Embassy interview immediately following St. Luke's

[dirtsquirter 7]

After reading as many posts from this forum I can find on the subject of IR-1 visa's, I am still unsure as to which way to go with this question, so I am posting it here, hoping to hear from some of you who have experienced this yourself during your "journey". I Live very far from the embassy in Manila with my wife and son, so when I found out I would need to make the trip to Manila to visit St. Luke's, then wait 3 or more days for the test results to be delivered to the Embassy before I go to my interview, I started counting the night's I would have to stay in Manila. It is getting expensive, to say the least. I hadn't thought about going to the medical exam, then the embassy interview a day or 2 later until I read someone else also did the same, and the only thing that came of it was that after they passed their interview, they had to wait a few extra days for their visa to be delivered, because the embassy wouldn't release it until they received the test results from St Luke's. Does this sound right? Can I really fly into Manila, spend 2 days at St. Luke's, then go straight to my interview and fly back home in 3-4 days, instead of spending 7 or more nights in Manila? Thanks in advance for any help!

[Drlong 1]

Yes, you can fly to Manila just a couple days prior to their visa interview and take the medical, chances are you will be fine. Say if your visa interview is on Thursday you can do the medical on Tuesday/Wednesday and IF there are no problems all is good.

This is what my wife and I did. .....

At the time she took her medical she did not have her visa appointment yet, only had the MNL number which is all St. Luke's requires besides the $214. I had heard lot's of stories of people having to stay there longer because St. Luke's saw something on their x-rays and required them to do the spit test, that can take three extra days and turn a two day thing into a five day nightmare. I did not want her to have to deal with that before her interview so I had her fly to Manila and do the medical separately.

She flew to Manila on Monday, took the medical on Tuesday and then went back on Wednesday morning to finish up and get her vaccinations and then flew back home later that day. It did cost more to do the medical and interview on separate trips but if there is a problem it is well worth any extra cost. Since we had plenty of time I found a good promo on PAL for 1,200 peso for tickets and booked a moderate room at the Casa Bocobo Hotel about a block away from St. Luke's for about 2,000 peso a night.

Good luck.......................

[~happyndinlove~ 540]

Can I really fly into Manila, spend 2 days at St. Luke's, then go straight to my interview and fly back home in 3-4 days, instead of spending 7 or more nights in Manila? Thanks in advance for any help!

I know that you are just trying to save some pennies but, there's no way Jose that you can do both in 2 days.

You need to give St. Luke's at least a day or two to forward your medical packet to the Embassy.

[calibob 73]

I second the previous two's sentiments on your question. It'll take a day or two to write up the medical results and forward to the embassy for perusal. Sorry..... You might want to check out some threads in the Philippine subforum and do some research. Best of luck and please do your medical as soon as possible to avoid delays in processing.

Bob

[naplesguy 25]

How did this work out? I am trying to work out a schedule with my fiance. Some posters say to wait minimum one week others say wait at least a day or two.

From what I gather those that say wait a week are giving additional time in the event that further and extended testing is needed he interview will not need to be rescheduled. Am I correct?

Is there any new news on this?

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Philippines regional forum.

[newbster 4]

I've heard people say to take the medical as far as possible before the embassy interview in case of problems or complications.

But if everything goes smoothly I've heard that one way to do it is:

Sun night fly to Manila

Mon-Tues medical at SLEC

Wed CFO class at CFO Manila or PRISM-Manila or SMEF-COW-Manila

Thu or Fri - embassy interview

Then all that you have to do is come back to CFO for a couple of hours later for your sticker if you can show your certificate that you've completed the class. This means that when you are ready to depart PI for the US you could fly to Manila and as long as you have a reasonable time before your connecting flight to the U.S. you can go get your CFO sticker placed on your passport. For example you could fly into Manila on Monday morning, go get your CFO sticker that day then depart for U.S. Monday night.

[GaryKO 49]

Lots of people do the medical and interview the same week, or medical on Thur and Fri, and interview on Mon, because of the need to travel to Manila and stay there. My wife had her medical on Monday and Tuesday and then when for interview on Thursday the same week. She ask them when she finished the medical since her interview was Thursday would that be a problem. They told her that medical results are send to the Embassy the day after the medical is complete. So if you allow 1 day or 2 between the medical and interview it should not be a problem.