HappyDancer

I am planning to call the help line for the open exchange. At this rate, we are crossing our fingers that we can afford the premiums. And maybe... just maybe... we might win the lottery! ;-)

My parents are due to move in with us when they migrate here early next year (Feb). We need a bigger home for when they come to live with us. The current paperwork they have has our current address as the mailing address for their greencard. I'm really itching to get settled in a bigger home though considering it will be a bit tight for us where we are right now. My worry is the mailing of the greencard and paperwork. Should we wait until they have arrived and have the greencard mailed at our current place?

Thoughts?

Agree on putting my foot down.

Thank you all for validating my feelings

How are things going?

I have been reading through the thread and the truth is... I smell marriage fraud.

Well, yeah, he's here. But why the sudden change of attitude after all the wait and work you had to put through the whole process?

Maybe I'm being overly negative regarding this but someone who truly loves you would never tear you apart and disrespect ypu especially in public. It seems to me like he is just looking for ways to make you hate him and drop him. If my suspicions are true, he needs to at least have the balls to just tell you.

What happens when they inevitably get to the point that non routine issues arise?

We will cross the bridge when we get there. For now, we are checking out options and making sure we have a game plan for their medical insurance.

I'm not even concerned about the Medicare because I know they won't qualify. In this case, chances are I need to go ahead and call. Hmmmm... We have been thinking about this a while during the petition process. My thought is to go ahead and go back home every 6 months to get their medical done there and get the medication for the duration of when they are here. Just weighing my options. She knows pretty much what her issues are. It's just a matter of making sure she gets the rx filled for her insulin,etc.

I tried to do the interactive quote via the UHC website and it always redirects me to a medicare portal since my mom is over 65. But, they are not eligible for it right now since they are not citizens.

I'm sure I'm not the only one doing the exploration right now re medical insurance. I wish it wasn't such a huge beast to tackle. Every other website asks for a contact number. Meh...

Hello, everyone! I'm not sure if this belongs here but I am just asking for suggestions. My parents are both over 60 (63 and 66) and will be immigrating here to be with us. Anyone got lucky on what kind of medical insurance is best for them? My mom has pre-existing conditions while my dad is relatively healthy based on the last check except for vision and some dental issues.

They will be with us in Kentucky.

Thoughts?

That's exactly what I thought too, emrich. Not sure what to make of it. But, I have read earlier that some DID get a call back and was told to call for the result at a certain date. In this case, I'm just really crossing my fingers that it was an initial negative for the sputum culture.

Hi everyone. My parents both had to undergo sputum tests on August 16, 2015. They were advised to call back Nov 16 for the 2-month wait period. Based on what I read here, no news usually means good news. Well, 6 weeks into it (last week), my mom received a call from St. Luke's for my dad saying that he should call back Nov 16 since they are not yet done with the tests. Weird, I thought. No word about my mom's test. I am curious if this is typical? I am really hoping for a negative culture test. Does St. Luke's just randomly conduct these courtesy callbacks? My parents are planning to call back anyway on Nov 16 per their instructions. I just don't know what to make of that.

Any thoughts?

Thank you for the reply Boiler. I am in the process of filling out a new form but back last year, my husband went on ahead and filed an I-864A for both my parents just to be on the safe side. His income alone is more than enough for the petition and immigration requirement. Does it matter then if I lost my job? I guess more than anything i just don't want any more delays.

Anyone? I really need input. I'm not sure if there is a need for a new I864 since I quit working. Any thoughts?

Bump

I just realized that the I-864 that I submitted last year would have been over a year by the time my parents are done with their sputum test wait of 8 weeks.

The thing is, I am no longer employed compared to last year. Do you think it would be better if I go ahead and make another i864 and i864a from my husband for each parent? I just have a feeling the embassy might ask for another set come interview time.

Also, is there any way that I can submit the form ahead of time to the USEM in Manila just so they will have enough time to review it before the possible interview reschedule in November?

Thank you in advance!

Wow..I didn't know that they can do the medical without the interview schedule. How did you do that?

Hello, everyone. My parents are processing their IR5 visa and currently waiting for their 3 day sputum test to start on Monday,Sep14-16. They already have a visa interview schedule of Sep22 (which of course will need to be rescheduled. I have been reading and so far I am more confused than enlightened because of conflicting experiences Re sputum tests. My family is not based in Manila and I'm trying to manage their flight schedules and accommodation. They are both senior citizens and unaccompanied. I just want to make sure we do this whole thing without any hitches if they can avoid it.

Please see below my questions and I'm looking forward to clear and verified answers. Thanks in advance.

1. What will happen at the end of the 3rd day sputum test collection? Do they still need to go back to St. Luke's or they can book a flight back to Cebu afterwards?

2. Considering that they have an interview schedule already set by NVC, who should call and inform the US Embassy? Is that St. Luke's job or the applicant's? If it is St. Luke's, is there a way for us to verify if they did what they are supposed to do? This is the part that I have conflicting answers. I don't want to reschedule something myself and end up getting blocked off if it was way too premature or too late because of incorrect information. Time is of the essence here. Their daily expenses are killing my bank account.

3. After all the sputum specimen is collected, I know that there will be an 8 week wait period for the culture unless the test turns out TB-POSITIVE (and that's another beast to tackle), but St. Luke's will not provide information and instead will ask you to come back on a specific date. That is fine and dandy if you live in Manila. But then again this will be an issue if they are still in Cebu. Any suggestions of a game plan?

4. They were given a note from St. Luke's to bring their DS-260 confirmation. Which one is this and what does this form look like?

5. Who brings the medical results to the US Embassy? Back in my K1 days, St. LUKE'S forwarded the medical documents and results to the embassy. Has this process changed?

I need as much info and advice as I can get to have a better timeline and expectations in mind. It's causing me a lot of confusion and I would really appreciate if anyone can clear up some of the above-questions for me. Any tips, FYIs, warnings, cautions, etc?

Please and thank you!

Prayers!!!

There is no schedule for the medical exam. You need to pre-register at the website to fill out the information, print 2 copies a day bring it to the St Luke's Extension ofc for the medical. Just make sure you have enough time between medical and the visa interview schedule to make sure her medical is done before the interview. My friend told me her mom had her medical exam 1 week before the visa interview and everything went well. Good luck to us! My parents will be interviewed Sept 22. How about yours?

Hello everyone,

I just received the email that my parents (IR5) interview is September 22 at the US Embassy Manila. My mom has pre-existing conditions (diabetes but her medications are all in order). They are both well over 60.

How far in advance should the medical be? What other things do they need to make sure they bring with them both to the medical and interview.

Also after the interview, how long does it take for the visa to be delivered to them.

Please advise. Thank you in advance!

Bump

NVC email notice says documents received are complete and to wait until the interview is scheduled.

How exactly is this process done? Does the US Embassy actually schedule interview? Both my parents are the applicants. They need to have the medical, as well. They are both over 60y/o. And what is the validity of the IR5 visas when they get it? What about the CFO seminars? Sorry for the hundred questions but I'm not familiar with this and I have been doing random searches and I'm not very comfortable with the info I got and some info are years old.

I'm trying to see if I will still have time to be able to travel there and escort them coming in here and the timing (winter is coming and I want to make sure their travel is comfortable).

Thanks in advance!

I sent the missing documents for my IR5 mom and dad and tracking information said it was received July 31. I has been 2 weeks and I have not received any email notification that they received it compared to previous submissions. I have been trying to call and good grief it says to try again later ALL THE TIME ALL DAY LONG! I'm beyond frustrated. I tried the online status check for DEPT of State and it still says to follow the instructions on the email. I sent all original police clearance and my birth certificates. Any suggestions? I'm so sick of dealing with this.

thanks!

Ok... can't find a straight answer. I'm mailing my parents' civil documents tomorrow for their IR5. I know I need to write something on the back of their 2x2 passport photos.

What info do I need to write down on the back?

Black pen? Blue pen? Pencil?

Please advise. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

A very quick question. I paid for my mom and dad's AOS fee last June and I have been so busy with work and had issues with my health that I have just completed the I-864 documents. It has been about 2 months since I paid. Will this affect processing of my parents' documents?

Please advise. I am so worried.

Jumping in. I am currently waiting for the IV Fee to be activated as well. So, when the $230 IV fee does get activated, am I right that forms DS 230 and DS 260 need to be filled out? Please clarify. I'm so confused. Thanks in advance!