HELP!! MY FIANCE HAS A SICK CHILD. Can I get her here to USA??

[kingneptune1 6]

My fiance in Davao City, Philippines has a 2 year old daughter who has become very ill. She apparently injured her head while playing and is now hospitalized with internal head trauma and bleeding. She is unconscious the majority of time. The hospital she is in is very poor with inadequate staffing and has little modern medications for treatment. Also I'm afraid they don't have the proper technology to properly diagnose what needs to be done. The medication she requires is expensive even by U.S, standards. My fiance is basically dirt poor as is her family. The little girl's father abandoned them a while back. I have a good steady job but not well-off by any standards. My question to everyone is.....is there any possible way I could get them here so I have this precious little girl taken care of? I have full health insurance plus great clinics/hospitals nearby. We were just on the verge of filing our K-1 when this happened.(all paperwork ready to go). We recently met in February. I know if I could just get them here she will be alright and in good hands. I'm desperate. I feel so helpless,,,so far away. I love them so much. Any advice or info at all would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[kingneptune1 6]

I mean get them here ASAP!! I don't know where to begin. We have all the documentation we need from the doctors and hospital. I need to help this little girl.

[uscparent 4]

Is her condition critical? If that's the case, they should transfer her to a better hospital, maybe in Manila, so she can get the proper treatment. Her being in that hospital with poor service might not be a good idea while waiting for immigration process.

[ryulove29 1]

there are good private hospitals in Davao. My cousin had multiple brain abscess but fortunately we have a good specialist neuro-surgeon.

Davao Doctor's and San Pedro hospital have good reputation. Transfer your step-daughter there she will be taken care of.

[christeen 966]

Assuming the visa thing could be worked out... Would a long, international trip with an injured child that is semi-conscious even be a medical option? I would look into a better hospital nearby. Given it is a fiancé visa and not technically immediate family, it might be a difficult sell for am expedite (given that expedites are granted because of a hardship in the USC not the immigrant).. But you can try and file the expedite, I have seen them lately grant expedites for less... I would use the financial toll a private hospital is for you and time off/travel,difficulty for you to bolster the case... IMO

[novedsac 355]

Not even considering the immigration question, if she's partially comatose then she would likely need a medivac flight which is going to be extremely expensive. And you should double check your insurance carefully, because I've never run across a plan that included coverage for an unrelated child (once you're married, the little girl would be your step daughter, but not until marriage).

There are very good hospitals in PI - look for private hospitals.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Met in Feb and just how much money are you sending to care for this child in the hospital ?

[JE57 239]

As others have stated Medical care in the Philippines, especially in the Manilla area can be exceptionally good and even private hospitals can be exceptionally inexpensive by US standards. If the hospital does not have the ability to care for the little girl then there are also VERY good hospitals in Hong Kong with many medical professionals having obtained training in the UK. The fact that she is in Davos is a potential problem as you are talking about a long journey to Manilla. I would suggest that if you can find the time and money that you fly back to the Philippines ASAP and try to support her. Often times based on my experience in the Philippines having a foreigner there to ask questions and press issues can make a huge difference. I find Filipinos often don't ask the Doctors the tough questions and may accept as fact things they should not. Further having reliable access to and the ability to understand internet based medical information should help you advocate for the best care. Bringing this girl to the USA seems like the wrong answer. ALSO, I'd be remiss if I didn't sound a note of caution here. You asked in another post about what name to use on I-129F for a former spouse. If the former spouse is yours then use the name that appears on the divorce decree. If the former spouse is hers (the girls farther perhaps) then proceed with EXTREME caution. Divorce is NOT ALLOWed in the Philippines so if she was EVER married in the Philippines she will be ineligible to enter the USA as your finance or spouse without an annulment. Annulments cost lots of money and generally take 2+ years. Philippines is considered a high fraud country, this all sounds suspicious.. If you have even a SLIGHT question in your mind about any of this listen to that voice. This all sounds suspicious to me based on limited information. If it sounds suspicious to the US embassy in Manilla you may be in for a bumpy ride. At the very least make sure you front load your I-129F to make sure she doesn't take the long trip to Manilla in vain for an interview. If you have any questions feel free to send me a private message.

[baron555 934]

I mean get them here ASAP!! I don't know where to begin. We have all the documentation we need from the doctors and hospital. I need to help this little girl.

Pay to move her to a better hospital...maybe in Manila?

[Maritah 94]

Totally agree with JE57.

As others have stated Medical care in the Philippines, especially in the Manilla area can be exceptionally good and even private hospitals can be exceptionally inexpensive by US standards. If the hospital does not have the ability to care for the little girl then there are also VERY good hospitals in Hong Kong with many medical professionals having obtained training in the UK. The fact that she is in Davos is a potential problem as you are talking about a long journey to Manilla. I would suggest that if you can find the time and money that you fly back to the Philippines ASAP and try to support her. Often times based on my experience in the Philippines having a foreigner there to ask questions and press issues can make a huge difference. I find Filipinos often don't ask the Doctors the tough questions and may accept as fact things they should not. Further having reliable access to and the ability to understand internet based medical information should help you advocate for the best care. Bringing this girl to the USA seems like the wrong answer. ALSO, I'd be remiss if I didn't sound a note of caution here. You asked in another post about what name to use on I-129F for a former spouse. If the former spouse is yours then use the name that appears on the divorce decree. If the former spouse is hers (the girls farther perhaps) then proceed with EXTREME caution. Divorce is NOT ALLOWed in the Philippines so if she was EVER married in the Philippines she will be ineligible to enter the USA as your finance or spouse without an annulment. Annulments cost lots of money and generally take 2+ years. Philippines is considered a high fraud country, this all sounds suspicious.. If you have even a SLIGHT question in your mind about any of this listen to that voice. This all sounds suspicious to me based on limited information. If it sounds suspicious to the US embassy in Manilla you may be in for a bumpy ride. At the very least make sure you front load your I-129F to make sure she doesn't take the long trip to Manilla in vain for an interview. If you have any questions feel free to send me a private message.

[kingneptune1 6]

Thanks for all your advice and help. In reply to the former spouse name, that was for me, she was never married. The big issue for me now is financial. I already used what I saved for our visa application to help. She needs to be on a maintainance medication and I cant afford to keep wiring money. I have to cover my own expenses here plus I have 3 other children I support. It would be easier if they were here but I agree with the travelling part. So I'm afraid it will be the same situation even if she moves her to a differant hospital. Manila is out of the question again because of the expense of just travelling. What baffles me is my fiance says they will not treat anyone there in her country unless they can pay for the treatment. I find it hard to believe that there isn't someplace somewhere that would be willing to help a small sick child. But obviously this is a differant country with many poor people. But it's a very frustrating situation. It all comes down to money. If I had it...things would be ok.

[christeen 966]

Not to muddy the waters... But I would check up on the validity of this story... Just saying, if she is a "recent" fiancé this screams of a typical scam, especially the demands for money. Have you called the hospital there and at least checked to make sure there really is a patient by her name? Caring for the well being of a sick child is good, but not at the financial detriment to yourself or you other children... Proceed carefully with your eyes open.

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K-1 Process to Phil. Regional Forum~

~Commentary is country-specific~

[EndlessStory 53]

You are saying that you don't have money to move the kid to another better hospital but you have money to move the kid and your fiancée to the US? The air ticket is not cheap. Her being admitted right away without insurance is way expensive than being treated in Philippines. You cannot get married on the day she arrive. There's other paperwork to be done yet. It will take a week before you can get married, get them added to insurance etc etc. That week in the hospital is going to pay for entire treatment in the Philippines. It's really cheap there.

[baron555 934]

It's really cheap there.

Which does beg the question.....is this legit?