Sputum Test - Indonesia - More than 3 month wait

[T+E 2]

Hi All,

My fiance went for the medical exam in Jakarta on 26-Nov at the designated hospital. They said they will require a sputum test, which takes 8-10 weeks. After 10 weeks, we contacted the hospital, and they said it's not ready yet, and that "the 10 weeks does not include weekends and holidays".  After 3 months (23-Feb), we contacted them again, and they said it is not ready yet, and that they sent the culture sample to a local university for medical students' experience. We feel like our lives are at the mercy of the hospital staff...

 

Has anyone else had this type of delay from the Jakarta hospital, or others? 

 

And any concern that our I-129f approval will expire while we wait?

[usmsbow 801]

You don't have to worry about the I-129f expiring. Sorry, don't have any experience with the test. Have you e-mailed the embassy? They'll probably say it is out of their hands, but maybe they could provide a bit more info to you.

 

 

[J/G 85]

Hi T+E -- 

 

I had 2 health checks performed for my K-1 Visa:

 

Prior to taking the FIRST test (June 2016), I was told by the hospital that the result will be available 6 days after the test at the earliest. However the morning following my test date, I received a phone call that the test result was done and was able to be collected at the hospital. It was literally within the 24 hours of the test. So I.....

Scheduled interview with Embassy >> Attended the interview >> Visa was approved >>

Can't travel before the expiration date due to working commitment >> Have to extend my K-1 Visa AND....

have to undergo another health check in Jakarta. (uuugghhh.....)

 

 

My SECOND test (approx. March 2017) was performed at the same hospital. Within the period of June 2016 - March 2017 there's a change in the health check regulation for US Visa, the only difference that I can remember is that I don't have to get fully nude during the test... I even asked my doctor, "Should.. Should.. I take my clothes off??" and she responded casually, "No, we don't do that anymore. They changed the test requirements." I then inquire whether the test result will be available the next morning as I have to fly back for work. She was puzzled and insisted that it is impossible that the test result will be available within 24 hours. She then phoned someone and the person on the phone explained that beginning in 2017, some of the tests will be sent to the University of Indonesia (in Jakarta), hence the result will take a little longer than usual. I took that explanation as, "Oh, well... what can I do about it..."

But from reading your post I'm not sure whether that means the test will be performed by Medical students or it will be handled by the professional at the university's lab... But I believe my test result was done and completed within 2 weeks (or maybe a little longer)...

 

 

ANYWAY -- From my experience, you have nothing to worry about. I know the waiting period is STRESSFUL!!! Believe you me, I've been in your position. But hey it will work out. Just trust the process. and.. SPOILER ALERT: There will be even MORE waiting period once your fiance arrived in the US.  As long as you guys are together and working together to complete all the required documentation there's nothing else to do. 

 

TIPS: If your fiance is not based in Jakarta, get familiar with the area of the US Embassy. and MAKE SURE that you have EVERY document (and maybe more) requested/listed in your interview notice. There's nothing more stressful than not having complete documents on the day of your interview. And even during the day of the interview, you will wait a long time (approx. 2-3 hours) after you checked in at the gate. 

 

Good luck and CONGRATULATIONS!!

J/G

 

 

[Lilith1811 39]

Is the sputum a new requirement for medical test? We didn't have to do that in the end of 2016. I took the results after a week. 

[TBoneTX 45,289]

Thread is moved from the K-1 Process forum to the Embassy/Consulate forum -- topic involves the medical phase.

[T+E 2]

Quote

On 25/02/2018 at 1:44 AM, J/G said:

Hi T+E -- 

 

I had 2 health checks performed for my K-1 Visa:

 

Prior to taking the FIRST test (June 2016), I was told by the hospital that the result will be available 6 days after the test at the earliest. However the morning following my test date, I received a phone call that the test result was done and was able to be collected at the hospital. It was literally within the 24 hours of the test. So I.....

Scheduled interview with Embassy >> Attended the interview >> Visa was approved >>

Can't travel before the expiration date due to working commitment >> Have to extend my K-1 Visa AND....

have to undergo another health check in Jakarta. (uuugghhh.....)

 

 

My SECOND test (approx. March 2017) was performed at the same hospital. Within the period of June 2016 - March 2017 there's a change in the health check regulation for US Visa, the only difference that I can remember is that I don't have to get fully nude during the test... I even asked my doctor, "Should.. Should.. I take my clothes off??" and she responded casually, "No, we don't do that anymore. They changed the test requirements." I then inquire whether the test result will be available the next morning as I have to fly back for work. She was puzzled and insisted that it is impossible that the test result will be available within 24 hours. She then phoned someone and the person on the phone explained that beginning in 2017, some of the tests will be sent to the University of Indonesia (in Jakarta), hence the result will take a little longer than usual. I took that explanation as, "Oh, well... what can I do about it..."

But from reading your post I'm not sure whether that means the test will be performed by Medical students or it will be handled by the professional at the university's lab... But I believe my test result was done and completed within 2 weeks (or maybe a little longer)...

 

 

ANYWAY -- From my experience, you have nothing to worry about. I know the waiting period is STRESSFUL!!! Believe you me, I've been in your position. But hey it will work out. Just trust the process. and.. SPOILER ALERT: There will be even MORE waiting period once your fiance arrived in the US.  As long as you guys are together and working together to complete all the required documentation there's nothing else to do. 

 

TIPS: If your fiance is not based in Jakarta, get familiar with the area of the US Embassy. and MAKE SURE that you have EVERY document (and maybe more) requested/listed in your interview notice. There's nothing more stressful than not having complete documents on the day of your interview. And even during the day of the interview, you will wait a long time (approx. 2-3 hours) after you checked in at the gate. 

 

Good luck and CONGRATULATIONS!!

J/G

 

 

Thank you for the detailed response and encouragement! Perhaps that was the same case with the university - they didn't explain as clearly to my fiance, and I didn't read the original email written in Bahasa Indonesia.  I am happy to report that we just received notice this morning that the embassy has received the results!   But it felt like a loooong wait, mainly because the hospital couldn't really update us on timing. You just have to wait... Wishing luck for the final interview!

 

On 25/02/2018 at 8:32 AM, Lilith1811 said:

Is the sputum a new requirement for medical test? We didn't have to do that in the end of 2016. I took the results after a week. 

I don't think it is a new requirement. They just added it on to check for Tuberculosis following the chest x-ray exam (but didn't explain why it was needed), which created a 3 month delay in our processing...

 

[T+E 2]

On 24/02/2018 at 10:59 AM, usmsbow said:

You don't have to worry about the I-129f expiring. Sorry, don't have any experience with the test. Have you e-mailed the embassy? They'll probably say it is out of their hands, but maybe they could provide a bit more info to you.

 

 

Thank you for your response. We emailed the Embassy twice to check if they had received the results (after 8 and 10 weeks waiting) and asking how we should proceed, but their responses were very brief, so we didn't want to annoy them by emailing too often. Agreed that it appears the hospital has the ball in their court, so there was nothing we could do to gain further clarity except wait...

[vistajones 62]

On 2/26/2018 at 11:27 AM, T+E said:

Thank you for your response. We emailed the Embassy twice to check if they had received the results (after 8 and 10 weeks waiting) and asking how we should proceed, but their responses were very brief, so we didn't want to annoy them by emailing too often. Agreed that it appears the hospital has the ball in their court, so there was nothing we could do to gain further clarity except wait...

Hello, where can I find jakarta US embassy email? Thanks.

[J/G 85]

2 hours ago, vistajones said:

Hello, where can I find jakarta US embassy email? Thanks.

https://id.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/ 

 

Contact Us

Hours:
Monday – Friday
from 8:00am to 10:00am

Telephone:
+62 21 34359052 or +62 21 34359053

Email:
JakIV@state.gov

Location:
Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan No. 5,  Jakarta Pusat.

[vistajones 62]

On 2/24/2018 at 10:28 AM, T+E said:

Hi All,

My fiance went for the medical exam in Jakarta on 26-Nov at the designated hospital. They said they will require a sputum test, which takes 8-10 weeks. After 10 weeks, we contacted the hospital, and they said it's not ready yet, and that "the 10 weeks does not include weekends and holidays".  After 3 months (23-Feb), we contacted them again, and they said it is not ready yet, and that they sent the culture sample to a local university for medical students' experience. We feel like our lives are at the mercy of the hospital staff...

 

Has anyone else had this type of delay from the Jakarta hospital, or others? 

 

And any concern that our I-129f approval will expire while we wait?

Hey did the doctor asked for sputum test on the same day as the exam? Im a bit worried that they would ask the same thing after the exam is done. I really don't want to wait for 3 months. Plus since we're applying for IR-1 the interview date has been set by NVC for the end of July. If they want to do sputum test, does that mean I have to reschedule the interview?  I did the medical last Friday, wondering if they dont ask on the same day then they wont ask for it? :P*fingers crossed*

[T+E 2]

(Error post)

 

Edited June 30, 2018 by T+E

[T+E 2]

1 hour ago, vistajones said:

Hey did the doctor asked for sputum test on the same day as the exam? Im a bit worried that they would ask the same thing after the exam is done. I really don't want to wait for 3 months. Plus since we're applying for IR-1 the interview date has been set by NVC for the end of July. If they want to do sputum test, does that mean I have to reschedule the interview?  I did the medical last Friday, wondering if they dont ask on the same day then they wont ask for it? :P*fingers crossed*

Hi Vistajones,

 

Selamat pagi! Did you receive the medical result report (in the sealed envelope) that you need to bring to the embassy? If so, then everything will be fine. If no, then we heard that there is a chance that the blood test could go one way or the other, and they would call you. If the doctor saw something in your chest xray, they would probably have already asked you to return for a sputum test during the exam itself, so I am optimistic about your situation!

 

As an aside, for those who have done the TB sputum test in Indonesia (or elsewhere), you will most likely need to do a follow-up sputum test at the local Public Health Department after you arrive in the US, but only if USCIS has labelled you as having a "Class B condition". We were told that if they have required a sputum test overseas, you are labelled as Class B. They told us that Indonesia test results (which were clear and negative) needed to be repeated in the US because "climate and environment is different in the US".

 

Best of luck, and hang in there! Don't let the slowness of all the waiting, or the uncertainties, get you down...

[vistajones 62]

23 hours ago, T+E said:

Hi Vistajones,

 

Selamat pagi! Did you receive the medical result report (in the sealed envelope) that you need to bring to the embassy? If so, then everything will be fine. If no, then we heard that there is a chance that the blood test could go one way or the other, and they would call you. If the doctor saw something in your chest xray, they would probably have already asked you to return for a sputum test during the exam itself, so I am optimistic about your situation!

 

As an aside, for those who have done the TB sputum test in Indonesia (or elsewhere), you will most likely need to do a follow-up sputum test at the local Public Health Department after you arrive in the US, but only if USCIS has labelled you as having a "Class B condition". We were told that if they have required a sputum test overseas, you are labelled as Class B. They told us that Indonesia test results (which were clear and negative) needed to be repeated in the US because "climate and environment is different in the US".

 

Best of luck, and hang in there! Don't let the slowness of all the waiting, or the uncertainties, get you down...

Selamat malam

Well I didn't received the envelope.they said they will send it directly to the embassy in about 10 days. Which I find odd,cause everyone seems to pick up their results. Also, I don't think the doc saw my chest x-ray that day since they were pretty busy. I guess if they find something, they'll let me know next week.

Hopefully not!!!

But, we'll just have to "enjoy" the ride.

 

 

[yuni_yuni 59]

Just did my medical exam for k1 today, and they said they would send  the result directly to embassy within 10 days. Is it a new regulations of US visa?

They also doesnt ask me to have sputum test.. but im sure the GP already had the xray result. 

[vistajones 62]

15 hours ago, yuni_yuni said:

Just did my medical exam for k1 today, and they said they would send  the result directly to embassy within 10 days. Is it a new regulations of US visa?

They also doesnt ask me to have sputum test.. but im sure the GP already had the xray result. 

Yup same here. They whatsapp-ed me a week after the checkup, telling me that they sent the result to the embassy. No sputum test thank god.