I am starting a new thread to track cases from NVC - embassy to GC.
The best news for RN in China, Phillippines and India has been great and informative thread, but I think it is more appropriate and convenient if we start a new thread.
Also with the rapid scheduling of interviews for most of us, I am looking beyond the CP and anticipating the GC!
The August interview schedules are out already in India, and recently in the Philippines and hopefully in China.
Here is my case details
Category : EX Schedule A
USCIS receipt : April 2004
Processing Center : Vermont
I-140 approved : October 2004
NVC case number : MNL2004813XXX
NVC forwarded packet 3 : April 5, 2005
Packet 3 sent back to NVC : May 3, 2005
NVC case completed : May 16, 2005
Consular Interview : August 29, 2005
Visa received : ???
Date of entry in the US :???
GC receive : ????
I hope you can also post here your details interview experience.
kindly post ur experience during ur medicals at st.luke's...
gudluck!!
this will be quite lenghty, but for pinoys who are interested, (tips are highlighted in blue) and with the indulgence of the admins, here goes...
day one
step 1: getting your number - ground flr, guard
4:00am - we arrived at st. luke's, and guess what. we're #14, 15, 16, 17! looks like those who got lower numbers were there as early as 3am (as shared by denzel). good thing our in-laws live very close to st. luke's. that's why after getting our number and presenting the appointment letter to the guard (photocopy each appointment letter for each applicant), we picked up our kids and returned by around 6am (the time when things start to move).
if you're from the provinces, don't fret. there's a lot of hotels/apartelles near the clinic, ranging from 3-stars to 5-stars. you may opt to line-up for your number should you wish to be there by dawn, and pick-up your kids at the hotel and be there by around 5:45-6am.
parking along the street is a bit of a problem by daybreak. there's a pay-parking lot beside the clinic. this is your best option. this was mine.
should you all decide to stay after getting the number, don't worry, once you get pass by the guard, you're let inside the lobby to sit and wait for things to start. your documents will be returned to you, along with copies of patient data sheet. better fill-up the patient data sheet for each applicant while waiting for 6am. you'll literally have difficulty finding your physical space once more people are allowed in.
your kids can bring along their psps or gameboys. it's ok. you can bring your cellphone and text your time away, or read a favorite book while listening to your trusty ipods.
you're not allowed to bring any food, though. water is allowed. don't worry. you can go in and out of st. luke's, there's a lot of stores outside.
photocopiers? id pictures? everything's available, just a stone's throw away, just across the street.
once your number is called, your data sheet and appointment letters will be presented for verification. you will be asked some questions (ie have you been to the us? have you an existing b1 visa?).
you'll be asked to present all your passports and all your visa (passport) pictures. prepare at least 4 visa pictures (the pics to be presented to the embassy) for the day.
this step is quite quick. after the verification, you'll be ushered in an adjacent room for digital picture taking. quick and painless! :)
step 3: payment - 5th flr
logically, it's the principal who takes lead in everything. as stated in the website, it's $95 for adults, $67 for minors below 15years.
your call whether to pay in dollars or pesos. we chose to pay in pesos. remember, you'd need every dollar you may have once you depart!
step 4: xray, lab, us counter
x-ray (3rd flr) - present your old xray (if you have). although they won't allow those that are less than 3 months. but if you have readings in your x-ray that they'd need to know (ie primary), present it whether it's 4month old or 2-wk old.
xrays are for the adults. kids will be x-rayed only when they find something from their parents.
lab (4th flr) - this step will be quite quick if there's a shorter queue. blood test for both parents, urine test for the mother only. none for kids.
us counter (4th flr) - this counter triggers the next steps for your vitals, immunization history interview, and the actual pe. this is where things start getting crazy (by around this time, more people are inside the clinic already). remember, st. luke's also services embassies of canada, australia, and new zealand. so by around this time, you'll observe a volume of people all over.
us counter (3rd flr) - present your documents in this counter, you'll be asked to line up for...
vitals - height, weight, bp determination. simple tasks, takes very long to happen (again, because of the volume of people already lining-up). this step is for all members of the family (except for the bp).
eye test - again, for all members of the family. bring along your glasses if you wear one. expect a long queue.
p.e. - you'll be assigned a number. this is for the doctor who'll check you up.
the kids will be with their mother. female docs for female applicants. the task begins with an interview regarding your medical history. do you smoke? (answer yes, and you might be submitted to a 3-day sputum test.) have you tried marijuana? were you hospitalized? for what reason? when was your last period? (you'd be asked a lot regarding this). have any of the kids had bouts with primary complex?
after the medical interview, you'd be asked to disrobe. better wear comfy clothes, and those easier to disrobe. visual physical exam. have you any tatoos? any birthmarks? where's your chicken pox scars? (you better be able to point to them! or risk receiving a chicken pox vaccine the next day).
after the p.e., pause and take a deep breath. you've hurdled the most tedious part of the day. besides, you're probably already cranky at this point because you woke early, your kids are getting restless already, you've only managed to take a quick and light breakfast, and your tummy's starting to signal the dawn of lunch.
after the pause, get ready for another long queue for your...
immunization history interview - prepare your kids's baby books. it is highly recommended that you request your pedia to prepare a one-sheet summary of your kids's immunization history as well, signed by her, of course.
for females, you'd be asked when's your last period (again and again and again). have you had contact with your partner lately? inspite of the preg/urine test, the docs may not allow you to take the immunization the next day should the answer be a "yes, recently." they won't give you shots unless they're sure your are not pregnant, at whichever stage.
the doctor who is doing the immu history is very strict. the process takes a while. arrgh! :angryfire
step 6: check-out counter
this is the final step for the day. they'll just check the completeness of the medical report form. they'll give you additional instructions if needed (ie additional xray if they need to verify something, that's an additional $6, by the way.)
i can't remember anymore, but i think you'd be going home with just your receipt and a notice that says you're for processing of day two.
at this point, i think, you're not holding your passport anymore.
main thing is, you're done for the day! all in all, the whole process will last around 5-7 hours. the final stages are not done during day one. to think that what's left to do (assuming everything's ok with you and your family) are just the shots and the release of the report.
the 2nd day begins at around 10am for you. no numbers. no nothing. just present your notice, the guard will check your names in the masterlist.
even if your kids will not be subjected to any shots, you are still required to bring everybody.
assuming that day one ended well, no instructions were given for additional test requirements (if yes, you have to follow them accordingly, of course), then you're off to...
step 2: immunization - 2nd flr
quite a queue. as expected, this process has it own time and motion. prepare to wait. and i mean waaaiiiiit.
don't worry, the kids don't have to be restless at this point because there's a "kiddie area" near the immunization room. ask a personnel to turn on the tv and the dvd player if it isn't.
also, prepare yourself to the off-chance that your papers are not grouped together. this means you'll be called inside the immunization room one-by-one. this is a trivial reason for the whole process to take this much time.
wifey and i received only one shot, mmr. it should've been 2, alas, their tetorifice vaccine is out of stock. you'll be instructed to get this once you're in the us. if you fail to present your chicken pox scars, then that's another needle for you.
kids with no immunization records are subjected to 3 shots. lots of crying kids here. me 9-yr old and baby were spared from this agony.
step 3: releasing- grnd flr
a period of looonnnngggggg wait!
wait for your names to be called. at this point, you may wish to stay in a different area, or a different floor. the releasing area is cramped full of people. don't worry. their pa system is quite efficient. you'll hear your names wherever you are in the building. just don't turn your ipod volumes to full blast. :rotfl:
your names will be called in any of the windows twice. first one will just require your to sign on the papers and submit your 2 visa pictures. for the second, and last one, they will ask you and your kids simple questions in order to verify your identity (and your embassy interview date). and finally, you'll be made to sign for the last time.
again, prepare for the eventuality that your names might not be called one after the other. your papers are not grouped, methinks. this contributes to the loooooong wait.
you're advised that your medical results and all your passports will be forwarded to embassy.
that's it! so simple a process for day 2, right? nah! it took us 5 hours to finish these 2 simple tasks!
at least, you're done. why, i suggest that you treat yourself and your family to the nice eats available in the nearby hizon's bakery. quite pricey, but truly satisfying. this joint is a personal favorite.
Hi! My case was completed by the NVC on February 10. I'm anticipating my interview at the Manila embassy in the next months
QUESTION: I need an updated job offer or contract. Are there any specifications as to these documents? Do they have to be notarized or printed on letterhead or anything? My last document was printed on plain paper. I hope this isn't a problem.
when is April Schedule for interview going to be released? I'm eagerly waiting for it.... hoping to be included in the list. im keeping my figners crossed.
If you spent a year or more than that then you have to get a Police Certificate from the country where you stayed for a year. You can also check the website of the US Embassy here in Manila regarding that.
Rep, I worked in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last 1985 up to 1986 (1yr. only ) but that was 20 years ago, is it still necessary to get a Police Certificate there?
the 2nd day begins at around 10am for you. no numbers. no nothing. just present your notice, the guard will check your names in the masterlist.
even if your kids will not be subjected to any shots, you are still required to bring everybody.
assuming that day one ended well, no instructions were given for additional test requirements (if yes, you have to follow them accordingly, of course), then you're off to...
step 2: immunization - 2nd flr
quite a queue. as expected, this process has it own time and motion. prepare to wait. and i mean waaaiiiiit.
don't worry, the kids don't have to be restless at this point because there's a "kiddie area" near the immunization room. ask a personnel to turn on the tv and the dvd player if it isn't.
also, prepare yourself to the off-chance that your papers are not grouped together. this means you'll be called inside the immunization room one-by-one. this is a trivial reason for the whole process to take this much time.
wifey and i received only one shot, mmr. it should've been 2, alas, their tetorifice vaccine is out of stock. you'll be instructed to get this once you're in the us. if you fail to present your chicken pox scars, then that's another needle for you.
kids with no immunization records are subjected to 3 shots. lots of crying kids here. me 9-yr old and baby were spared from this agony.
step 3: releasing- grnd flr
a period of looonnnngggggg wait!
wait for your names to be called. at this point, you may wish to stay in a different area, or a different floor. the releasing area is cramped full of people. don't worry. their pa system is quite efficient. you'll hear your names wherever you are in the building. just don't turn your ipod volumes to full blast. :rotfl:
your names will be called in any of the windows twice. first one will just require your to sign on the papers and submit your 2 visa pictures. for the second, and last one, they will ask you and your kids simple questions in order to verify your identity (and your embassy interview date). and finally, you'll be made to sign for the last time.
again, prepare for the eventuality that your names might not be called one after the other. your papers are not grouped, methinks. this contributes to the loooooong wait.
you're advised that your medical results and all your passports will be forwarded to embassy.
that's it! so simple a process for day 2, right? nah! it took us 5 hours to finish these 2 simple tasks!
at least, you're done. why, i suggest that you treat yourself and your family to the nice eats available in the nearby hizon's bakery. quite pricey, but truly satisfying. this joint is a personal favorite.
good luck my friends!
:)
fin
thank you so much for the input very much appreciated, please share your us embassy experience also
me 9-yr old and baby were spared from this agony. 
:o 
suzanne4, RN
26,410 Posts
I do not permit sharing of it with others, they need to contact me directly.