St. Luke's Medical Exam

[TandV 0]

can i do the medical exam in advance without the appointment letter and without an interview scheduled yet? will St. Luke's still keep your passport and pass it on to USEM?

[Angeli 5]

I'm planning to do that too. I called them yesterday and they suggested not to do the advance medical exam since some tests results are only valid for 3 months. I emailed them to clarify because the US embassy website states 6 months. I also asked them if online transaction print-outs with the DoS with my case number will be okay instead of the appointment letter; what are other requirements; do we need an appointment or it's okay to walk-in and what will they handle our results after while waiting for the interview. Hopefully they will reply. When I know, you'll know.

Edited December 11, 2010 by Angeli

[mazy 2]

I'm planning to do that too. I called them yesterday and they suggested not to do the advance medical exam since some tests results are only valid for 3 months. I emailed them to clarify because the US embassy website states 6 months. I also asked them if online transaction print-outs with the DoS with my case number will be okay instead of the appointment letter; what are other requirements; do we need an appointment or it's okay to walk-in and what will they handle our results after while waiting for the interview. Hopefully they will reply. When I know, you'll know.

you wait for your appointment letter which tells you your interview date

St luke will not do medicals without that

[Angeli 5]

you wait for your appointment letter which tells you your interview date

St luke will not do medicals without that

Thanks for responding but I know two applicants here in VJ who had their medical exam done in advance. Instead of asking them, I decided to email SLEC to know more. Hope they will reply back.

Edited December 11, 2010 by Angeli

[th and jv 3]

Thanks for responding but I know two applicants here in VJ who had their medical exam done in advance. Instead of asking them, I decided to email SLEC to know more. Hope they will reply back.

i just talked to slec yesterday and they said that they can accommodate even those without appointments yet..... but they advise against it as other cases may take some time before they can be approved....... it is clearly stated that the medical is valid here for 6 months..... but remember that we can use the slec result within one year also for adjustment in the states.......

...... actually even us embassy staff advised me to have medical near the interview date.... to make sure i wont have to repeat.....but it is still up to us.....

i would like to share too that according to the slec immunization department, they administer MMR, varicella and tdap only for adults (no additional cost), whenever advisable..... 2 doses of varicella and has to be at least 28 days apart..... some may take the first dose here and the second in the states........ this is not a requirement for k1 but it is for AOS..... just for info......

[marriedtomrg 141]

If any of you have ever had tetanus, chicken pox, German measles, mumps or measles, they will not administer shots for TDAP, varicella or MMR (that's what those vaccines are for).

It's best to schedule your medical exam close to your interview date, however if you think you may have been exposed to TB or have TB, you might want to do it earlier so that you can be treated immediately. Finding out you may have it or have it will cause significant delay, inconvenience and expense (if you need a sputum test done, you will be delayed for a couple of months...and if the sputum test is positive for TB, the treatments are done onsite daily at SLMEC, no exceptions).

i just talked to slec yesterday and they said that they can accommodate even those without appointments yet..... but they advise against it as other cases may take some time before they can be approved....... it is clearly stated that the medical is valid here for 6 months..... but remember that we can use the slec result within one year also for adjustment in the states.......

...... actually even us embassy staff advised me to have medical near the interview date.... to make sure i wont have to repeat.....but it is still up to us.....

i would like to share too that according to the slec immunization department, they administer MMR, varicella and tdap only for adults (no additional cost), whenever advisable..... 2 doses of varicella and has to be at least 28 days apart..... some may take the first dose here and the second in the states........ this is not a requirement for k1 but it is for AOS..... just for info......

[Tahoma 2,292]

can i do the medical exam in advance without the appointment letter and without an interview scheduled yet? will St. Luke's still keep your passport and pass it on to USEM?

Unless the Embassy changed their policy recently, you can complete your medical exam without an interview appointment and without an interview appointment confirmation letter. You can even complete your medical without the letter from the Embassy which notifies you that you are eligible to schedule an interview.

There have been numerous reports here on VJ where people completed their medical exam using only their NOA2 approval and their MNL case number. There have even been people who simply used their NOA2. Has this policy changed recently?

St. Lukes will keep your passport and pass it along to the Embassy, so it is a good idea to make color copies of the bio page of your passport. You may need the bio page when you go to BPI and pay the visa fee. You may also need your passport number if you schedule your interview appointment online. You may also need a copy of the bio page if you plan on attending the CFO seminar before the Embassy sends you your visa packet after your interview.

[Tahoma 2,292]

I'm planning to do that too. I called them yesterday and they suggested not to do the advance medical exam since some tests results are only valid for 3 months. I emailed them to clarify because the US embassy website states 6 months. I also asked them if online transaction print-outs with the DoS with my case number will be okay instead of the appointment letter; what are other requirements; do we need an appointment or it's okay to walk-in and what will they handle our results after while waiting for the interview. Hopefully they will reply. When I know, you'll know.

St. Lukes does not set appointments. The medical exams are on a walk-in basis only. The best time to go to St. Lukes for the first day of your medical exam is in the late morning or around lunch time. That way you can avoid falling in line with the rest of the crowd. You will still complete day 1 of your medical about the same time as those early birds.

St. Lukes will send the results of your medical exam to the Embassy, along with your passport. I believe that St. Lukes will give you your x-ray CD on the second day of your medical when you receive your immunizations.

The results of your medical are good for six months. I don't know what St. Lukes is talking about when they say that some results are good for only three months. Which results? And, does the Embassy care about those results which are good for only three months? After all, it's the Embassy who will be issuing your visa...not St. Lukes.

[Tahoma 2,292]

you wait for your appointment letter which tells you your interview date

St luke will not do medicals without that

Where did you get the information that St. Lukes will not allow medical exams without an interview confirmation? Is this a new policy?

[Tahoma 2,292]

It's best to schedule your medical exam close to your interview date, however if you think you may have been exposed to TB or have TB, you might want to do it earlier so that you can be treated immediately. Finding out you may have it or have it will cause significant delay, inconvenience and expense (if you need a sputum test done, you will be delayed for a couple of months...and if the sputum test is positive for TB, the treatments are done onsite daily at SLMEC, no exceptions).

I agree with you, mrsg... ...

Anyone who thinks that St. Lukes may find any irregularity on the x-ray of their lungs may want to start their medical exam early. If St. Lukes sees any irregularities on your chest x-ray, they will require you to return three days in a row so they can collect sputum samples from you.

Using your sputum samples, St. Lukes will perform three smear tests and a culture. The smear test results will be available in a few days. However, the TB culture takes two months to complete. Therefore, your visa journey will be delayed by at least two months while you are waiting for the results of the culture.

If the culture is positive for TB, you will be required to receive daily TB medication at St.Lukes for about six months or more.

For these reasons, many people want to begin their medical exam early.

[pookaphilus 12]

Unless the Embassy changed their policy recently, you can complete your medical exam without an interview appointment and without an interview appointment confirmation letter. You can even complete your medical without the letter from the Embassy which notifies you that you are eligible to schedule an interview.

There have been numerous reports here on VJ where people completed their medical exam using only their NOA2 approval and their MNL case number. There have even been people who simply used their NOA2. Has this policy changed recently?

St. Lukes will keep your passport and pass it along to the Embassy, so it is a good idea to make color copies of the bio page of your passport. You may need the bio page when you go to BPI and pay the visa fee. You may also need your passport number if you schedule your interview appointment online. You may also need a copy of the bio page if you plan on attending the CFO seminar before the Embassy sends you your visa packet after your interview.

:thumbs: I just used our scanned NOA2 & NVC letter with MNL case# during my medical..didn't receive any letter from the US Embassy until now..I'f ever, I waited for that letter, I would still be in the Philippines right now..I'm already happily married here in the US and on our AOS..we just need to be "initiative" sometimes...God bless us all..

Edited December 12, 2010 by pookaphilus

[Angeli 5]

i just talked to slec yesterday and they said that they can accommodate even those without appointments yet..... but they advise against it as other cases may take some time before they can be approved....... it is clearly stated that the medical is valid here for 6 months..... but remember that we can use the slec result within one year also for adjustment in the states.......

...... actually even us embassy staff advised me to have medical near the interview date.... to make sure i wont have to repeat.....but it is still up to us.....

i would like to share too that according to the slec immunization department, they administer MMR, varicella and tdap only for adults (no additional cost), whenever advisable..... 2 doses of varicella and has to be at least 28 days apart..... some may take the first dose here and the second in the states........

If the results will be valid for 6 months I'd like to take it in advance. I am applying for CR-1 visa so I don't have to adjust status in the US.

If any of you have ever had tetanus, chicken pox, German measles, mumps or measles, they will not administer shots for TDAP, varicella or MMR (that's what those vaccines are for).

It's best to schedule your medical exam close to your interview date, however if you think you may have been exposed to TB or have TB, you might want to do it earlier so that you can be treated immediately. Finding out you may have it or have it will cause significant delay, inconvenience and expense (if you need a sputum test done, you will be delayed for a couple of months...and if the sputum test is positive for TB, the treatments are done onsite daily at SLMEC, no exceptions).

I already had chicken pox before but not sure about the tetanus and measles vaccines. I do not suspect that I have TB since I don't have the symptoms. I worked as a medical technologist last July and was assigned in Microbiology section so I had been exposed. But I had my chest xray done last July also but it's negative. But I still want to make sure and have peace of mind that is why I wanted to have it done in advance.

St. Lukes does not set appointments. The medical exams are on a walk-in basis only. The best time to go to St. Lukes for the first day of your medical exam is in the late morning or around lunch time. That way you can avoid falling in line with the rest of the crowd. You will still complete day 1 of your medical about the same time as those early birds.

St. Lukes will send the results of your medical exam to the Embassy, along with your passport. I believe that St. Lukes will give you your x-ray CD on the second day of your medical when you receive your immunizations.

The results of your medical are good for six months. I don't know what St. Lukes is talking about when they say that some results are good for only three months. Which results? And, does the Embassy care about those results which are good for only three months? After all, it's the Embassy who will be issuing your visa...not St. Lukes.

Thanks for your advice about going there around noontime. I was thinking of going there at 3AM because I read somewhere that a lot of people will be there already. If they'd give priority numbers how come I'd still finish everything if there are lots of people ahead of me? I wasn't able to ask what are those results that have 3 months validity. That's why I emailed them to ask how true is this.

I agree with you, mrsg... ...

Anyone who thinks that St. Lukes may find any irregularity on the x-ray of their lungs may want to start their medical exam early. If St. Lukes sees any irregularities on your chest x-ray, they will require you to return three days in a row so they can collect sputum samples from you.

Using your sputum samples, St. Lukes will perform three smear tests and a culture. The smear test results will be available in a few days. However, the TB culture takes two months to complete. Therefore, your visa journey will be delayed by at least two months while you are waiting for the results of the culture.

If the culture is positive for TB, you will be required to receive daily TB medication at St.Lukes for about six months or more.

For these reasons, many people want to begin their medical exam early.

I would really like to have everything done in advance but I'm also worried if they'd keep my passport. What if they will lose it?

[Tahoma 2,292]

:thumbs: I just used our scanned NOA2 & NVC letter with MNL case# during my medical..didn't receive any letter from the US Embassy until now..I'f ever, I waited for that letter, I would still be in the Philippines right now..I'm already happily married here in the US and on our AOS..we just need to be "initiative" sometimes...God bless us all..

Thank you for sharing your experience.

For her medical, Chinook used her NOA2, her MNL case number, and her appointment confirmation email from the Embassy. Chinook never received an email or a snail mail informing her that she was eligible for an interview.

[Tahoma 2,292]

But I still want to make sure and have peace of mind that is why I wanted to have it done in advance.

^This is a good idea.

Thanks for your advice about going there around noontime. I was thinking of going there at 3AM because I read somewhere that a lot of people will be there already. If they'd give priority numbers how come I'd still finish everything if there are lots of people ahead of me?

Believe me, if you go to St. Lukes in the late morning, you will finish your medical not too long after the early birds. I really don't know why people fall in line at St. Lukes so early...maybe it's because Filipinos are accustomed to falling in line.

On the first day of her medical, Chinook slept in, enjoyed a cup of 3-in-1, ate a leisurely breakfast of bulalu, and wandered over to St, Lukes with her friend who was having her medical on the same day. She arrived in the late morning and was done in the late afternoon.

I would really like to have everything done in advance but I'm also worried if they'd keep my passport. What if they will lose it?

I have never heard of St. Lukes losing a passport, so there's really nothing to worry about. Just make sure to make a few copies of the bio page of your passport so you can give one to BPI when you pay your visa fee, and you will likely need one for the CFO seminar too.

[Angeli 5]

Thank you so much Tahoma. I will take your advice. I am applying for CR-1 and my husband paid for the affidavit of support and immigrant visa fees to the NVC so I don't think I have to pay to BPI but I'm sure K-1 filers do. Although I need the CFO counseling. Thanks very much again.