Manila - St. Luke's Medical Tips

[Arnold_and_Joan 0]

My fiance just did her first day of Medical at St. Luke's and here's a few things I found out:

- No need to be there really really really early in the morning. She was insistent on going at 2-3am though I said you guys here suggested 5 is fine. We left the house at 2:30 and glad we dropped by Cebu Pacific to purchase airline tickets which took an hour so we were at St. Luke's around 4am and guess what? WE WERE FIRST IN LINE!! So if you want to be the first 5 in line go at 4am, around 5am there were about 10-12 people, around 6am maybe 20 - so still no need to get there so early. Though you also get parking. This also depends if there's an upcoming holiday. Yesterday the guards said was packed becuase people wanted their release before the holiday started.

- Print out a copy of the guide found here (forgot the link - someone help). It helps. Some people arrived and didn't have pictures, photocopies, pens, etc. Didn't know where to go or were confused. People were lining up in the wrong place, some were sitting down and waiting for their name to be called with no results, some were wondering why Joan was moving along at a quicker pace, etc. They give you a flowchart to follow but it's not as detailed (i.e. it says X-Ray 3rd floor - that's it) and still confusing. SO PRINT IT OUT AND TAKE IT WITH YOU IT'S A HUGE ADVANTAGE AND HELP.

- Read the posted signs. People were lining up in New Zealand, Australia, Canada counters who are applying for US visas and are getting confused. Or see above-mentioned guide.

- Bring a coat - IT IS COLD. Snacks and drinks are ok even if it says "No beverage and food allowed" on the sign outside.

- YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO ON YOUR SCHEDULED DATE. YOU CAN GO EARLIER. The guard at the door said you can go a month prior to your medical appointment date and it's ok. I wish we did because her second day for medical is next week!!! Since tomorrow is start of Holy Week and there's no office until Tues next week. Big problem now because of color coding (those in Manila will understand this).

- She was done by 10:30am. They start letting people in by 6:30am. If it's your first day - the line starts at the front of the steps where there's a guard's desk. There's going to be another line on the right side of the doorway (up the wheelchair ramp), that's a line for the 2nd day medical appointees or for release.

- If your'e going for the RELEASE of your medical results - NO NEED TO GET THERE EARLY. They won't let you in until 8AM - and you don't need to get in line anyway.

Well, hope that helps and good luck all. Our interview is next week.... .... Almost there.....

Arnold & Joan

[David-and-Mae 15]

Thank you Arnold and Joan! I already printed that guide I found at Sheriff Uling's signature. I can't wait for my medical appointment and of course interview, to come. Makes me so excited day by day!

Good luck to both of you!

Mae

[lizzie009 0]

Arnold & Joan, Yes thx for all the great info!! Liz say's she will take early medical next week!! she said in the pm? Is this possible? Has anyone heard of advantage of taking medical late in the day? Except you don't have to get up so early and wait in the cold? Hehehe Thx, Bob/USA.

[joemaria 0]

Arnold & Joan, Yes thx for all the great info!! Liz say's she will take early medical next week!! she said in the pm? Is this possible? Has anyone heard of advantage of taking medical late in the day? Except you don't have to get up so early and wait in the cold? Hehehe Thx, Bob/USA.

Hi Bob!

Me and Liz decided to have early medical since St Lukes accepted applicants to have advance medical prior to their appointment. No prob about it, all we need is our appointment letter enclosed in packet 4, or if u dont have it a copy of NOA2 and printed copy of the sked online will be accepted. I already got mine last March 31. Liz told me she havent got it yet, hopefully this week she will. We had a great time chatting and it feels good that we have same medical and interview appoinments, hope we also meet others who have same sked with us.

[chipsahoy 3]

Some of the testimonies I've read online too is that they went to SLEC around 1pm and they were done at 4pm or so..

And yes, it is possible (I believe) to have an early medical, as long as you have the medical packet or if you haven't had yet, the MNL case schedule online will do.

Hope that helps..

By the way, God bless Arnold_and_Joan for the next appointment.

Julie

[island_princess 2]

Can anyone paste here Sheriff Uling's signature link? so I can download it too...

[Arnold_and_Joan 0]

Can anyone paste here Sheriff Uling's signature link? so I can download it too...

Here's Sheriff Uling's page and under Signature is a link to St. Luke's PDF file:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showuser=24250

Also, Lizzie009, never heard of an afternoon appointment for the medical. Usually by the afternoon, the place is so busy from the morning's long lineup I don't know if they'll be able to accomodate anyone in the PM. The reason why Joan has to come back next week though we were #1 in line and there at 4AM was because they had so much applicants from yesterday and that morning they couldn't finish all her other medical tests that PM. So am not sure.

Good Luck everyone.

ARnold & Joan