anyone know st lukes clinic phone number that works?

[J and O 0]

Before my mom went to her medical I wasn't too concerned of this sputum test in SLMC, but when they told her she needed one that's when I really started reading/researching about the experiences of people who have/had to undergo the same procedure all over the internet and not just in VJ forum.

Anything (even a slight blur) they see on the x-ray plate is a reason for them to ask for sputum tests. I read somewhere that they (SLMC) became "strict" when the embassy complained that a lot of Filipina fiancees who arrived in the US are TB positive the past few years (I don't know if this is true).

Anyway, not all US immigrant applicants in the Philippines post in this forum, if you think you don't see a lot of members who say they were found "positive" then you don't need to be worried. I didn't post on your thread for you to be worried, I was just sharing something that we experienced so that you will be MORE informed because I would have gladly appreciated if someone told me about this issue when we were in the early stages of my mom's application.

And about your second question, please don't be arrogant. Don't you think that maybe people are not answering it because they don't know the answer and they don't want to give a wrong advice? You are not paying anyone here to answer your question please be nice.

I don't feel that I am being "arrogant" and I am taking your statement personally.....if you think that I would hold someone personally responsible for what they think is the right responds you are the one that is being arrogant.....maybe I will just quit posting on this forum and get through this without the support of others that I have had through this forum. I have seen information posted to people that I know that is wrong but life goes on and so be the world

[Tahoma 2,292]

And so why does it seem that most that I have read on this forum seem to pass their medical...what are they doing that nothing is "seen" on their x-ray??? And still no one has answered my question for me to understand....Can she do her medical with her passport that is to expire in Sept and then take her renewed passport with her to her interview?

No doubt that most of the beneficiaries in this forum passed the x-ray part of the medical, but certainly not all of them. I've been on this forum for a while and I have seen many posts from those who have failed. My wife's friend, who had her medical the same day as my wife, failed the x-ray exam. And, like what was already mentioned, this forum represents only a fraction of the beneficiaries.

The comment section of SLEC's web site is filled with people who failed their x-ray exam. I have read that there are many beneficiaries every morning at SLEC who fall in line for their sputum test and culture because they have failed their x-ray test. If I had to guess what percentage failed their x-ray exam, I would guess 10% or more. Are you feeling lucky?

As to your passport question...if you want a definitive answer you should check with the USEM, SLEC, and CFO. As I mentioned previously, I've heard of a six-month rule. However, it was the opposite rule that you mentioned. My opinion is that any passport, whether it is a new one or whether it is an older one, can not be expiring within the next six months. I believe this to be accurate.

The next question is: six months from when? Six months from the medical? Six months from the interview? Six months from the issuance of the visa? Six months from the CFO? Six months from departing the country? I don't know the answer. However, it's my opinion that she will be able to take a new passport to her interview because it will not be expiring within the next six months. She simply needs to inform her consul officer during her interview that she has a new passport, and give it to the consul officer.

You might also find more info about this on the USEM web site. Or, perhaps you may want to start a new thread because you would likely get a more responses.

Good luck...and please report back to us anything you find out about it.

[garysworld n ana 3]

J and O.......

Ok this is how it is.

You can take your medical with a valid passport....it does not matter when it expire...only that it hasn't.

For travel to the USA...you must have a passport that will not expire within 6 months of the day you will depart.

You may be required to renew your passport before they will issue a visa.

As to your xray....it means NOTHING!

We went to St. Lukes in Quezon City and had an xray and sputum test done in February by a doctor that used to work in SLMC Manila.

The results were a clear xray and negative sputum!

When we went to SLMC in Manila for the medical....they said it appeared there is "something" on the xray.

We had the earlier results to show them but they would not even look. They also would not show the xray they took!

End result....8 weeks of sputum/culture test.

Good thing we went as early as we could!!!!

Praying this answers your questions then.

[Tahoma 2,292]

J and O.......

Ok this is how it is.

You can take your medical with a valid passport....it does not matter when it expire...only that it hasn't.

For travel to the USA...you must have a passport that will not expire within 6 months of the day you will depart.

You may be required to renew your passport before they will issue a visa.

Praying this answers your questions then.

g's-w...I agree with you... ...before she is allowed to leave Pinas, she must have a passport which is valid for at least six months. You also may be right regarding issuing the visa. A call or an email to the USEM should answer the question.

[dianecmea 1]

The only thing i remembered during my med exam was that I couldn't pee when I needed to. I sat there for 30 minutes and nothing. I asked the nurse if I can go out and get something to drink first. I drank 2 bottles of Sprite, came back, waited 15 mins and peed. LOL