMR after 8 weeks either here in Manila or in the US (wherever I may be). A second dose is required for MMR otherwise, the vaccine won't work. It cost me P2,500 ($50) to get dose no. 2 in Manila. I'm not sure if I could've gotten it for free at St. Lukes if I came back. Maybe one of the girls here who are going to their medical can ask St. Lukes if they can come back for dose no. 2 for free.

Advise to those having their vaccinations, listen closely to the doctor's instructions. At first, I was confused with the instructions and asked the doctor to repeat it a second time. She did better by writing the instructions in my vaccination sheet.

Good advise on the Td shots Rebel. I heard it's expensive to get it there in the US. So now we know that their local health centers offer it for free. How much did the civil surgeon charge you for completing the AOS form?

Edited July 5, 2006 by PatientlyWaiting

[Dean iWait 0]

Does anybody know if 2 picture ID's are required when you get to the embassy interview? My finacee Sheryl is being told that by a friend of hers, but I'm not sure. She only has her passport so if we need 2 she will need to go get another one.

[rebelheart 0]

Hi PW

the so called "registered" civil surgeon of USCIS was UNBELIEVABLE!!! , here in atlanta. mostly near til 15 miles in our places i printed out and try to call them all. and they have different "costing" .. some say u need to do another medical exams, someone says the surgeon only should be doing the vaccines .... and they are the only one rallowed to do all about medical issue towards adjustment of status.

though ... i do believe which i DID, when ive got added to my husband health insurance in Kasier Permanente, i done a general check-up .. and got the Td there for FREE, and about MMR 2nd shot ... i do the titer (blood test) to check if im immune, if i am i dont need 2nd shot, if im NOT, will get it from there.. all the things i did is ... i asked Kasier Record secrtion to give me all the blood test, physical result, vaccines taken, and even another xray .. bcos it goes to my health insurances which we don't mind at all... bcos its our privelege. As to my K2 son, he needs physical exams and update his vaccines and got new records..for his school purposes as well.

So, 2 out of 10 clinics told me ( and those were american doctors ) says $20 fee ONLY to transfer records to supplement of I-693A .... i just need to bring all the records ive got to kasier, to which the USCIS info's regarding to AOS (adjustment of status) ur medical health is 1 yr valid, u need Td shot in US, in K2 was skintest bcos they are not required for xray and just to update vaccines.

the remaining 8 clinic we're ...likes ..... korean, taiwanese, mexican or spanish ... they charging me to visit and transfer about $100++ bcos i need to be seen by a doctor again for physical. one korean doctor, when i asked i need just a supplement transfer, he said ok what is ur age??? In my mind says WHAT!!! , WHY MY AGE??? Then when i say im 31 and my son is 5 , he answered me .. ok $120 /each of u ( geezz is it depends on age bracket??) some of clinics .. charge EXPENSIVELY in a shot of vaccines ... info's ive got are .. some charge for MMR+Td is $145, some $110, MMR shot is $55-80, some transfer are $250 wid physical exams per person even adult or child.

So best advise, to people when done to K1 visa and in US and ready to do AOS .... call all clinic near u that are so-called "registered" and try to analys their COSTING first .... some other people in VJ says no payment bcos they dont need vaccines anymore .. and some dont charge for transfer.., but some needs to do business for they way of charging services... but some are way beyond to reality.. really unbelievable.

SORRY, wna apologize for the manila VJer's for this out of topic.... bcos its about medical due for AOS processing.... its just an EARLY advise to all..

regards to everyone!

[rebelheart 0]

Does anybody know if 2 picture ID's are required when you get to the embassy interview? My finacee Sheryl is being told that by a friend of hers, but I'm not sure. She only has her passport so if we need 2 she will need to go get another one.

Hi Dean,

What ur fiance friend says ... is that 2 identification ID's .... 1 ID you should leave to security when u enter the embassy for you to collect celfone or other gadgets you have that needed to elave behind the security.

Her passport is important, because she gonna leave it to process her visa .... maybe your finace has other identification id's she could used for checking her identity .... like SSS ID, postal ID, driver's license ....

If im mistaken about your question.... if your saying about PICTURE ID's .... as in 2x2 ... ( just an add ons info's) try to bring ... extra id pictures..

hope it clears 2 side of question ... ( picture ID like " as identification card" or photo id )

regards!

[Pinay Wife 47]

Does anybody know if 2 picture ID's are required when you get to the embassy interview? My finacee Sheryl is being told that by a friend of hers, but I'm not sure. She only has her passport so if we need 2 she will need to go get another one.

I only showed one ID (driver's license) plus the appointment letter. My son showed his school ID.

Dean, for your info, your fiancee will be asked to submit her passport together with 2 photos to St. Lukes during her medical. St. Lukes will forward the passport to the embassy. The next time she sees her passport would be during the interview so it would be wise to make a copy of the passport before medical.

[Dean iWait 0]

Does anybody know if 2 picture ID's are required when you get to the embassy interview? My finacee Sheryl is being told that by a friend of hers, but I'm not sure. She only has her passport so if we need 2 she will need to go get another one.

I only showed one ID (driver's license) plus the appointment letter. My son showed his school ID.

Dean, for your info, your fiancee will be asked to submit her passport together with 2 photos to St. Lukes during her medical. St. Lukes will forward the passport to the embassy. The next time she sees her passport would be during the interview so it would be wise to make a copy of the passport before medical.

Ok thanks Patiently. So I guess if they will keep her passport she should get another picture id? Coz she will need it I think as she will need to fly back to her home from Manila. Then she will need to fly back to Manila for her interview. I'm sure the airlines will require some form of picture id for that.

[Pinay Wife 47]

That is correct, Dean. She needs to get one more ID. Acceptable IDs are:

1) driver's license

2) school ID

3) employment ID

4) postal ID

5) SSS or GSIS ID

6) credit card with photo

7) TIN (Tax Identification) card

Hmm, that's all I can think of right now.

PW

[Pinay Wife 47]

Manila Embassy has updated their website as of today. Packets may now be downloaded from their site.

http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/rp1/wwwh3227.html

Edited July 5, 2006 by PatientlyWaiting

[rebelheart 0]

Hi PW,

My titer lab result says im immune already for MMR , so i don't need a 2nd shot ... if your doctor says u need a 2nd shot of MMR when u go to the states ... maybe ur not yet immune as per ur lab test done in St. Lukes.

My vaccine record from st. lukes put a completed series checked on MMR & varicella, thats why i knew i didnt need to take again in US, but the registered clinic sometimes think, applicant dont know anything ... so they could make an income out of their business.

regards.

[Luvinmybaby 0]

I have a question about the Manila embassy. How long do they keep records of previous visa apps? I have a difficult situation with my fiance. 10 years ago she met an american. At the time she didn't speak or read english. They decided to apply for a fiance visa but she told him that she was still married and that needed to get that annulled. He said that he would take care of it(he was in the Philippines at the time). A few months later he told her that it was finished. Since she didn't understand the process and trusted him she took him for his word. He then filled out the I-129F and sent it in. At her interview they showed her the marriage contract from her first marriage and said she must take care of that before she can get a visa!! He lied to her and didn't do anything hoping they wouldn't catch it!! She didn't get a denial or ban. They just handed her paperwork back to her and said to come back when her annulment was done.

My question is, Do they keep records from 10 years ago? I realize that no one here will advise me to lie on the paperwork. I am just wondering what the chances are of them finding this if I say no on the application where it asks if there were any previous immigrant pettitions filed.

[Pinay Wife 47]

Physical records may have been destroyed but your fiancee's data could also have been electronically stored in a government computer somewhere (USCIS, NVC, Embassy).

A previous petition might pique the interest of the embassy and could result to a more thorough background check for your fiancee but should have little effect to the current petition. For as long as your fiancee is now legally free to marry, you should be okay.

[Luvinmybaby 0]

Thank you for your reply. My only worry that she would be looked at as someone that lied on a petition when in reality it was the USC that lied. She is truly single now, it took 2 years and thousands of dollars to get her that way, but I am just worried that this will bring down unwanted scrutiny. The USC also filled out the visa app that was in packet 3. Remember she didn't speak english at the time and didn't know what he put there. Her only fault in this was trusting her fiance.

Edited July 6, 2006 by Luvinmybaby

[Dean iWait 0]

Thank you for your reply. My only worry that she would be looked at as someone that lied on a petition when in reality it was the USC that lied. She is truly single now, it took 2 years and thousands of dollars to get her that way, but I am just worried that this will bring down unwanted scrutiny. The USC also filled out the visa app that was in packet 3. Remember she didn't speak english at the time and didn't know what he put there. Her only fault in this was trusting her fiance.

I would just make sure she is prepared to explain what happened in that past K-1. That she was told by her fiance that he had taken care of her annulment. That she truly believed at the time she had the annulment and was free to marry (good for you she wasn't). I agree with Patiently that as long as she is free to marry now you should be ok.