Jump to content
PeterMcS

Manila medical and K-1 interview: two notes from my fiancee's experience

 Share

19 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Two notes that you may be interested in:

  1. Apparently, lots of people don't pass the medical right away: their lung x-rays aren't clear so they have to do a sputum test, to check for bacterial infection I believe. Consequently, they have to cancel their visa interview, and I believe the delay is months. My fiancee talked online with five people who did the medical the same day as she did (she'd met some online beforehand, and others she just met that day). She was the only one of them that passed the medical. She adopted healthy habits approaching her medical (eating, sleeping, exercising), and also chose to take an antibiotic for a week before the medical. She had another online friend that also passed the medical at a different time, and that one had also independently decided to take an antibiotic before her interview. All the usual disclaimers apply: this isn't medical advice, doctors should prescribe medications (though you can generally get them without a prescription in the Philippines), etc.
  2. They didn't even ask my fiancee for her I-134. They did ask her what I did for a living. So no one ever even looked at all the documentation that I spent a lot of time preparing. Of course, they may ask for yours, so provide everything they ask for.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
Timeline

1.  I suspect most sputum cases are done to rule out Tuberculosis. Unfortunately, that is fairly common practice in PI.

2.  I think that is standard practice in Manila. 

Congratulations!!!  Sounds like you have overcome a major hurdle!!!!

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, PeterMcS said:

Two notes that you may be interested in:

  1. Apparently, lots of people don't pass the medical right away: their lung x-rays aren't clear so they have to do a sputum test, to check for bacterial infection I believe. Consequently, they have to cancel their visa interview, and I believe the delay is months. My fiancee talked online with five people who did the medical the same day as she did (she'd met some online beforehand, and others she just met that day). She was the only one of them that passed the medical. She adopted healthy habits approaching her medical (eating, sleeping, exercising), and also chose to take an antibiotic for a week before the medical. She had another online friend that also passed the medical at a different time, and that one had also independently decided to take an antibiotic before her interview. All the usual disclaimers apply: this isn't medical advice, doctors should prescribe medications (though you can generally get them without a prescription in the Philippines), etc.
  2. They didn't even ask my fiancee for her I-134. They did ask her what I did for a living. So no one ever even looked at all the documentation that I spent a lot of time preparing. Of course, they may ask for yours, so provide everything they ask for.

1. Someone put up the percentage recently, I think 1 in 10, and Sputum is discussed in here probably every 2 weeks or so. My wife got flagged for sputum first medial and later ended up retaking medical and no sputum.

2. Also very common. I would be more surprised if they asked for it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, RO_AH said:

1. Someone put up the percentage recently, I think 1 in 10, and Sputum is discussed in here probably every 2 weeks or so. My wife got flagged for sputum first medial and later ended up retaking medical and no sputum.

2. Also very common. I would be more surprised if they asked for it.

I think over the past 4 years or so, I think my now wife is about the only one who was asked for the I134 during the interview 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

My fiancé took the medical exam yesterday (1/17) and failed the Xray (seems like a default thing to do there). She has to go back in 3 weeks (2/7) to take the sputum test for 3 days in a row. So that means 8 weeks after (2/7) to get the results (4/7).
 

We had made the interview for (1/23) so now we need to reschedule.

Questions:
Scheduling
We we tried to reschedule via the website, yet the dates are not available all year. We tried cancelling and scheduling again but same result. I assume we have to contact them directly now. Anyone else have this experience? What's the best method of rescheduling? email, phone, chat? Are they US citizens that answer?

image.png.53a3b1750517692e5eeabd0ddd459dc6.png

Timeline Issue
Is there a timeline in which we HAVE to get the interview in? Does the D-160 "expire" or is there an NVC timeline where we have to reapply?




 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Jason R said:

My fiancé took the medical exam yesterday (1/17) and failed the Xray (seems like a default thing to do there). She has to go back in 3 weeks (2/7) to take the sputum test for 3 days in a row. So that means 8 weeks after (2/7) to get the results (4/7).
 

We had made the interview for (1/23) so now we need to reschedule.

Questions:
Scheduling
We we tried to reschedule via the website, yet the dates are not available all year. We tried cancelling and scheduling again but same result. I assume we have to contact them directly now. Anyone else have this experience? What's the best method of rescheduling? email, phone, chat? Are they US citizens that answer?

image.png.53a3b1750517692e5eeabd0ddd459dc6.png

Timeline Issue
Is there a timeline in which we HAVE to get the interview in? Does the D-160 "expire" or is there an NVC timeline where we have to reapply?




 

 

My fiancee says: You cannot reschedule an interview. You have to cancel it wait for the medical result. Then they'll let you reschedule. The D-160's don't expire.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

Thank you!

 

Do I schedule again through the website or by some other means? I am assuming that SLEC will let the embassy know that we are allowed to schedule again - hence opening up the dates.

 

 I have no idea if/how SLEC and the embassy communicate.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, Jason R said:

Thank you!

 

Do I schedule again through the website or by some other means? I am assuming that SLEC will let the embassy know that we are allowed to schedule again - hence opening up the dates.

 

 I have no idea if/how SLEC and the embassy communicate.

 

You can schedule again through the website, later.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Jason R said:

Thank you!

 

Do I schedule again through the website or by some other means? I am assuming that SLEC will let the embassy know that we are allowed to schedule again - hence opening up the dates.

 

 I have no idea if/how SLEC and the embassy communicate.

 

SLEC would notify the Embassy if someone is flagged for sputum testing so it shouldn't be a problem.  If you want to be proactive you can keep checking for appointment dates to open up in the future after the scheduled sputum test result date.  The embassy releases future appointment periodically and undoubtedly has just not released any April appointments for anyone yet.

Wife and Stepdaughter                                                                            

  • December 17, 2020:  Married in Costa Rica
  • March 08, 2021: Filed l-130s Online
  • March 09, 2021: NOA1
  • April 26, 2021: NOA2, I-130s Approved
  • April 30, 2021: NVC Received
  • May 01, 2021: Pay AOS and IV Bills
  • May 06, 2021: Submit AOS, Financial Docs and DS-260s
  • May 14, 2021: Submit Civil Docs for Stepdaughter
  • May 21, 2021: Submit Civil Docs for Wife
  • June 25, 2021: NVC review for Stepdaughter, RFE submit additional Doc
  • July 08, 2021: Wife Documentarily Qualified by NVC
  • August 31, 2021: Stepdaughter Documentarily Qualified by NVC
  • September 15, 2021: Received Interview Date from NVC, October 05, 2021
  • September 22, 2021: Passed physicals at Saint Luke's Extension Clinic
  • October 05, 2021: Interview at US Embassy Manila. Verbally approved by US Consul. Positive interview experience.
  • October 05, 2021: CEAC status changed to "Issued"
  • October 07, 2021: Passports tracking for delivery on 2GO Courier website
  • October 08, 2021: Passports with visas delivered.  "Visas on hand"
  • October 08, 2021: Paid Immigrant Fee
  • October 12, 2021: Temporary CFO Certificates Received
  • October 26, 2021 POE arrival at LAX
  • November 02, 2021 Social Security Cards arrive in mail
  • January 31, 2022: USCIS Status changed to "Card Is Being Produced"
  • February 04, 2022: USCIS Status changed to "Card Was Mailed To Me"
  • February 07, 2022: Green cards received. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
28 minutes ago, top_secret said:

 

SLEC would notify the Embassy if someone is flagged for sputum testing so it shouldn't be a problem.  If you want to be proactive you can keep checking for appointment dates to open up in the future after the scheduled sputum test result date.  The embassy releases future appointment periodically and undoubtedly has just not released any April appointments for anyone yet.

Thanks top_secret!

What a pain in the butt :) 
It would be nice to have a total procedural timeframe with all the "what ifs" or "how to" with outcomes. At least for K1.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 1/17/2024 at 9:13 AM, Jason R said:

It would be nice to have a total procedural timeframe with all the "what ifs" or "how to" with outcomes. At least for K1.

They have a location for all of that. These forums. Every pitfall you can come across has been posted here. The problem is if you only come here when you have a problem and make a post, you will not know the abundance of the information here. I started frequenting these forums when I first had the thought of pursuing a visa for my wife. I came here every day or 2 during the entire process.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
8 hours ago, RO_AH said:

They have a location for all of that. These forums. Every pitfall you can come across has been posted here. The problem is if you only come here when you have a problem and make a post, you will not know the abundance of the information here. I started frequenting these forums when I first had the thought of pursuing a visa for my wife. I came here every day or 2 during the entire process.


So true!
I still want to write out an expectations list of sorts. I get so many different scenarios when looking through the interwebs lol

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...
 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...