trying to be upbeat

[sunandmoon 450]

Petitioner Information

Petitioner's Name: Living dangerously doing the medical two days before the interview

Petitioner Address:

Relationship to Applicant: FIANCEE

U.S. Contact Person:

U.S. Contact Person's Contact Number:

Nearest Relative in the U.S.:

Relationship to Applicant: FIANCEE

Nearest Relative's Address:

Nearest Relative's Contact Number:

Intended Port of Entry: NEVADA

Estimated Date of Departure: SEPTEMBER 2011

I assume it's your tight schedule as the reason for doing the medical two days before the interview. even if things go smoothly, medical results may not be at the Embassy for the interview, causing a delay of a couple of days for the visa approval. hope everything works out for you.

[gretchen_darren 67]

well, the good part is the guy started. I have someone on site. A server went down over the weekend (this morning). Plus all of the other craziness going.

I do not expect a sealed envelope from SLECMC, but SLECMC may give us one. SLECMC runs a courier each afternoon, so i expect the results to be couriered over that Tuesday afternoon. Just may make our day at the Embassy longer on Wednesday.

I filed for expedite in June for her village flooding. I got approval right after July 4 holiday. then took another month to get to NVC. then another couple of weeks to embassy. This was the soonest I could get her in for the medical and embassy interview based on the embassy getting the application and her cycle. The village flooded in June, and it took me until September.

This has been one crazy ride since June 1 when I came back from my second visit.

Monday after her medical, we have to go to the NBI office if she does not get her NBI this week. Tuesday, after medical, we are going to do the CFO. Wednesday is Embassy. then Thursday and Friday are relaxing days or dealing with leftover issues. then if we do not get her visa before we leave to take her parents back home. We wait in butuan for a week. (will make 10 days from interview, leave on the 11th day, recently normal for visa has been 6 days.)

Everyting on this is crazy. Either this will work out, or will be one of the worst train wrecks.

[Markieboy 104]

Everything on this is crazy. Either this will work out, or will be one of the worst train wrecks.

Expect the latter. Prepare accordingly.

OTOH, if you are successful, this may be the shortest time-frame between medical and interview.

Again, good luck with everything!

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

Take a look at this

Darren, IF SLEC still allows applicant to hand carry the Med, this is your best bet.

Edited August 29, 2011 by Crashed~N2~Me

[gretchen_darren 67]

Yep, probably will be doing a hand carry of the results to the embassy. What I am doing I do not recommend for the average person. trying to complete a process which has taken months to do already. Our approval took 136 days, was at NVC in 167 days, and interview date is 194 days. The only reason I am combining medical and interview is because: 1) She has been tested for TB, and given the immunization 2) plus has many of the immunizations for USA. 3) a cousin from her village who she spends much time with, passed her medical and interview in late july.

hehe,

like this quote: "Pinays are some awesome women but when they get an idea in their head you'll never change it, not even with a notarized letter from God.

I can't say for sure if it's better to go later, just that if she's dead-set on going early don't make an argument over it."

read these links:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/305202-wifes-manila-embassy-experience/page__p__4616826__hl__medical+interview+hand+carry__fromsearch__1#entry4616826

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/274622-is-it-possible-to-do-a-medical-so-close-to-the-interview-date/page__p__4190536__hl__medical+interview+hand+carry__fromsearch__1#entry4190536

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/260820-timing-on-medical-interview-and-cfo/page__p__4002791__hl__medical+interview+hand+carry__fromsearch__1#entry4002791

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/230167-december-4th-interview/page__p__3522182__hl__medical+interview+hand+carry__fromsearch__1#entry3522182

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/216183-stlukes-info-to-embassy/page__p__3277734__hl__medical+interview+handcarry__fromsearch__1#entry3277734

[gretchen_darren 67]

wahoo.... I am in Butuan at Almont now with mahal ko. :dance: We are waiting on dinner.. Tomorrow we go to manila with her parents and the fun begins..... wheeeee.......

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

Good Luck!

[paul_kay 31]

Alright. This is fun! Keep on updating this thread!

[the good knight 2]

Good Luck

Wishing you all the best, the wife and I have been following your story, enjoy your time in P.I. I hope to get back to the philippines myself soon........

[gretchen_darren 67]

Today if FLY DAY..... She is SOOOO SOOOOO SOOOOO excited. (I think her parents are as well.) I will post pictures and video tonight.... Today will be a day to remmber... also have to say XOOM is wonderful. Was able to send her money so we had money. And the US Dolar is losing against the peso....1 = 42.27 php.... Ah well. After Monday, very little expenses the rest of the trip...

the humidity here is just not something I am used to. How I wish for Phoenix again....But I must say the hot water was REALLY HOT this morning....How I MAHAL Almont. AS far as I am concerned I think I have found THE BEST hotel in the Philippines. (but remember this is my own personal opinion.)

Have a treat and wonderful Saturday night and Sunday.....

[Dan and Judy 614]

Monday after her medical, we have to go to the NBI office if she does not get her NBI this week. Tuesday, after medical, we are going to do the CFO. Wednesday is Embassy. then Thursday and Friday are relaxing days or dealing with leftover issues. then if we do not get her visa before we leave to take her parents back home. We wait in butuan for a week. (will make 10 days from interview, leave on the 11th day, recently normal for visa has been 6 days.)

We are currently at 14 days since embassy said everything was fine. 2go service dosn't have it. In a few days I'll call the embassy and bug em

[gretchen_darren 67]

going to St. lukes then NBI in a few minutes.... today will be so so much fun.

BTW:

City Garden is a good place to stay. The food is more american/Japanese then Filipino. first meal at the hotel for 4 people was 1350 php. Prices at hte hotel for food range from 170php to 400 php. Note: most of the good dishes are about 395 php. City Garden will also exchange money for you at the reception about $300 at a time. We are in the new wing. Major hint, make sure to put your card in the wall slot by the door to activate the room. Rooms are nice but no view of anything. The nice part is nothing is very very far away.....

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=tl&gs_upl=42163l48145l1l48328l28l18l1l3l3l1l1892l4737l0.1.3.5-2.1.0.1l8l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1024&bih=635&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=city+garden+suites+manila&fb=1&gl=ph&hq=city+garden+suites&hnear=0x3397ca03571ec38b:0x69d1d5751069c11f,Manila&cid=0,0,18003184318021783742&ei=ZGZjTrTHMcSriAeJypWJCg&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&ved=0CBgQ_BI

[RK_and_Inday 10]

Darren--Thank you for the frequent updates. Cheering you, Gretchen, and family on. Best of luck to you. Truly hoping your "fast track" plan will work out and you and Gretchen will have successes all the way around!! --RK and Inday

[gretchen_darren 67]

well she passed medical. YOU as an American CAN accompany your fiancee through the process. However, no other Filipino but the applicant can go in. You can choose to wiat outside as well if you wish to.

they are doing her immunizations today as well. Heading back St. Lukes. So the good news is the pre-registration worked. It helped her on the forms. Also, it sped the process along. However, stilll get there early in the day. they start lining up at 4:40 am. Start checking forms around 5:50 to 6 am for reception. The line to the left (south) is for first day visa). the line to the right (north) is for second day. (immunizations).

Great news is we are done with St. Lukes on the very first day. Bad news is we still need NBI.

well she passed medical. YOU as an American CAN accompany your fiancee through the process. However, no other Filipino but the applicant can go in. You can choose to wiat outside as well if you wish to.

they are doing her immunizations today as well. Heading back St. Lukes. So the good news is the pre-registration worked. It helped her on the forms. Also, it sped the process along. However, stilll get there early in the day. they start lining up at 4:40 am. Start checking forms around 5:50 to 6 am for reception. The line to the left (south) is for first day visa). the line to the right (north) is for second day. (immunizations).

Great news is we are done with St. Lukes on the very first day. Bad news is we still need NBI.

[gretchen_darren 67]

The guards at St. Lukes did deny me access today. I am inquiring as to why they did so. I will post results as I get them. Another US Citizen did go through with his fiancee. So I am not very happy right now after being lied to by St. Lukes Extension Clinic.

WE also got the NBI. So things are looking good.

WE go back on Tuesday for her results. CFO will Tuesday as well. Things are looking good. So far things are on track.

Medical today took over 6 hours. Be there early. I do not care what anyone tells you. 4:30 to 5:00 am for front of the line. After that you are waiting in back. Got there at 5:38 am and she got in at 6:38 am to reception. From there she was not out until noon. then had to go back at 1 pm for immunization interview. the immunization interview took another 40 minutes. So by the time it was done, it was about 2:30 pm. Long day for first day of medical. But easily expect 5 hours.

the lines was gone at 8:30 am with people able to enter quickly. But from the point of entry, expect 5 hours. (afternoon may go quicker since most of the people are gone,)

Was just sad because I was told I could go through the medical with her, but the Guards refused entry. I am working on getting an explanation on exactly what happened and why the email told me I could accompany her and the guards refusing me to accompany her. the explanation had better be a very very very good one, because another US Citizen got to accompany his fiancee on the SAME DAY at the SAME TIME.