Time between medical and interview

[Ay & A 0]

I am still confused if medical has to be done 7-10 days before the interview. This is what SLEC instructions still say. This only makes sense if the results are sent to the embassy by SLEC and, apparently, this was the practice before. If the results are handed over to you (and assuming you do not need sputum test) there seems to be no reason to wait. So I wonder if they ALWAYS give you the results or in some cases SLEC still sends them directly to the embassy? What adds to my confusion is that when I read reviews of visa interviews people often do not mention their medical results among the documents (such as cenomar, nbi clearance, etc) they hand over to the stuff at the embassy.

[geowrian 22,337]

SLEC will hand you an envelope with the medical results and you will take that to the embassy for the interview. That's their current process. That said, having the medical 7-10 days before the interview is still their recommendation, but is not actually required. Things can happen and push the medical completion back a few days still (it's unlikely but happens).

[Greenbaum 12,259]

The reasoning behind having your medical 5-7 days prior to your interview has nothing to do with the transportation of the files.  It's solely is for your protection as the medical is only good for 6 months and your visa is tied to the medical date and not the visa approval date.  So if you did your medical 2 months before your interview and USEM took another 2 months to approve and issue your visa then you have a very small window to which to travel in to be on US soil before your visa expires. So you can see you can pick any date to do your medical but it will have an impact.  Best recommendation is still do it 7-10 days before your interview date.

[Ay & A 0]

Thank you for your advice, geowrian and Greenbaum. The reason I asked this question is because my fiancee needs to fly to Manila from Mindanao and I was hoping that the whole process can be done in one trip. I guess this can be done (and people here did this) but to be safe we will just do it in two trips.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

1 minute ago, Ay & A said:

Thank you for your advice, geowrian and Greenbaum. The reason I asked this question is because my fiancee needs to fly to Manila from Mindanao and I was hoping that the whole process can be done in one trip. I guess this can be done (and people here did this) but to be safe we will just do it in two trips.

It can be done in one trip. She does her medical a few days out, completes CFO at the same time and then has the interview. One week tops. Once she is approved and has her passport she can get her sticker at NAIA on her way out of the country. Simple.

[Ay & A 0]

Thanks. I'll discuss this with her.

[Hank_ 9,174]

19 hours ago, Ay & A said:

I am still confused if medical has to be done 7-10 days before the interview. This is what SLEC instructions still say. This only makes sense if the results are sent to the embassy by SLEC and, apparently, this was the practice before. If the results are handed over to you (and assuming you do not need sputum test) there seems to be no reason to wait. So I wonder if they ALWAYS give you the results or in some cases SLEC still sends them directly to the embassy? What adds to my confusion is that when I read reviews of visa interviews people often do not mention their medical results among the documents (such as cenomar, nbi clearance, etc) they hand over to the stuff at the embassy.

USEM no longer has the 7-10 day statement.   Many lately are completing the medical and the interview within the same week.  As long as you are hand carrying the medical file to the embassy you should not have an issue completing the interview less than 7 days after the medical.

 

If you feel more comfortable waiting a week, that is what you should do.

 

https://ph.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/82/2016/08/K1-and-K2-Applicant-Interview-Preparation-Instructions-08112016-English-336KB.pdf

[Hank_ 9,174]

17 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

The reasoning behind having your medical 5-7 days prior to your interview has nothing to do with the transportation of the files.  It's solely is for your protection as the medical is only good for 6 months and your visa is tied to the medical date and not the visa approval date.  So if you did your medical 2 months before your interview and USEM took another 2 months to approve and issue your visa then you have a very small window to which to travel in to be on US soil before your visa expires. So you can see you can pick any date to do your medical but it will have an impact.  Best recommendation is still do it 7-10 days before your interview date.

The statement for the 7-10 days was worded to complete the medical AT LEAST 7-10 before the interview, meaning it was not recommended to do it sooner as it took time for the file to be send from SLEC to USEM.   Nothing to do with the 6 months validity.   Those that complete SPUTUM have much less than 6 months validity..

[Sunnybanana1913 11]

You need 2 days for medical and 1 day for interview. My wifes medical last weekk was on monday/Tueaday and wednesday we had her interview 

[Hank_ 9,174]

2 hours ago, Sunnybanana1913 said:

You need 2 days for medical and 1 day for interview. My wifes medical last weekk was on monday/Tueaday and wednesday we had her interview 

Exactly!!! 

 

Hand carrying the medical file changes all the rules!

[Angel&Eric 185]

5 hours ago, Sunnybanana1913 said:

You need 2 days for medical and 1 day for interview. My wifes medical last weekk was on monday/Tueaday and wednesday we had her interview 

How long after her interview did she receive her visa?