Jen Alarma

My case was DQ’s last November 15. I send a request to expedite on November 25, and expedite was approved Dec 5. 🎉🎉🎉 Still waiting for my Husband’s IL 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

SEPTEMBER 23-24, 2019 - MEDICAL EXAM at SLEC
 
Hello everyone! This post is mostly helpful for my fellow Filipinos. My visa interview is scheduled for next month, October 21, 2019 but I decided to already have my medical exam done as soon as I got my interview letter for the sake of silencing my anxiety 😂  and of course, to get one step closer to the end of this journey. I'm not going to go into every detail but I will share some tips on my personal experience.
 
The medical exam at SLEC Ermita, as most of you know, is a a 2-day process and it wasn't as hassle as I imagined it to be. The system they've come up with now is quite faster and more efficient compared to their earlier years. You can even pay the fee online or through bank deposit but, I paid at the clinic and there was no line at all since most of the people have already paid through bank deposit. The air conditioning is VERY cold so I suggest you bring a jacket with you. There are TVs on waiting areas (on mute since they communicate with people through the mic/PA system.) There are clean restrooms per floor and they also have water fountains so you can bring your own water bottle. Food is not allowed so eat a heavy meal before you go there. 
 
One thing I also want to point out is... DON'T STRESS OUT TOO MUCH ABOUT THE MEDICAL EXAM. I've seen people here with questions about what diet or exercise to take so they can have normal test results. Yes, it's good to adapt a healthy lifestyle but there's no need to panic when you're about to have your medical exam. There's really no huge preparation for this, not even fasting is required. Just come as you are. 
 
If you can, try not to bring a car. There's very little parking space around the area and it's a busy street so parking might be a problem if you're the one driving. 
 
I've seen mixed reactions about falling in line before the actual operations start and going there when SLEC is already open, around 7:30am, some even say go there around 11am. It really just depends on you. I wanted to finish early so I got there at around 5:30am and luckily, they were already letting people in. To my surprise, I was already number 50 even though I got there early but that number doesn't really matter that much coz after they take your photo, they will also ask you to surrender your number and from there, you bounce from one floor to another while completing the steps in your checklist which has no real sequence, they will just tell you where to go next. 
 
I was already at my last step by 9am which was the immunization interview. Unfortunately, it took THREE HOURS for my name to be called because there were only 2 doctors interviewing hundreds of people so if you can, try to get this step done as early as possible. 
 
Here's where my anxiety sky rocketed. While I was seated waiting for my name to be called for the immunization interview, I was called back to the x-ray room because the nurse informed me that the doctor was asking for a different angle and that made me so anxious. I finished at around 12 noon and I researched about repeat x-rays and the possibility of a sputum test. I WAS SO PARANOID and researching only made it worse, I could't sleep that night. I PRAYED SO HARD and with God's grace and Mercy, when I went back to get the results today, everything was normal. 🙏
 
DAY TWO - I got there at around 7am even though I was instructed to go back at 8 and good thing I was there early because just 30 minutes after I got there, I was called to have my immunization shots. After that, I went back to the first floor releasing area for the results and was done by 9am.
 
Other things to remember:
For women, take note of the first day of your last menstrual period. This will be asked over and over again through out the process. If you have previous major operations, bring any of the following - medical certificates, fact sheets or anything that can show the prognosis of that certain operation because this will save you time from having to explain so much about your past conditions. Some doctors even ask others to come back with a prognosis report or medical certificate.  Answer everything honestly during interviews. Women who received the vaccines are not allowed to get pregnant with in 4 weeks after the shots were given. Wear comfortable clothing and try not to wear jewelries as these will have to be removed during the x-ray.  These are all based on my personal experience at SLEC and I hope I would somehow be able to help others who are about to undergo the medical exam.
 
God bless us all and please pray for the success of my visa interview on October 21, 2019. ❤️