biggish data

me too they never asked for any police clearance from me and I lived in Marikina when I turned 17 and moved to Naga when I was 21...I also had the same dilemma with regards to that question so I asked our hired attorney to explain it to me but he said that I only need an NBI clearance since I didn't leave the country since I turned 16...I actually tried to get a police clearance and the police man that I spoke too was just confused why I still need to get a police clearance if I already have an NBI clearance...he said "it's not making any sense at all" and about the term "no derogatory file" "no criminal conviction" no record on file" don't worry they're all the same I regularly get my NBI clearance and those phrase appear in each of those and I can assure you that I haven't commit any crimes or what so ever:P it just mean that she hasn't been sue or convicted with any case...so your wife is fine

Thank you krissyjoe...clearly it means NBI. My wife didn't mention and issue getting the certificates from the local police...but then again...she may have just not mentioned any funny looks she got when she asked for them...but God bless her, she got the certificates and sent them to me anyway.

I will say the the phrasing on the NBI certificate does make a difference. Here is what USEM says about that (of course, this could be wrong too...with this, in probably is):

. NBI CLEARANCE: Applicants aged 16 years and older must have a valid Record Clearance for Travel Abroad Purposes from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Clearances should be in the applicant?s current name, birth certificate name, maiden name, married name, and any aliases or nicknames ever used, including different spellings of all names ever used. An official letter of explanation from the NBI is required for any notation of ?No criminal record?, "No pending criminal case? or ?With derogatory record.? For immigration purposes, an NBI clearance is considered valid only for one year from the date it is issued. The NBI Clearance Center is located at 5th Floor, Victory Central Mall, Old Victory Compound, Rizal Avenue, Monumento, Caloocan City. You may contact NBI at (632) 523-82-31 to 38. The NBI web site is http://www.nbi.gov.ph.

Edited by magdasal, 30 January 2011 - 02:10 AM.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-01-30 02:09:00

That quote was from the department of state website.

Well, depends on what the word local means in this context...and clearly, it means NBI...not local as in hometown. I think that is the difference and source of confusion for me.

Your post and the USEM post jibe totally...it's only the DOS website that talks about 'local police' certificate. Bad choice of words it seems.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-01-30 02:02:00

That quote was from the department of state website.

Yes, but did you see this one? Or am I the only who is seeing this...or am I missing something:

Police Certificates
Who needs to submit a police certificate?

Each visa applicant aged 16 years or older must submit police certificates.

What should I send?

You must submit police certificates which:

Cover the entire period of the applicant’s residence in that area
Have been issued by the appropriate police authority
Include all arrests, the reason for the arrest(s), and the disposition of each recorded case.
How do I obtain a police certificate?

Determine the countries from which a police certificate is required. Refer to the table below.

Note: Present and former residents of the United States need NOT obtain any U.S. police certificates
Contact the appropriate police authorities. Additional information on how to obtain a police certificate can be found on the Reciprocity by Country page.

IMPORTANT NOTICE - ABOUT POLICE CERTIFICATES: Some countries require a specific Police Certificate Request form to properly request and obtain Police Certificate(s).The Reciprocity by Country page indicates those countries.

Police certificates from certain countries are unavailable.

More specific information is available from NVC, the nearest United States immigrant visa processing post, or online at: http://travel.state....city_3272.html.
An applicant must obtain a police certificate from the local police authority:

IF you…

AND…

have been living in your country of nationality at their current residence for more than 6 months

you are 16 years old or older

lived in a different part of your country of nationality for more than 6 months

you were 16 years or older at that time

lived in a different country for more than 12 months

you were 16 years or older at that time

were arrested for any reason

you were any age at the time of the arrest

Back to Top

Did I miss something there? What was it?

Edited by magdasal, 30 January 2011 - 01:56 AM.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-01-30 01:53:00

You DEFINITELY do NOT need police clearance if you are filing DCF. You only need NBI. Can't speak for non-dcf since I didn't go that route... obviously if they are required its an NVC requirement, not USEM since they don't require it for DCF

I have heard they want both names as well. What we did was have them put her full combined name on the NBI and we did not have any problems with the embassy. Firstname middlename maidenname marriedname

Hi BigJohn...you are most certainly right. Again, I apologize for reading the DOS website as being accurate in any way. I know what it said...it's black and white, right there...and I'm now sure it's totally wrong too.

And thank you for confirming the NBI names issue. I thought that should cover it...it's pretty clear that all the names are there, but with this DOS bunch, who knows.

Again, thanks so much to everybody that replied. What a big help you all were. I hope I didn't sound too confrontational in my responses...but when you read the 'official government site', you tend to believe that first...and the lesson here is that you shouldn't. Better info here, by far.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-01-30 01:51:00

Only NBI is needed. read this:

Hi Scott and Mhay,

You are saying what everybody else here is saying, so with this much feedback, I'm going with just the NBI. The DOS website is probably wrong anyway...it's most certainly wrong about reciprocity with Singapore, and that changed back in October of 2010. When I e-mailed then about that question, I got a form letter with a bunch of web links that had nothing to do with the question I asked them.

So, thank you all. I trust you guys much more than I trust DOS to get their story straight and give out accurate, timely, information...I'm not joking either. They are so screwed up, it's unreal. It terrifies me that my life with my wife is in their hands.

You folks make me feel much better.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-01-30 01:35:00

Well, then maybe I will only send the NBI in then...and if they ask for local certificates at the interview, then those will be available. I'm still worried a bit about the wording on those certificates though.

BTW, I hate the State Department...they wrote that language on their web site and my wife had to travel all the way across Mindanao to get the certificate at CDO. They are also hanging us out to dry on the question of Singapore police certificates...they simply will not answer the question of how we can provide a police from Singapore for a Filipina when Singapore will not issue them to non-citizens anymore.

DOS are a bunch of heartless idiots.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-01-30 00:47:00

But NBI covers the whole Philippines.

But aren't they like the FBI of the Philippines? They don't cover all law enforcement in the country. Local police handle local cases, right? Just like in the US. And both cities she lived in knew exactly what she was looking for and gave her official documents when she asked about them. Sounds to me like they provide these.

I'm not sure what to think...maybe all the embassy wants is the NBI...nobody seems sure though. And like I said...if you read the table at that link for the State Department that I posted, you would surely believe the are asking for NBI + local police certificates.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-01-30 00:42:00

Honestly, I hope I'm wrong and both of your are right...I've read that several places for several countries. But I can't get around that State Department (NVC), table. It is as clear as day. Maybe they don't actually ask about it if you don't send it in or bring it to the interview, but based on the official site, it sure appears that they require the local police certificates for anywhere the spouse has lived in the spouse's country of nationality over 6 months

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-01-30 00:38:00

Can you give a link to a personal experience from someone in the Philippines that needed this? If so, I would like to read it. Thanks.

-James

Sure, how bout this:

http://www.visajourn...ce-certificate/

But if you read the table, it's very clear that you must provide local police certificates for anywhere your wife lived over 6 months.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-01-30 00:33:00

I think getting record from each place applies to areas where records are kept locally or regionally, like the United States. There is not a national database on crimes. NBI has a national database.

BTW, they keep local records in the Philippines as well...not just the US...that's why the State Department wants them. They know this. Not every crime is handled by the NBI in the Philippines. My wife obtained the certificates...that shows that they they are available and specifically available for the purpose of obtaining a visa. It says so right on the certificates she obtained.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-01-30 00:24:00

Are you sure that applies to the US embassy in the Philippines? I am sure I read that if she lived in another country for more than six months, she needed a police clearance. I've heard this more than once. But the link you gave says 12 months in another country. I have seen other cases where that website is wrong.

-James

Yeah, I'm sure. That link I gave you applies to the applicant for the visa...your wife. This is in addition to the NBI clearance. Basically, anywhere your wife has lived...including in her own country, over 6 months, she needs a police clearance from the local police. I've read numerous threads about that here on VJ as well. The "country of nationality" phrase at the NVC site is pretty clear.

I think getting record from each place applies to areas where records are kept locally or regionally, like the United States. There is not a national database on crimes. NBI has a national database.

Again, read that table..."country of nationality" is not ambiguous...and read the threads here at VJ on the topic...it is required.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-01-30 00:21:00

I thought my fiancee only needed to get NBI clearance for the Philippines, and then Police Clearance papers for any other countries she lived in for more than 6 months. I didn't know you needed police clearance for each place she lived in the Philippines. Are you sure about this?

-James

Yep...here it is:

NVC DS-230 Requirements

Note these two parts in the table...you need to obtain a police clearance if:

1) have been living in your country of nationality at their current residence for more than 6 months

you are 16 years old or older

2) lived in a different part of your country of nationality for more than 6 months

you are 16 years old or older

Edited by magdasal, 30 January 2011 - 12:08 AM.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-01-30 00:07:00

Hey folks,

We are still struggling to get all of this DS-230 paperwork done and it's all about getting the Police certificates right.

So, wife travels far and near to get police certificates from NBI, CDO and her home town...all the places she's lived in the Philippines. They look good.

Then I stumble across the "new and improved" USEM website tonight, and they have further, specific, clarification of what they want on a police certificate. They want a certificate for my wife's maiden name and her married name. Now, my question is...for the 2 cities she's lived in...it lists her new married name. So, she has to go back and get additional certificates under her maiden name as well? If I read the embassy web site correctly, it sounds like she does.

Also, the NBI certificate she got includes her married and maiden names, but it's really complicated and uses Spanish notatation...like this:

Bismanos de Smith, Rowena y Clarita

Her maiden name (these names are totally fictitious, btw), would be Rowena Bismanos...married to me Joe Smith.

NBI seems to cover the maiden name requirement, but correct me if I'm wrong....like I said, I'm not sure about her other city police certificates. Any help would be appreciated.

Oh, and there is one more question...my wifes NBI uses the magic phrase "No record on file"...meaning that they have no record of her at all in their system. If it says anything else, like "No criminal conviction" or "No derogatory record on file", she has to get a letter of explanation from them to explain why they have something on her.

But, for her CDO and hometown records, it shows "No derogatory record on file" on one and "No criminal conviction" on the other. Do they use the same system as the NBI? Does this mean they have something in their records on her or is their language different from the NBI?

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-01-29 23:47:00

Hey folks,

We are still struggling to get all of this DS-230 paperwork done and it's all about getting the Police certificates right.

So, wife travels far and near to get police certificates from NBI, CDO and her home town...all the places she's lived in the Philippines. They look good.

Then I stumble across the "new and improved" USEM website tonight, and they have further, specific, clarification of what they want on a police certificate. They want a certificate for my wife's maiden name and her married name. Now, my question is...for the 2 cities she's lived in...it lists her new married name. So, she has to go back and get additional certificates under her maiden name as well? If I read the embassy web site correctly, it sounds like she does.

Also, the NBI certificate she got includes her married and maiden names, but it's really complicated and uses Spanish notatation...like this:

Bismanos de Smith, Rowena y Clarita

Her maiden name (these names are totally fictitious, btw), would be Rowena Bismanos...married to me Joe Smith.

NBI seems to cover the maiden name requirement, but correct me if I'm wrong....like I said, I'm not sure about her other city police certificates. Any help would be appreciated.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-01-29 23:31:00

buying land in PI

First, a USC can't directly own land in the Philippines, by law. Only your wife could own it, since she is still a Filipino citizen. There are exceptions to this like ownership of condos, and minority ownership in businesses, etc.

Second, be careful. Fraud is rife and property laws a very 'flexible' there...squatters are a *major* problem and Philippines laws tend to go against land owners. Unless you have someone you can trust actually occupying the land, you could wind up essentially losing it to squatters. It's often almost impossible to get a clean title too. The Philippines simply don't have strong laws to protect property rights.

Almost every foreigner I know who has bought land in the Philippines (thru a wife, of course) has had trouble.

Edited by magdasal, 02 April 2011 - 10:52 AM.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-04-02 10:51:00

Filipino Men "Most Narcissistic in Asia"

Very big generalization...not many of those types in the provinces. And that article just restricted itself to Asia...America invented the metrosexual.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-04-27 17:39:00

Domestic Airport Terminal

What do you mean by the old domestic terminal? 1 is the old international terminal, 2 is the newer Centennial domestic terminal and 3 is the brand new domestic/international terminal.

Hrmm..couldn't edit the topic.

Anyway, I didn't get that you were saying that terminal 2 and the old domestic terminal were the same thing. Yeah, it's possible...terminal 2 isn't that big at all. Depends entirely on the reliability of the airline. As stated above, Zest air may or may not be very reliable.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-05-08 15:52:00

Domestic Airport Terminal

Do I have plenty of time to connect?
For example... I arrive on a domestic flight on Zest air at the old domestic terminal and need to connect to a flight in terminal 2. If my Zest air flight arrives on time 8:40am and my Philippine Airlines flight departs at 9:25am??? I have never been through the old domestic terminal in any previous trips.

What do you mean by the old domestic terminal? 1 is the old international terminal, 2 is the newer Centennial domestic terminal and 3 is the brand new domestic/international terminal.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-05-08 15:41:00

Advanced Medical Exam at St. Lukes

we're going next week as well. i'm sure any document from the NVC that has the case number would do. may i ask how come you've spent quite a bit of time @ NVC?

Ok, I feel better about that...

About the lengthy NVC stay for us, it was just me getting my financials in good order to make sure we didn't have to worry about support issues during the interview. Took longer than I thought to get my cash assets up to a point where they could not be questioned by a CO, plus I had 2010 taxes to file for my small business which took a bit more time than I wanted, but I finally got there (with a stupid RFE, but I got there).

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-05-15 13:00:00

Advanced Medical Exam at St. Lukes

I've heard some people just brought the NOA2 and AOS bill paid with case number on it

will this suffice?

would it be ok to just have a copy of the NOA2? or does it have to be an original?

thanks in advance for your replies!

My wife is going to do this next week. She's got a copy of her NOA2 and AOS bill...but instead of paid the AOS bill says 'Processing'...that's the receipt they sent me when I paid the bill. It was 5 months ago, so it's been paid a long time...think that will work?

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-05-15 10:37:00

Lotus Garden Hotel

let me know what she thinks of it, im staying there for my medical and interview ask her if wifi is at least good enough thanks and good luck to her

Thank you...I'll try to get a more thorough review from her after she's been there a couple of day...best of luck

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-05-22 13:44:00

Lotus Garden Hotel

hmm, im staying at another hotel then city garden it is

Yep, my wife is there right now to start her medical tomorrow AM. She's pretty impressed with it so far. Got the superior room, because the standard rooms were all booked...she thinks it's too big.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-05-22 13:24:00

Technically she is unemployed unless her family is faming large scale to sell and get a large income .Then it would be considered ''self-employed '' . If as you mentioned that she is just helping her family , then it will be fine to say that she is unemployed . Good luck on your interview .

Hehe, no, they are pretty far from large scale farming. It's long, hot, hard, back breaking work and too often they are lucky to break even after a crop is sold at market.

I see the main point as that she isn't doing this to 'make a living'. I think that is basically the key to the question. I financially support her 100% (and, through her, her family) right now. It's really just an attempt to get her family on a firmer footing.

Thank you. These replies have helped me form a better idea of how to say it.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-05-29 14:46:00

It says you can mark out any personal information just remove that page or black it out with a marker I would not really consider that employment either.

Thank you for reply.

True, but too late to mark anything out...those logs went in with the petition paperwork many months ago. And even now, I'm not sure I would mark that out...just wanted to make sure that if it does come up, it's not a surprise and my wife has a truthful, yet succinct way of expressing the answer.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-05-29 13:55:00

Chances are they won't even look at the chat logs...

If the issue is questioned she should just answer honestly that she doesn't really consider it as being employed since she is trying to help her family establish themselves to be self-sufficient after she leaves.

I doubt it will be an issue.

Thank you! Yes, that sounds like the reasonable approach.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-05-29 13:49:00

Hi All,

Now in the interview prep stages here and trying to anticipate anything that might come up during the interview that could be tricky to answer.

I think I found one and we may (or may not) have trouble with it.

Background: Wife is currently living at home of her parents/extended in a fairly remote area of Mindanao. Wife's family are basically very poor subsistence farmers. She's been working overseas most of her adult life to support them, but went back to live with her family after we were married last year. Since then, she has basically been taking care of her elderly parents. One thing she has done to try and help her family become self-sustaining, after she leaves, it to try to get more of her family involved in farming crops other than rice. So, she began helping some of her brothers grow corn...she provided the capital (seed and fertilizer) from some of the monthly remittance I send her. She also helps plant and harvest these crops and every couple of weeks, helps weed the crops. All this in the hope that when she leaves to be with me, they have a little better income and won't require so much support from us. The results, thus far, have been mixed. But it has kept her busy and provided her with some comfort knowing she is doing her best to help her family.

Concern: When we filed the I-130 and DS-230, I decided to put her employment status down as 'unemployed' because at the time, I didn't really consider help to her family farming efforts to be 'employment'. But, when I sent chat logs to with the I-130 package there are conversations about this 'farming' and the work she is doing...and even the pitiful amount of money she made on one crop. So, if the CO reviews this, would they think we lied about her being 'unemployed'. I think it is one of the standard interview questions...but we've already put 'unemployed' on the forms...should she contradict that and say she is employed?

I'm really asking a question of semantics here...not trying to find a way to mis-represent anything, BTW.

What do you guys think?

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-05-29 11:58:00

any catholic filipino church in greenville sc

hi i am trying to find a catholic Filipino church here in greenville, i am 1 year here but i never been in church, and had never meet filipina friend here, so just wondering if anyone here knows a good catholic church that i can also meet filipina community thanks and godbless

I'm in Greenville, SC. Here are some I found:

http://www.stmarysgvl.org/

http://www.newstanthony.com/

http://www.olrgreenville.net/

I'm in the same boat, when my wife gets here.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-05-31 05:48:00

SLEC gave my passport after my medical results..

I was sort of wondering the same thing. I thought it was because she went for an advanced medical. So it is the new policy. You're not alone.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-05-26 17:26:00

visa got approved!

Congratulations! And that was a great review you wrote :thumbs:

I'm forwarding that to my wife so she can read it before her interview next month.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-06-05 19:40:00

Impatiently waiting for interview date

Hello, everyone!

It's been 10 days since our case was completed at NVC. We were informed that they will start scheduling for July interviews this second week of June (which will be this week). Is that really how it goes? Is there anyone out here, Philippines forum, who got their case completed at NVC and is/are still waiting for their interview date? I am just so impatient right now..

Not unusual...took us exactly 14 days if I remember correctly...but yeah, feels like forever. As far as the second week of the month stuff...nah, we got scheduled in early July 2 weeks ago. I think it's whenever they get the next batch of available appointments from USEM and work through the queue of waiting applications.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-06-07 05:59:00

June 2011 Interview Schedule

Congrats to the OP as well...you are almost there :dance:

Congrats, Tina..Hoping to get end of June/Early July interview, too..

Some questions..I know yours is fiance visa, but someone might help out, as well.
Are we the ones to sched interview online? Ours is IR2.
The AVR said our cases were completed May4. Do we wait for NVC to sched us?

Thanks! And God bless to all those with June scheduled interviews already. May the Lord guide you all the way!!

We are in the same boat. According to the NVC, they will schedule the interview for us and we'll be notified by e-mail along with the instruction package.

Seems to be taking a long time for the scheduling to happen though...well, it's only been a a little over a week since case closed for us, but it still seems like a long time. Best wishes!

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-05-22 13:13:00

Why do you want to bring your spouse to the USA?

Care to point out what law this is? on a 13a visa you can legally work in the philippines

Ahhh, you're right. With the 13a and a DOL work permit you can...jobs there don't sound very appealing though:

http://philfaqs.com/...he-philippines/

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-06-21 18:08:00

Why do you want to bring your spouse to the USA?

Unless your are retired with a steady pension or are independently wealthy, how can you support your family? You cannot, by law, be employed by a filipino company...your employment options are super limited.

That alone is a killer for any thoughts of moving there for me.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-06-20 20:18:00

crazy question... and still no answers

The 'V' thing is all over Asia and it's ubiquitous. I've read about a dozen different explanations of how it originated...one says it came from Japan in the 1970s and had something to do with a figure skater there during the olympics, then it spread all over Asia. It's very hard to find a picture of a group of Filipinos, Japanese, Taiwanese, Koreans, etc that don't automatically do that when a camera comes out.

I asked my wife about it and got an honest, straightforward answer...she has no idea, they've always done that.

Same with the index and thumb gesture, but I've only seen in the Philippines and I think it may be local to the Visayas and Mindano...but I'm not sure. It seems to be a non-verbal version of 'cheese!'.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-06-30 19:42:00

City Garden Hotel- Manila

In Palawan the airport is in Puerto Princess, and that might be the main or biggest city, but I looked at the beach and water there and it was boring, No waves, No WhiteSand, Etc, Just didn't like Puerto Princess

We took a van about 1.5 hours to a places called Sabang, Now this place rocked, all kinds of cool stuff to do and they have the underground cave which is cool and monkeys and they even have native and wild squirrels in this area.

I like cool water, with white sugar sand and nice waves and this place had it all, Not much of a night life but that's ok with me, I go to Philippines to relax and hang out.

I keep checking out the Philippines on each trip, I try to stay away from tourist places like Boracy. So I have another tripped to PI in a few months so I will keep on exploring and trying to uncover secret little hidden gems.......

I also hear a place call ElNido in the area is very cool also, but it was like a 4 hour van drive from Puerto Princess

Yeah, we didn't go to touristy places either, though I was briefly tempted to check out Boracay for our honeymoon. I heard too many 'mixed' reviews though...and wanted someplace different anyway. We wound up going to Camiguin for the honeymoon and it was really a great place. Very much a tropical, volcanic island and the people there were super nice. Plus, I got to try lanzones there for the first time...I love those things.

Oh, back to City Garden Hotel...my wife stayed there during her medical. Nice place, but they took advantage of her and tacked on about 1000 pesos worth of taxes and fees to the bill that didn't make any sense. Probably because I made the reservations online for her and paid the reservation fee by credit card...the figured they could get away with it and they did. She won't be staying there for the interview, needless to say.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-07-04 10:31:00

City Garden Hotel- Manila

Yes. You can google it. There are lots of incidents and the master mind is the Abu Sayyaf group. These are not gossip, they've been in the news - tv, newspaper, radio, and internet. I know the place is regaining tourists' trust again but like I said, I won't take chances. There are other beaches in the whole country that you can swim, snorkel, go island hopping, and enjoy without being worried. And that's just me and my own opinion about keeping my husband away from any chances of being in danger.

That was the 'Dos Palmas Resort Kidnapping'...it was really a one-off for Abu Sayyaf carried out at the extreme edge of their range back in 2000. They could just as well have struck anywhere in the Visayas back then. http://en.wikipedia....mas_kidnappings

I'm not aware of any other incidents like that since then...the real places to stay away from are still Basilan, Jolo and surrounding islands, where these guys are still very active.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-07-04 10:07:00

Locked Up Abroad

I got a chance to record and watch that show...thanks to the OP for the heads-up.

I agree with those who believe this area of law is fairly messed up in the Philippines. My wife told me about this law after we were married...as yet another reason she would never think of cheating :yes:

She told me that I could have her thrown in jail if she did. I highly doubt, though, that this law applies to foreign husbands as it does to indigenous filipino husbands...either way, I would never be tempted to resort to that law...I would just instantly divorce her if it came to that.

The show was high on drama...but of the 'made for TV' kind. There were several important things that were skipped or glossed over (probably due to the short nature of the program) that didn't make much sense to me...like how his wife got a UK visa while they were out on bail and seemed to get no help from the Embassy. They avoided explaining where the couple were headed to as they flew out of the Philippines.

I really got the feeling that the story, as presented in the show, left a lot out and tried to artificially boost the drama aspect...like most TV shows. I'd like to read the full, written account sometime to get a better idea of what happened.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-07-02 14:42:00

Positive Sputum Culture at St Lukes

I wish you are correct, but you're not.

If the 2 month culture test came back positive, St. Luke's typically gives the applicant an early call. Unfortunately, the OP just received one today. The OP also stated that his fiancee had her sputum test not even a month ago.

@ OP- I am sorry you and your fiancee have to go through this obstacle. The treatment will have to be done at the clinic every morning, Monday-Friday and they will give her the meds to take during the weekend. Treatment is (6) six months, if not eight.

Stay strong...

Yes, I was considering those cases where the results were positive (i.e., they test positive for TB)...and even in those cases it's definitely treatable and they go on to get their visa...delayed, but they make it. That was my point.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-07-08 20:03:00

Positive Sputum Culture at St Lukes

Can I ask the members here if any one has undergone the treatment at St Luke's in Manila after having a positive Sputum culture? My fiance just received a call today instructing her to report next week for a Dr appointment. She just gave the samples last month, June 20,21, and 22. I can't imagine its good news.

We would be grateful to anyone who can shine a light on the treatment procedure including how many days per week would she have to report in the clinic for her medication and any expenses not covered in the original medical fees.

Thanks a lot for the information.

So many get that...usually it ends up just fine! Causes a delay and that hurts, but almost every one of these cases I've seen here winds up happy in the end. Just keep hanging in there. Search this forum for 'sputum' if you haven't yet and you'll get the idea.

magdasal

Male

Philippines

2011-07-08 18:57:00