Admission of drug use at st lukes, is my visa automatically denied

[Joui 6]

Hi everyone, i am the beneficiary of a k1/fiance visa. I live in the Philippines. My fiancee and i have already prcoessed everything and i just had my medical examination at St.Lukes Manila. The physical examinator then asked me if I have EVER used/smoked marijuana in my entire life. Since I though that it was long ago, and i was speaking to a doctor, i said yes during my college days tried puffing once. He did not comment anything and wrote the info he obtained. I then asked him if it will affect my application and he said he does not think so. He referred me to a psychiatrist which i have to attend to on July 31. Is our dream to be together in the US over?

I only learned about the ban/denial just after admitting it to the doctor when i searched the internet. Im so disappointed that a past youthful situation will fireback and be taken against me. What should i do? My interview is on august 31. Are the consuls more lenient nowadays and will consider my application if the psychiatrist clears me? Been reading articles that the us embassy to manila dn st lukes are so infamous in denying applicants unlawfully. Thanks

[Hypnos 6,576]

It may be a one year denial. If denied at the interview for medical reasons, you will know why.

If you do receive a denial, you may need to undergo quarterly testing during that year. If, at the end of the year all of your tests came back negative, you would probably get the visa if drugs was the only reason you didn't get it the first time around.

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K1 Process to Phil. Regional Forum~

~Inquiry is country-specific~

~2 duplicate threads removed~

Edited July 24, 2014 by A&B

[Joui 6]

Hey thanks man. Are there any success stories with same case as mine here? You mean everyone gets denied and no one gets approved with this kind of case? Also, does the psychiatric report not a factor for the CO To approve mu visa? Can i request to st lukes to just administer drug test on me because I am sure that I am clean as we speak. Unlawful!

[Theboz 10]

Hey thanks man. Are there any success stories with same case as mine here? You mean everyone gets denied and no one gets approved with this kind of case? Also, does the psychiatric report not a factor for the CO To approve mu visa? Can i request to st lukes to just administer drug test on me because I am sure that I am clean as we speak. Unlawful!

Im not going to give you a success story. My roommate had applied for a visa to someone in the Philippines and at the medical she told the doctor that she tried drugs over 10 years ago. She went to the interview and she was denied her visa for drug use. He told me it was a permanent ban. I am pretty sure he told me the truth about what she told him. But, Im not to sure she told him everything, though Because from what I have learned that if you don't do drugs and have no record us such, you probably wont get a permanent ban. Even so you can try to get a waiver or you may just get the 1 year ban as if you stay clean be given another chance at a visa.

[Joui 6]

Hey man thanks. What year did this happen? I believe from 2011 up to present the 1 year ban is the minimum? Im not really sire as im basing my knowledge from the internet. If ever i will be denied, and slapped a 1 year ban, and come clean next year, do i have to repeat this whole application???

Why not administer the drug test now to see if i am positive or not?and let the co decide from the existing reports.

[MacUK 983]

What's 'unlawful' about this situation?

[Al422 221]

They used to be stricter on marijuana such that it was an automatic denial. Now they do like the other poster here said, administer quarterly drug tests for one year. Also one single use of marijuana more than 5 years ago can be called experimentation and not count as actual drug use.

Other drugs, like cocaine or heroin, you are definitely done.

At this point just move forward. If you are lucky, it will be called experimentation and not use and it will not even slow you down for that one year. But you are not done for life.

However if they make you take one or more drug tests make sure you pass them. If you fail any one of those then you are definitely done.

[Joui 6]

Hi A1, when were you denied? What year?are you still serving the ban or are you in the Us already? What penalty did you serve?

Yes i heard that experimentation nowadays will not constitue automatically to a 1year ban.

[Al422 221]

Neither me nor my wife (well almost wife) smoke pot or ever smoked pot. But I do a lot of research.

P.S. I am the USC. I am an Arab but was born in New York City. My wife is the Filipina.

Edited July 24, 2014 by Al422

[Joui 6]

I see. Thanks for your feedback. It gave a little bit of hope.

[Hank_ 9,174]

They used to be stricter on marijuana such that it was an automatic denial. Now they do like the other poster here said, administer quarterly drug tests for one year. Also one single use of marijuana more than 5 years ago can be called experimentation and not count as actual drug use.

Other drugs, like cocaine or heroin, you are definitely done.

At this point just move forward. If you are lucky, it will be called experimentation and not use and it will not even slow you down for that one year. But you are not done for life.

However if they make you take one or more drug tests make sure you pass them. If you fail any one of those then you are definitely done.

Can you post a government link to this information?

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hi everyone, i am the beneficiary of a k1/fiance visa. I live in the Philippines. My fiancee and i have already prcoessed everything and i just had my medical examination at St.Lukes Manila. The physical examinator then asked me if I have EVER used/smoked marijuana in my entire life. Since I though that it was long ago, and i was speaking to a doctor, i said yes during my college days tried puffing once. He did not comment anything and wrote the info he obtained. I then asked him if it will affect my application and he said he does not think so. He referred me to a psychiatrist which i have to attend to on July 31. Is our dream to be together in the US over?

I only learned about the ban/denial just after admitting it to the doctor when i searched the internet. Im so disappointed that a past youthful situation will fireback and be taken against me. What should i do? My interview is on august 31. Are the consuls more lenient nowadays and will consider my application if the psychiatrist clears me? Been reading articles that the us embassy to manila dn st lukes are so infamous in denying applicants unlawfully. Thanks

I couldn't readily find anything on having puffed on a marijuana cigarette (but didn't inhale ) regarding a visa. There has to be something out there, but only info I found on the DOS site referenced trafficking in a controlled substance.

http://www.travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/general/ineligibilities.html#visa

I hope you have no issues.

Edited July 25, 2014 by Hank_

[Joui 6]

Yeah man a public info or announcement could be really helpful but i know for myself that the embassy has been more lenient about experimental issues. My friend who works as a med tech in st lukes manila told me not to worry. She said that her bosses told her that experimental use still has strong chance to get approved. Maximum penalty you can get is 1 yr delay and submitting yourself for quarterly drug testing. Once your cleared, you dont have to undergo thru the long process of re application(ds 160, repetition etc) as the visa will be issued immediately. Thats what she said. I hope its true as it is to my favor.

[apple21 953]

I'd share what happened to my friend's 18yo brother.

The brother did the medical sometime April or May 2012. Interview was June or July 2012. The boy got a visa denial (F2A category, child of LPR) because he admitted during the medical that he smoked marijuana. His last smoking incident was February 2012. He was given a one year ban.

I don't know if your case will be treated differently because it happened so many years ago. But kudos to you for being honest in the medical! Good luck.

Edited July 26, 2014 by apple21