St.Luke medical!

[Dakine 26]

If you are just starting the visa process. Here's something advisable to do.

Have a TB and HIV test as soon as you start the proccess. Hepa B also.

Philippines has a high rate of TB. If you wait until the St. Lukes medical you may end up waiting 6 months + to be cured and get your visa. You can be cured before the medical and fly away after the interview.

Hepa B is also a problem but can be taken care of with proper medication and you will be instructed to show evidence of continuing such when you get to the US.

HIV is as tough one. Yeah no one wants to be tested or talk about it but why waste the time going thru the iimmigration process just to end up back where you started.

If you want to "roll the dice" and "hope" for a 7 that's your trip.

Sure can end up causing a LOT of grief and misery tho!

Edited November 24, 2007 by Haole

[rjp44 1]

If you are just starting the visa process. Here's something advisable to do.

Have a TB and HIV test as soon as you start the proccess. Hepa B also.

Philippines has a high rate of TB. If you wait until the St. Lukes medical you may end up waiting 6 months + to be cured and get your visa. You can be cured before the medical and fly away after the interview.

Hepa B is also a problem but can be taken care of with proper medication and you will be instructed to show evidence of continuing such when you get to the US.

HIV is as tough one. Yeah no one wants to be tested or talk about it but why waste the time going thru the iimmigration process just to end up back where you started.

If you want to "roll the dice" and "hope" for a 7 that's your trip.

Sure can end up causing a LOT of grief and misery tho!

Good points. It's also a good idea to get the medical as soon as possible because some vaccinations require a series of shots (hep A&B for sure) so if needed they need some time. Also, I've read that if TB is being treated and is not contagious because of the treatment, the visa might be approved and treatment required here, even though that will certainly be more expensive. It's best to take advantage of the lower medical costs in the PI.

[Jasman0717 9]

[Good points. It's also a good idea to get the medical as soon as possible because some vaccinations require a series of shots (hep A&B for sure)

/quote]

Is this a new requirement? Claudeth only had to have the MMR

[RandyandRina 2]

Just wanted to add a post that vsmtghdy posted here back in October regarding

2007 Technical Instructions for Tuberculosis Screening and Treatment for Panel Physicians

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=1269822

Edited November 24, 2007 by RandyandRina

[ryza 0]

Is this a new requirement? Claudeth only had to have the MMR

no. this is not a new requirement. this is only applicable for those who have TB. i only have the MMR also.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Good advice. I would recommend all women to have a thorough physical exam done before you even get your NOA2, with your regular doctor so that if you have any health issues that could cause a delay, you can treat it then. The St. Lukes Medical Exam is NOT the time to find out you something.

Edited November 24, 2007 by Mister Fancypants

[spidergirl 0]

Is this a new requirement? Claudeth only had to have the MMR

No its not new requirements, as i have remember, i wasn't given Hepa A&B shots because the VACCINE was only given to people 18 years old and below. I was 32 when i took the medical exam, so they gave me MMR only.

[Bill B 0]

Great suggestion for the TB issue. This could benefit many who are in the beginning of the Visa process.

Hep A/B is normally a series of three shots over a period of 6 months or more and you must have all three shots to be fully protected. It is not one shot and not even a series that is begun at St Luke's as far as I know.

Edited November 24, 2007 by Bill B

[sj5 4]

If you are just starting the visa process. Here's something advisable to do.

Have a TB and HIV test as soon as you start the proccess. Hepa B also.

Philippines has a high rate of TB. If you wait until the St. Lukes medical you may end up waiting 6 months + to be cured and get your visa. You can be cured before the medical and fly away after the interview.

Hepa B is also a problem but can be taken care of with proper medication and you will be instructed to show evidence of continuing such when you get to the US.

HIV is as tough one. Yeah no one wants to be tested or talk about it but why waste the time going thru the iimmigration process just to end up back where you started.

If you want to "roll the dice" and "hope" for a 7 that's your trip.

Sure can end up causing a LOT of grief and misery tho!

starting HB and HIV test with ? wasting money. $100 in St lukes its really a good deal to me.

People who is worrying about HIV test who are normally sleeping with different guys ..

[RonMay 1]

starting HB and HIV test with ? wasting money. $100 in St lukes its really a good deal to me.

People who is worrying about HIV test who are normally sleeping with different guys ..

i know you mean it as a "joke" (or not) but doesnt mean having an HIV test before going to slec are those people who are normally sleeping with different guys

but what about those people who had blood transfusion not knowing the blood has a problem, being injected with an infected needles? lol... right, a waste of money since i paid $80 to have all the test (hiv, hepa, std etc, x-ray) before going to st. luke's... why i did that? to ease my mind. was it worth it? yea! just making sure the inevitable especially i have a weak lungs (i had asthmatic bronchitis once)... did i sleep with various men or even with a man? NO. but why do the test? again, just trying to make sure and be ready about it... so the suggestion above is a good thing unless if one is living in such a perfect world and he/she is perfect enough not to worry... note: if one cant afford to have a pre-test/screening then at least have an early med so if somethings wrong you still can make things right and make it to the interview... be healthy! peace and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

[rjp44 1]

If you are just starting the visa process. Here's something advisable to do.

Have a TB and HIV test as soon as you start the proccess. Hepa B also.

Philippines has a high rate of TB. If you wait until the St. Lukes medical you may end up waiting 6 months + to be cured and get your visa. You can be cured before the medical and fly away after the interview.

Hepa B is also a problem but can be taken care of with proper medication and you will be instructed to show evidence of continuing such when you get to the US.

HIV is as tough one. Yeah no one wants to be tested or talk about it but why waste the time going thru the iimmigration process just to end up back where you started.

If you want to "roll the dice" and "hope" for a 7 that's your trip.

Sure can end up causing a LOT of grief and misery tho!

starting HB and HIV test with ? wasting money. $100 in St lukes its really a good deal to me.

People who is worrying about HIV test who are normally sleeping with different guys ..

Some vaccines are only given to those under 18 and some to those over 50 but the filipinas should be checked for TB in advance so that if you do have it, treatment is started.

St. Luke's is $145 now.

[Joe's Wife 4ever 0]

I agree..Better to have a pre medical than be surprise..Less worries and u will be so surely confident..lol

[sofia2009 1]

starting HB and HIV test with ? wasting money. $100 in St lukes its really a good deal to me.

People who is worrying about HIV test who are normally sleeping with different guys ..

i know you mean it as a "joke" (or not) but doesnt mean having an HIV test before going to slec are those people who are normally sleeping with different guys

but what about those people who had blood transfusion not knowing the blood has a problem, being injected with an infected needles? lol... right, a waste of money since i paid $80 to have all the test (hiv, hepa, std etc, x-ray) before going to st. luke's... why i did that? to ease my mind. was it worth it? yea! just making sure the inevitable especially i have a weak lungs (i had asthmatic bronchitis once)... did i sleep with various men or even with a man? NO. but why do the test? again, just trying to make sure and be ready about it... so the suggestion above is a good thing unless if one is living in such a perfect world and he/she is perfect enough not to worry... note: if one cant afford to have a pre-test/screening then at least have an early med so if somethings wrong you still can make things right and make it to the interview... be healthy! peace and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

TB test in the Philippines is not worth it because if the person has a BCG vaccine(which is most of the people in the PI has BCG vaccine) when she/he was a baby, it is always come out positive..as long as you dont have symptoms of TB such as productive coughing,fever, chill, weight loss or loss of energy, you dont have to worry getting a TB test..that will save money.. about hepatitis and hiv, GTG muna..i'm at work, need to answer call light!! Peace!