Petitioner = US Navy

[yhang 20]

Hello! I am creating this forum in behalf of my cousin. My cousin lives here in the Philippines like I do. She recently got engaged to a man (USC) who work for the US Navy. They are planning to get married here in a couple of months and I thought they are going to file for CR-1 visa like we did. But recently she went to St. Luke's Hospital to get her medical examination. So I thought they just filed K1 instead of Cr-1. She (my cousin) said that they didn't but the US Navy asked her to have her medical done before anything else. That made us sooo confused. Is it true that you have to undergo medical exam before marrying someone who works for US Navy. If so, I find it discriminating. For now, she's confused too about the need to have a medical exam first. Can someone help us figure this out? Any help is much appreciated.

[Inky 1,110]

Someone who works for (civilian employed by the navy) or someone who is IN the US navy? there is a difference between the two.

If the person is in the US Navy there are certain security requirements that must be done before being approved to marry.

If the person is a civilian working for the US Navy I have never heard of them having to get a medical first for their soon to be spouse.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

My husband (former military) said that while he was in service it wasn't unusual for the military to ask for pre-nuptial agreements and other such things. He said he wouldn't be surprised if there was also a requirement for a medical.

Could be for a variety of reasons. The main one I'm thinking that as a military spouse you get health benefits. Like any "insurance" they sometimes prefer a medical before offering you coverage (coverage in this case being marriage). Especially for someone who lives somewhere where TB is quite common, but they could also be checking to see if she's pregnant.

It's not really that big of a deal. I know that in some states (years ago, don't know if any still do) they used to require proof of a medical before you were allowed to get married, something about full disclosure in a relationship or something like that.

Anyway, Tony thinks it's not too much of a stretch. Obviously people get married all the time but maybe her fiance asked first and that's why they mentioned the medical to him.

Edited January 23, 2011 by Vanessa&Tony

[Messybrownhair 251]

Weird, but it could happen. My only worry for her would be that at the rate things are going, by the time she gets her approval, hopefully her medical is still valid by then or else i would hate for her to have to do it again as it is so costly. lets hope the process is quick for her, and best of luck! by the way my fiance is in the army and i am from the philippines, and i was not asked for a medical beforehand. but each branch has their own rules so maybe that's a navy thing

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Weird, but it could happen. My only worry for her would be that at the rate things are going, by the time she gets her approval, hopefully her medical is still valid by then or else i would hate for her to have to do it again as it is so costly. lets hope the process is quick for her, and best of luck! by the way my fiance is in the army and i am from the philippines, and i was not asked for a medical beforehand. but each branch has their own rules so maybe that's a navy thing

Could also be that you're coming on a K1 visa and a medical is mandatory prior to the marriage (well it's prior to the visa but works out to be before you get married), but with a CR-1 the medical is AFTER they're married.. still though, in the OP's case they Navy is ordering the medical and getting the records.. but they wouldn't have seen yours...

Also re the OP's medical still being valid, unlikely they'd accept it even if there was still time. I doubt the OP saw a USCIS panel physician, and did all the tests that are done for a K1 AND have the paperwork required for a K1 completed including specific immunisations. No. Even with this medical she'll need a visa specific one.

Edited January 23, 2011 by Vanessa&Tony

[yhang 20]

I see.. Thanks for all the information. As far as I know he is in the US Navy. Yeah, she was asked to pay for almost 10, 000 pesos at SLMC. Sucks huh? Well, I guess it's part of what they have to do then in order to get married. I'll let her know what your thoughts are.

You guys are awesome!

Now my waiting game continues

[Messybrownhair 251]

Well she went to St.Lukes which is the medical site for the US Embassy applicants (if we are referring to the same st.lukes)... but this is so weird because to have a medical there you need to have either a NOA2 or appointment date already, and they will keep your passport.. so it would really make me uncomfortable to leave my passport with them for a loooooooong time.. :/

[Scott and Mhay 57]

I believe it is a requirement for all services have to do this. I was looking in the Air Force instructions and it did talk about having to do the medical and have command approval for a person to get married. Just look at the US embassy Philippines site for requirements. It says that "U.S. military personnel should contact their personnel office regarding Department of Defense joint service regulations." So there are extra requirements for US military to marry someone in the philippines....but obviously it isnt just someone from the PI that it applies to...all foreign nationals.

I never asked permission to marry and my wife never did a medical before marriage (as many others havent in the past). Honestly I think this whole process for the military is for someone that is stationed in a foreign country. There is supposed to be a background check on a potential spouse too. Basically the Navy guy went about everything by the book and that is now why they have to do all this stuff and your cousin will most likely have to do another medical for the visa.

I know many people opt to not tell their command...it is totally messed up that you would have to get permission to marry a foreign national but not have to ask anything to get married to someone in the US. Bottom line is, I can show you in an Air Force instruction where it says this has to be done. My wife did get a medical eval when she got here so I could be command sponsored and she would be covered for medical. Her "medical" was just basic stuff though talking to her and taking vitals.

Well she went to St.Lukes which is the medical site for the US Embassy applicants (if we are referring to the same st.lukes)... but this is so weird because to have a medical there you need to have either a NOA2 or appointment date already, and they will keep your passport.. so it would really make me uncomfortable to leave my passport with them for a loooooooong time.. :/

They dont always keep your passport. You can request to keep it. Just tell them that you have a trip planned

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Well she went to St.Lukes which is the medical site for the US Embassy applicants (if we are referring to the same st.lukes)... but this is so weird because to have a medical there you need to have either a NOA2 or appointment date already, and they will keep your passport.. so it would really make me uncomfortable to leave my passport with them for a loooooooong time.. :/

Is every doctor at St. Lukes a panel physician for USCIS? I honestly don't know, I'm not trying to be difficult. I went to a medical centre in my home country for my Visa where there were many doctors, but only one of the doctors in that office was a panel physician for USCIS.

Aside from that though, there are very specific papers that are supposed to be completed for a visa medical. Such as the DS-3025, DS-2034 (I think that's the code). She would also need the TB skin test/x-ray, specific immunisation requirements for immigration and other such things that might not have been asked of her. Also, if she hasn't even married him or applied for a visa it wasn't ordered by USCIS so I don't know if it would even count. For instance, if I saw that same panel physician for the same reason the OP mentions it wouldn't have counted for me because I wouldn't have had the immigration documents completed, I wouldn't have taken the photos required, it wouldn't have been sealed in an envelope (like it should be for Australia.. other countries are different).

[Messybrownhair 251]

The SLMC (St. Lukes Medical Center) is only for US, Canada, Aus and NZ immigrants.. but seeing what you wrote yeah she will probably need to do it twice which SUCKS.

And I think you're right, it's probably because he is stationed elsewhere.

In any case, goodluck to her and I hope she passes her medical and the process will be smooth for her. Just tell her to be prepared to do it twice, if ever.

[yhang 20]

Yeah.. she'll most likely do it twice because she said that when she went to SLMC, she brought a paper from the US Navy not for the USCIS. Besides, she haven't filled out anything. I guess you're right.. Her fiancee followed everything in the book. The guy is in Japan now. That is where he is stationed.

[Mariye & Ky 172]

OP, is it possible this is for an expedite for special circumstances by petitioner in the armed forces? I'm confused why SLMC. Anyway, I'd be interested to know what the outcome is. Would you please keep us posted?

[Inky 1,110]

OP, is it possible this is for an expedite for special circumstances by petitioner in the armed forces? I'm confused why SLMC. Anyway, I'd be interested to know what the outcome is. Would you please keep us posted?

No it is proper procedure, military persons must follow chain of command as well as security procedures and get approval before being allowed to marry.

Expedite for military is different, it includes getting order papers and sending them, with letter from the command.

[abakada 0]

This is required.I had my First Medical Exam last January 2010.

I been through this Instructions which they called "COMNAVMARIANAS JURISDICTION"

MARRIAGE OF ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL TO A FOREIGN NATIONALS

BEFORE GETTING MARRIED THEY REQUIRE THE MEDICAL EXAM FROM ST LUKES... OR IF THE US NAVY MARRIED ALREADY THIS WILL BE DONE BEFORE THEY WOULD ACCEPT THE MARRIAGE AND BECAME LEGITIMATE WIFE/HUSBAND OF THE SAILOR.

THE COMMAND WILL GIVE THE REQUEST FOR "MARITAL EXAM" AND U CAN BRING THIS TO ST LUKES AND THEY KNW WHAT TO DO...

GOOD LUCK..IF U STILL HAVE ANY QUESTION ABOUT THIS...FEEL FREE TO ASK I AM WILLING TO HELP..

[abakada 0]

Weird, but it could happen. My only worry for her would be that at the rate things are going, by the time she gets her approval, hopefully her medical is still valid by then or else i would hate for her to have to do it again as it is so costly. lets hope the process is quick for her, and best of luck! by the way my fiance is in the army and i am from the philippines, and i was not asked for a medical beforehand. but each branch has their own rules so maybe that's a navy thing

Yeah I agree with you..like what happened to me...I had my medical exam for the NAVY command(jan2010)..and when i need to get my Medical for my Petitions...my medial results WAS EXPIRED.grrrrrr...and the sad thing about this ...when i had the next medical test( Dec2010) i got a problem with my chest x-ray....so another..grrrrrrrr...well things will work out fine...just go with the flow..and good luck.