The St. Luke Extension Clinic (SLEC) is specifically the only Philippine U.S. Embassy’s accredited clinic if you are planning to apply for a US Visa. As for me and my son, we applied for a Fiance visa.
October 4, 2017, we flew all the way from Cebu to take our medical examination. Personally, this is the scariest stage in our entire process even if I know for a fact that we are physically fit and healthy. I have read lots of posts about their preparations (they even quit their job just so they can have plenty of rest). As for me, I can’t do it simply because I need money. In fact, two weeks before we had our medical examination at SLEC, my son was admitted to the hospital because of pneumonia. The only preparations we had were getting enough rest, drinking lots of water, eating fruits and healthy food.
October 5, 2017. We arrived at SLEC at 10 am with less applicants. Yeheeey!
Step 1. Guard’s stand at the entrance.
Things they asked for us:
Passport
4 pieces recent 2x2 ID pictures (white background) with your full name written at the back of each ID pictures. Please make sure there are no smudges or dirt as they are very strict to that. 3 pcs for submission to the U.S. Embassy and 1 for clinic file.
NVC Letter. (I printed the email the Embassy sent me since we didn’t get any NVC letter in the mail. Just make sure your MCN is readable.
Photocopy of passport’s biopage.
Appointment Confirmation. This is your visa interview appointment confirmation from the US Embassy.
SLEC Online Registration Confirmation
Step 2. Registration
Things they asked for us: Passport
Picture taking
Fingerprint scanning
Step 3. Cashier
After the registration, we were advised to go to the 3rd floor to pay for the medical examination fee. This medical exam costs a fortune!
Step 4. Laboratory exams. Blood Collection for my K2
This is the new Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA), a new and more reliable type of blood exam used to detect tuberculosis infection (TB). After the IGRA, we were advised to go to the 4th floor for more laboratory exams. This time, I would advise you (if you haven’t taken your medical exam yet) not to empty your bladder. Hold your pee, if you can (but if you can’t, just pee. I won’t risk you getting a urinary tract infection at this stage). They would need your urine sample at least an hour or two from the time you last urinated. Laboratory exams include your blood sample too.
Step 5. Immunization Interview
In this case, they will ask you about your health history – if you ever had an animal bites, chickenpox, and vaccines or immunizations you’ve had before. This stage is just an easy peasy so don’t fret! They are very nice. Don’t forget to smile and greet them!
Step 6. X-Ray examination
For women, they will ask for the first day of your last period just to make sure that you are not pregnant. You’ll be given a form to fill our your information and a questionnaire if you ever had any history of TB. After filling out the forms, give it to the receptionist. In this stage, I would highly advised to tie your hair (put your hair up as much as you can). Make sure there’s no hair left (falling hair) on your back. You will have to remove your top and bra. Don’t worry, there’s a laboratory gown to wear, of course. Inhale. Exhale.
Step 7. Physical Examination
This includes checking your:
Weight
Height
Eye examination
Blood pressure
Body temperature
and a physician interview
Brace yourselves as this is the longest wait of the entire medical examination day. You are also not allowed to bring any food – so yeah, it was pretty boring.
Interview with the Physician. The physician will ask you a lot of questions rapidly such as:
History of TB?
Have you been admitted to the hospital? If so, why?
History of diseases such as std?
Do you drink? Smoke?
How many kids do you have?
Any suicide attempts?
There will be a brief head to toe exam where the physician will ask you to take your clothes off (excluding your undergarments) to check for any scars or whatnot.
Step 8. USA counter
After the interview with the physician, you will be instructed to hand over your receipt to the USA counter. Waited for a few minutes and then they handed me and my K2’s receipt back. We were instructed to go back the next day for the results.
P.S. Since my K2 didn't answer any questions that the physician asked, we were advised to go back whenever he is ready to talk and she put a note on his receipt WITH TANTRUM.
Left SLEC around 6:00 PM
October 6, 2017. Day 2:
Step 1. Guard’s stand outside the building.
They will ask you if you are for medical examination. I hand them over our receipt and they told us to go to the guard stand on the right side.
Step 2. Guard’s stand inside the building
Hand them over our receipt again and they stamp both of our receipts with IMMUNIZATION. Yeheeey! I was so happy. I hugged Gab and asked him to give me a high 5! I can feel that my intestines were partying inside!
However, we still went back to the physician and told her that my K2 is ready for an interview. Soon as my K2 stepped in the room, he greeted the doctor with a Hi and a smile. The doctor asked some questions like his complete name and where he lives. He also pointed a few objects and asked my K2 what color they were.
Step 3: Immunization
We waited for about 10 minutes before our names were called. Went to the Immunization room and were given our vaccines. I got 4 vaccines while my K2 got 8 vaccines in total. Ouch!
Step 4. Releasing:
Signed some forms and they gave us the most anticipated, awaited and expensive envelope (to be given to the US Embassy on the interview date) and a CD with some papers (to be given on your Port of Entry).
Keep the CD, do not give it to an immigration officer on your Point of Entry to the US.
Finally were done!
I want to leave you with this quote from Susan Gale
“The longer you have to wait for something, the more you will appreciate it when it finally arrives. The harder you have to fight for something, the more priceless it will become once you achieve it. And the more pain you have to endure on your journey, the sweeter the arrival at your destination. All good things are worth waiting for and worth fighting for.”
Amen. Our God is a loving god.
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