Tuberculosis Screening and Applying for a Visa - SDO

[pazram 1]

Do you have the number to call?

hi massjim....how is everything? did your mother in law get the call?

[Massjim 1]

Awesome!!! Everything is coming along as God planned... Keep me posted!!

I am packing fro my trip there next week!!! Excited and stressed at the same time.. Sometimes visiting is SO MUCH WORK in advance!!

You are in the States right?? Wish you lived near Florida!! I need a fun relaxing chick day!! My best friend understands and loves me.. but honestly I don't think anyone NOT in this boat truly knows what we and/or our Finance's feel and many times I just can't open up to share or tell them... because I just don't want them to worry.

Anyway!! So HAPPY for your progress!!! You guys are so close I am almost SURE it's going to be TB Negative!!

I need to check on MassJim too... lol.. Thier Mom should have heard from the CDV by now..

Hey ladies! Nothing yet, dont know why.......

Im actually in DR now, i am going to call manana to cdv to see whats up. I'll let you guys know....

[pazram 1]

ok....hope you get great new...enjoy your vacations.

[Enigma23 68]

Hey ladies! Nothing yet, dont know why.......

Im actually in DR now, i am going to call manana to cdv to see whats up. I'll let you guys know....

Okay, Cool!! Enjoy your time there and you'll be in our prayers!!

[tbroutin 1]

Did you have a red sticker on your passport? Because I want to tell my fiancé to go to the interview but he has a red stick on his passport...

Tuberculosis and the K-1 Visa Santo Domingo/Dominican Republic Embassy

Embassy specific but appears to apply to most Embassies as far as the process is concerned.

I've been asked about this and chimed in on a few times on other posts; so I decided to do a write up to share what I have learned so far.

When we first found out during the medical exam that my Fiance would be sent for TB Screening it was like our whole world crashed... I couldn't speak, words didn't make sense, I couldn't breathe... I felt like I was about to pass out... between his possible illness and what that meant for his health, was I exposed?? Had I exposed or infected my friends and loved ones??My Co-Workers?? My head was Spinning!! We didn't know what this meant for our upcoming interview and wondering what happens to our visa, we were distraught to say the least. We thought everything we worked and waited for was done. And worse I was too far away and have financial responsibilities here that I cannot easily abandon to go to him and care for and support him like I desperately wanted to... It was horrible.

But I am a nerd... and I don't take many things lying down... so I stood myself up (literally.. I was crouched down holding myself from getting to my knees in a parking lot, praying during a rainstorm) and took a deep breathe and put one foot in front of the other, grabbed my cell and started calling anyone who knew anything!

The answers were so spread out and no one could tell me clearly, what happens to our Visa! It took a lot of time, research, interrogating medical folks to gather and compile this information, at first so that we could get a grasp on what was happening and what our options are... and now to share what I've learned and we've experienced so far with anyone reading this; in the hopes that will make their process a bit easier and so they too can to be pretty well informed , hopefully in advance.

So here it goes....

If during the Medical Exam if the Doctor discover spots on the X-Ray or suspects the presence of TB Symptoms the Patient will be sent for Tuberculosis Screening.

First... Don't Panic!!

Many things can show up on the x-ray that can appear like TB but is NOT Tuberculosis. Many people each year are tested and found to be TB Negative when the results come back. Histoplasmosis (illness caused by breathing in a fungus found in dried/airborne chicken/bat feces), Smoking, a strong/long Flu or even pneumonia can scar the lungs.

Testing does not interfere with the Visa Interview. You will go to the Visa Interview as scheduled.

The Embassy does not know the Beneficiary is being tested for Tuberculosis, they only know they are missing the Medical Exam results and place your Case Status as "Administrative Processing" after the interview until they have the exam results.

If your loved one was not experiencing any symptoms he/she is most likely fine.

The most common symptoms of TB are:

Coughing for more than three weeks: Coughing up blood in phlegm/mucus

Weight loss: Slow at first, getting quicker as TB develops

Loss of appetite

High temperature or fever

Night sweats

Extreme tiredness or lack of energy

How is TB Spread?

When someone with active TB disease in the lungs or throat coughs, sings, sneezes or even speaks, TB bacteria can be released into the air. TB bacteria can stay in the air for hours. You can get TB either latent TB infection or active TB disease by breathing in TB bacteria that someone who is sick with TB disease has coughed into the air.

You cannot get TB by sharing food, shaking hands, using the same toilet, sleeping on the same bedding, kissing, sharing food or drinking after someone.

• You need to spend many hours close to a person with infectious TB to breathe in enough bacteria to be at risk.
• Most people's immune systems are strong enough to kill off TB bacteria when exposed.

The TB Screening takes three days to complete and the Beneficiary must go early in the morning without brushing their teeth, chewing gum, smoking, eating or drinking anything before the samples are taken.

There are two samples taken at each test - A Buccal Swab (mouth swab) and a Sputum Culture (coughing with force) .

On the Third day of testing they can tell the Beneficiary (and/or you) if the first two mouth swabs are positive or negative.

This tells you if the bacteria count is high enough in the lungs that it is leaving the body via the breath. This Buccal Swab can test Negative and yet the patient can still test Positive for TB bacteria in the lungs. This test just lets you know how "Contagious" the patient is or is not. If the mouth swab is negative, they will not easily pass the bacteria to others (everybody can now breathe a sigh of relief).

The Sputum Culture results take up to 9 weeks from the last test day to come back. The longer the beneficiary waits to receive the call; the less likely the results will come back as Positive for Tuberculosis but it can still happen.

If the Consultorio de Visa calls anytime before the 9th week, it will most likely be to inform you that the test results are Positive for Tuberculosis. It really takes about 8 weeks to fully clear the Sputum Culture as TB Negative and the last week is to receive, process the results and call the patient... So the longer you don't hear anything the better the chances are of being cleared... after week 7-8 you can most likely relax.

If after the 9 weeks, the Sputum results are Negative for TB bacteria, the Beneficiaries Medical Exam results will be sent to the Embassy to continue processing normally.

Time to Celebrate!!!

[We got our call a few days before week 6. Even though he was TB Negative for his Buccal Swab, he ended up being TB Positive in his lungs but blessedly with a very low bacteria count; meaning we caught it early and he was not contagious.]

If the beneficiary is TB positive DO NOT PANIC!!!!

It can be Active or Latent (Activo o Latente) the Consultorio will know this when they call the Beneficiary with the results.

It is VERY IMPORTANT right then to ASK the person calling with the results which type the beneficiary has. It is hard to get them on the phone again!

LATENT TB

Latent TB is not contagious. If the Beneficiary's TB is Positive but "Latent" they most likely will be allowed to travel to the USA with the Visa normally but the Heath Dept. in the USA will also most likely require them to get a nine month treatment when they are stateside as the US takes Tuberculosis VERY serious because Latent TB can become Active TB at any time.

ACTIVE TB

If the Beneficiary's TB is Active they will not be allowed to travel or finish processing the Visa Application until the Beneficiary has completed treatment and been retested. This will result in an additional delay of up to 8-9 months. (Now you can kinda freak out, it sucks I know.... but breathe and keep going it ain't over...)

This timeframe includes at least 6 months of Antibiotic treatment and at least Three Retests done at the Consultorio de Visa (see below).

The Beneficiary's Passport will be flagged; stopping them from traveling out of the country and most likely the Petitioner's (if considered "Actively Exposed") will probably be contacted by the Consultorio de Visa and possibly their local Health Dept in the USA. So if you think you can be considered "Actively Exposed" be proactive and call them first! Save yourself the headache. You will have to be tested as well if you have been spent extended amounts of time with the beneficiary/patient prior to diagnosis. Usually it takes more than a few days to be considered "exposed" depending upon how high the patient's buccal swab and/or bacteria count is.

If the Petitioner has to be tested you may have to be tested twice about 56 days apart as TB is slow growing. It depends on how long ago you saw the patient last and how much time you spent with them.

Course of Treatment Explained:

Phase One ~ 48 Doses Daily Monday thru Friday of Four (4) types of antibiotics,

then at next dose - immediately begin

Phase Two ~ 50 doses every other day M,W,F of Two (2) types antibiotics but more pills.

First Retest after One (1) month of antibiotics ~ 2 consecutive mornings

Second Retest after Two (2) Months of antibiotics ~ 2 consecutive mornings

These two later test are to determine how well the antibiotics are working to kill the bacteria OR if not working; this helps determine whether the patient has Medically Resistant (MDR-TB) or Extremely Medically Resistant strains (XDR-TB)

Third Retest (and hopefully final. if the meds are working) is given after the 50th dose of Phase Two is administered and signed off on by the hospital administering the drugs.

Wait the Nine (8-9) weeks for last test results to arrive at the Consultorio de Visa and get them shipped to the Embassy.

At Embassy it takes anywhere from 2-6 weeks for the Embassy to process and issue the Visa.

(All of the sudden those 8 month long AP cases in some countries starts to makes magical sense, Huh??)

But WAIT Enigma!!! This SUCKS!! Aren't there any loopholes?? Any way around this??

YES!! There are!! but the US Government is smarter than that!

The1st Loophole says - Three Negative Sputum Tests and you can apply for a waiver to finish treatment in the USA.

The Truth - The Embassy ONLY ACCEPTS test results from the Consultorio de Visa and the CDV ONLY ALLOWS the third test AFTER treatment is finished NO EXCEPTIONS! (Yes I tried! Especially hard because my Fiance tested TB Negative at his first month retest! It really didn't seem fair then!)

The 2nd Loophole says - If your petition is DENIED you can apply for the waiver to bring the Beneficiary for treatment.

The Truth: - This is why the Embassy places your case into "Administrative Processing" rather than deny you.... This way you CANNOT apply for the waiver. (I know I tried! See above.)

The only way to apply for the Waiver is to have your petition officially denied. (I believe it is a 601 Waiver but feel free to correct me.)

But once my Fiance or I am treated we're safe right?

Wrong.

Many people in the Dom. Rep. are told that once you are exposed to TB and receive treatment that you will not ever get it again. This is simply NOT TRUE!!

It saddens me to say in real life it can come back...The patient is only "protected" when they are actually on the medication. I don't know why people in the DR are not honest with patients and family!!

My understanding is the especially in the first two years after treatment has stopped they are MORE susceptible to reinfection not less. TB can and does recur if the patient is not careful. I even learned in my research and questioning TB Specialists of a smoker with TB who quit smoking during treatment but started back smoking again 5 years after treatment who got sick again with TB here in the USA!

Dom Rep has a crisis of TB and are behind in TB research, knowledge, dissemination of information and definitely in the methods of testing, detection and worst of all in treatment.

The World Health Organization believes the DR to be ranked highest in all of the Americas based on known and suspected number of cases of TB per population and are slow and also behind in response, screening, treatment and eradication of the disease. Because the Gov't there only tests/screens and releases data for certain areas of the country... que pena!

You can see the status here:

http://www.who.int/b...5/06-036459/en/

* * * * * Taking all of the medication as prescribed is critical to recovery and especially important in the DR because of the secondary types called Medically Resistant TB and Extremely Medically Resistant TB (MDR-TB and XDR-TB). That's a whole nother topic!

The Good News!!!

There have been several Medical Trials that show that 10,000 IU of Vitamin D daily will speed up the time-to-cure when combined with antibiotics!

If suspected of TB or exposure please tell your Fiance (and yourself?) to start RIGHT NOW getting 10,000 IU's of Vitamin D EVERYDAY until the results come back!!! Research shows that daily doses of 10,000 IU's of Vitamin D has sped up the cure time from 36-39 days to a quick 23 days!!! Hopefully giving you a Negative First Month Retest!! If the bacteria count is not too high at the beginning of treatment.

And even a study in India showed that 10,000 IU's of Vitamin D daily completely cured TB in 9 months without ANY Antibiotics!!

It worked for us!!!

After I found the studies; my Fiance started immediately starting getting 30 mins to 1 hour of Sun a day and taking Vitamin D3 supplements about 1 week before his first test results came back TB Positive in the lungs. When we got his results his beginning Bacteria count was already low because we caught it early but by the time my Fiance had his first test after JUST 1 month of meds.... the TB was gone!! He tested negative!!!

Gracias a Dios por este información abajo!!

Okay so, he still has to finish his treatment and we still have to wait the 8 months but it's gone!! He's recovering wonderfully!

Here's the research:

Study on Vitamin D and D3 for TB patients.

http://articles.merc...hout-drugs.aspx

Vitamin D scientifically shown to treat tuberculosis and significantly speed recovery time

http://www.naturalne...very_time.html#

Another story supporting the use and that it helps speed up cure.

http://www.thetrutha...nly-way-cure-tb

Ways to speed up recovery time using a combination of options below:

In order Vitamin D benefit

Cod Liver oil (you'll need 100 grams to equal 10000 IU daily) I think you can take half the amount with 45 mins to 1 hour of Sun to equal that.

30 mins to 1 hour of mid-morning or mid-afternoon sun is nearly the equal to 5000 IU (depending upon skin type - darker skin produces less)

Fish Oil

Vitamin D3 pills

Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Olive Oil (for adding to meals, rice, salads, etc. and for cooking at a lower temp, NOT for frying or sauteing)

Avocado Lots of it!

Multi-Vitamins help the immune system and body overall

High Calorie Protein shakes like Ensure - In addition to meals helps builds the body back to a healthy weight to help it fight.

B-Vitamin Supplements - helps with energy and general vitamin absorption.

List of foods with HIGH Vitamin D Content for the patient to eat:

http://www.healthali...min-D-foods.php

[Enigma23 68]

Did you have a red sticker on your passport? Because I want to tell my fiancé to go to the interview but he has a red stick on his passport...

Hi! My (now) Husband says yes they put a red sticker on his passport too while he was doing the tests and taking the treatment but they took it off when he was cleared..we went to the Interview anyway.

It would be more helpful to know where you are in the process of testing, etc. but yes your FIance should go,.. and you should go too if you can. Once the medication has been taken for about two weeks they are usually considered not contagious anymore... so there is no issue.

[tbroutin 1]

Couple questions...

1. Did you fiancé show any symptoms?

2. Did you get tested?

[VinnyV88 1]

Couple questions...

1. Did you fiancé show any symptoms?

2. Did you get tested?

tbroutin, did he go to his original interview? Did they let him go through with it? Or did they make him come back after he was cleared of TB?

Anyone else have a recent experience with this? I'm getting mixed signals elsewhere. Not sure if my my father in law can go through with his interview. He went for medical today and they need to do the three day saliva test and results won't be available for 8 - 9 weeks. Trying to figure out if he can still go for interview on Sept 7th.

[tbroutin 1]

We didn't go to the original interview. We are waiting for his medical results.

[The Burts 6]

Shuuuuuu.........

Thank you for this post and to very good useful information, very comforting and hope giving to others. I went for my medical checkup on November 7th 2016 and ended up doing TB test from 10th, 11th & 12th and the doctor never gave me any results for the first days either.

My IV will be on December 8th 2016 and he told me to attend my interview on original date and he will explain to the consular about pending medical results. He said they might will put me on AP but probably wont be long as according to him I look very well and my medical history is good too but I don't want to keep my hopes up high. He told me that my results will take 6-8 weeks.

I haven't done any research about TB yet either but this information here is very well educative. We are from Namibia but has to do our medical & interviews in Johannesburg, South Africa. We are both non smokers, non drinkers and from non TB family background. BTW, we will wait for our results the way it will come and will pray that I wont be the unlucky one to catch it from nowhere. Fether more, they did not keep my passport and they did not put any sticker on it either.

Hoooooho!! this means I'm only one week today, 7 weeks more to go and my 8th week if I count correctly is gonna be on Jan 6th 2017 . Then its time for me to send in school application for our daughter on Monday for next year here. This means no Christmas at home US with papa.

Good luck to all those going through this process and prayers to all.

Edited November 19, 2016 by The Burts