Sputum Testing and Visa Interview Appointment

[Spaw 0]

Hello my fiance just went for her medical today. They claimed to see something in X-ray and want her to do a Sputum test October 4,5,6 but her interview is on October 7th. They claimed that she may still be able to attend the interview but they weren't sure. I'm waiting to hear back from them through email as ever since Covid started they never answer their phone lines. Has anyone ever challenged the results and asked for a 2nd X-ray and review from another doctor? Is this even possible? We flew to Manila from Mindanao, such an inconvenience to have to wait 2 months. Just searching for anybodies thoughts or advice on this, especially if they requested another X-ray and got a different result the 2nd time. I only bring that up because I have experience with false diagnosis'.

[Hank_ 9,174]

SPUTUM is a 60 day process (three days of collection, 60 days for a culture to grow).   She will NOT get her medical file for the interview on the 7th.

 

You could try to challenge the x-ray .. but don't hold your breath on that one. 

 

It is what it is ...   plan for a 60 day delay IF the culture comes back negative 

 

 

[Spaw 0]

Alright thank you Hank for your input, much appreciated!

[Adventine 3,196]

Lots of people with sputum delay experiences on this forum. Just do a quick search and you should find their threads. Unfortunately it is what it is. SLEC is the only authorized provider for the US visa immigration medical exam in the Philippines, so you will have to follow what they say.

[Chancy 6,241]

On 9/27/2021 at 4:51 PM, Spaw said:

They claimed to see something in X-ray and want her to do a Sputum test October 4,5,6 but her interview is on October 7th. They claimed that she may still be able to attend the interview but they weren't sure.

 

As others have said, challenging SLEC's x-ray findings will be a lost cause as SLEC is the only accredited clinic for US visa medicals.  They will not accept x-rays from any other lab, not even those at the St Luke's hospitals.

 

Your fiancee will not be allowed to interview on Oct 7th as the US embassy in Manila requires completed medical prior to interview.  When I did my medical, there was a dedicated SLEC staffer for explaining the sputum collection process and how the applicant's original interview appointment will be treated as cancelled/no-show due to incomplete medical.

 

My advice for your fiancee is to arrive between 5:30am to 6am on her sputum collection days (unless she won't mind waiting for hours).  The gate guard will give out queue numbers for sputum collection only until 8:30am.  On my first collection day, I arrived at 6:30am at SLEC.  Felt proud of myself too for arriving so early (I thought).  My queue number was in the 80s already, out of almost 100 numbers given out that day.  I waited 4 hours for my turn at the sputum collection room.

 

Also, note that starting October, visa applicants will be required to present negative RT-PCR test results (taken within 3 days) prior to entering SLEC.  So your fiancee will need to get tested sometime this weekend.  Not sure if SLEC will accept those results for all 3 days of her sputum collection schedule.

 

Lastly, if your fiancee is not yet fully vaccinated for COVID, I strongly suggest she complete her vaccination before the end of her 8-week waiting period for sputum test results.  COVID vaccine will be required for US visa medical starting Oct 1st.

 

[Spaw 0]

Thank for your the info, Chancy. If only she passed this Sept 27th medical we would've avoided this October 1st directive. But anyways, I've read that a no phone call from St Lukes means a negative test result, and a phone call is bad news - Is this still the way it is? Then I'm assuming that we will need to schedule a medical and contact the embassy for an interview appt again - Do they prioritize applicants in this situation?

[Chancy 6,241]

38 minutes ago, Spaw said:

I've read that a no phone call from St Lukes means a negative test result, and a phone call is bad news - Is this still the way it is?

 

Correct.  With regard to sputum test results, no news is good news.  Hopefully your fiancee will not get any call or email from SLEC before her results release schedule, which will be 60 days after her 3rd sputum collection day.  Assuming negative sputum test results (and completed COVID vaccination), her medical expiry date will be around 3 months from that results release date.

 

55 minutes ago, Spaw said:

I'm assuming that we will need to schedule a medical and contact the embassy for an interview appt again - Do they prioritize applicants in this situation?

 

Yes, you or your fiancee will need to ask for a new interview schedule after she clears the medical.  I'm not sure about K1 cases, but for spouse visa cases like mine, USEM seems to prioritize interview re-scheduling for those who cleared sputum testing, given the short expiration period of the medical.

 

[Spaw 0]

Alright. But given that they do not call if the test is negative, do we have to just keep calling around/at the 60 day mark to find out for ourselves?

[brightfuture78 118]

It's not that they don't call if they don't see any growth in the samples - it's just that they won't call before 60 days have passed.

[Chancy 6,241]

3 hours ago, Spaw said:

Alright. But given that they do not call if the test is negative, do we have to just keep calling around/at the 60 day mark to find out for ourselves?

 

After her 3rd sputum collection, SLEC will inform your fiancee of the scheduled date of the release of her medical results.  Assuming she does not get a call or email before then, she must return to SLEC on that date.  SLEC will inform her that her sputum test results are negative, then she will be given any required vaccinations that she may be missing.

 

[Spaw 0]

Ah ok good, that makes sense. Thank you all very much for the help. Much appreciated.