US Embassy Interview for Immigrant Visa

In Continuation of Medical Exam for a US Visa: Sputum Test Procedure

We were early at the US Embassy on the day of the scheduled visa interview. I am very nervous because for the first time since the start of this visa application, my mother had to face this alone since only the applicant can go inside the US embassy.

Before the interview, I prepared all the documents my mother would need. I arranged the docs in a folder with several pockets. The documents she will need are categorized in three, the docs she needs to show the guards, to the first window,and to the consul officer. I also gave my mom ideas on the questions that may be asked. I told her to be calm and honest in all her answers as she just needs to prove her relationship with my sister. I also instructed her that if she wants an interpreter, she should specify her request at the first window she will go to.

Many are saying that this interview is going to be easy, sort of like a formality, but we are still nervous. We prepared all the docs specified in the instructions and we also brought some docs that were not specified but may be asked such as remittance slips from my sister, my mother’s passbook etc. Unfortunately, we failed to bring any pictures showing my mom and sister together. It is because all of our old photo albums are in the house where my brother lives. He promised to bring it to us but failed to do so because of his busy schedule. So we just went to US embassy without it, hoping the US embassy people would not ask for it.

But alas, according to my mom, at least three visa officers requested for a picture. I think it pays to bring old photographs. Thank god they let it pass as my mother just presented copies of remittance slips to prove constant communication with my sister. Most of the questions of the visa officer were about my sister, her job, her family and how long they had been in the US. After several questions, the consul thanked and congratulated my mom and asked her to go to the last window.

I think I waited for more or less three hours outside the US embassy. When I saw my mother, I immediately asked her for the outcome and she said it was positive. I was so happy, but then my mother is holding a blue form and when I read it, my heart sank.

It was a 221(g) form and according to it, we need to present an NBI clearance with also known as (aka) specifications. My mother’s name start with Maria and even though she spells it with only Ma., some of her docs spells it with the full Maria. So she needs a new NBI clearance with a tagged also known as (aka as) Maria --.

After that, we need to submit the docs and the form to the nearest 2Go branch. We don’t have to pay anything as the 2Go officer already knows what to do with the docs. The visa officer repeatedly said to my mom that she doesn’t need to go back to the US embassy for another interview; they just need to receive the document so I guess that means my mom really passed the interview.

Although I am a bit disappointed, I know we do not have much time so that same day, we went to the NBI satellite office in Mandaluyong to get an NBI clearance. By this time, I am already getting frustrated with this US visa. It was fortunate that as my mom is a senior citizen, we don’t have to wait in line and she was accommodated right away. I love the senior citizens law!

However, the NBI officer said that we need to wait for I think 3 weeks before they can issue the clearance because my mother shares a similar name with someone with an estafa case.  I panicked because the medical and the US visa will expire in less than 2 months.

I explained and pleaded that we can’t afford to wait that long because my mother already has a flight schedule to US. I had to lie because I am desperate. I think it worked because they said that the fastest time they can deliver is after 7 working days.  I still think that’s a long time but as the NBI officer offered no further help, we decided to take a drastic measure. We had to seek the help of a police officer we know at the City Hall. He is our neighbor and a friend of my brother. He holds one of the top ranks there so even though I don’t really know him, I know that is not the time to be shy.

Guess what, my mom has an NBI clearance after two days! I immediately went to the 2Go branch in Megamall to mail the docs.  What happened after mailing the 2GO form– to be continued.

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Medical Exam for a US Visa: Sputum Test Procedure

In Continuation of: Medical Exam at St Lukes Medical Center

For three consecutive days, my mother had to undergo a sputum test. She needs to expel phlegm which they would examine to see if she has an active tuberculosis.

For three days, we were at St. Lukes as early as 5:30 am. Before the test, my mom can’t eat or drink anything. She was also not allowed to wear lipstick. The sputum test was a quick process and for three days, my mother got a negative result.

But then the sputum would now be cultured so we have to wait for sixty (60 days). In case we got a call from them before the 60^th day, it means the culture had developed into something and my mother needs to start treatment right away.

I am so scared to receive a call from them because I read somewhere that in case my mother’s sputum proved to be positive, she would need to go to St Lukes everyday for 6 months just to get her medicine. That is every single day for 6 months! I first thought it was a joke but they were serious. 

In cases like this, it is best to prepare for the worst scenario. So my sister said that in case my mom’s sputum culture is positive, we will rent a place near St Lukes where my mother would live alone for 6 months. That would really make me sad!

Thankfully, two months passed and we got no call from St Lukes. Actually, I am the one who called them to ask about the sputum result and they said it was negative. To hear them say that my mother can come to St Lukes for the vaccines and the medical certificate made us all so happy.

My mother got the shots for the required vaccines and got the medical certificate. I had to call the US embassy call center to schedule another appointment for a visa interview. They also said that our medical exam and the visa will expire in less than 2 months so we need to act fast.

Fortunately, I was able to get a visa interview quickly. What happened at the US Visa Interview – to be continued.

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My Pesang Isda Recipe

For almost a month now, I am on leave from work (the reason I would tackle in another blog post). Ideally, the leave is intended for me to rest but as I am already a mother, I can’t afford to just lie in bed all day. I took advantage of this vacation to bond with my daughter and do some of the things I always wanted to do but can’t find the time for it. One of them is to do a lot of cooking. I have tried dishes that I have never cooked before like ginataang alimasag with sitaw and kalabasa, pininyahang manok, adobong galunggong, sinigang na buto-buto, etc. I know they are simple dishes but for someone who doesn’t really cook, I consider cooking those dishes an achievement (lol).

One of the dishes I tried to cook is pesang isda. The pesang isda I know is only a clear soup wih pechay, potatoes and tilapya with onions and pepper. But when I looked it up in the recipe book, there was a tomato sauce needed. The problem is, I don’ have a tomato sauce then. What I saw in my kitchen was a bottle of ketchup and so that’s what I used. My aunt said it tastes great (or maybe she is just hungry) Here is my pesang isda recipe:

Ingredients:

• ½ kilo tilapia
• 2 tbsps cooking oil
• Garlic and onion
• 1 small tomato
• 2 cups water
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 bunch of pechay
• 1 potato
• ¾ cup ketchup
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Procedure:

1. I fried the fish then set it aside.
2. I put cooking oil in a new pan then sautéed garlic and onion.
3. I added the tomato.
4. I then added the water and the ketchup. I let it simmer for five minutes.
5. I added salt and pepper and the sugar.
6. After 5 minutes, I put the potatoes and let it cook for 5 minutes.
7. When the potato is cooked. I added the pechay and the fish then let it cook again for 3 minutes.

Here is a picture. Sorry this is is actually what is left of the dish after we have eaten. I always forget to take a picture of a dish before we eat.

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Samsung Galaxy Y Review

For my birthday this year, my husband gave me a wonderful gift- a new Samsung Galaxy Y GTS-5360 Android phone. It comes with a2GB microSD card, Wall charger, headset, USB cable, warranty and manual.

I appreciate my husband’s thoughtfulness and effort but really my first reaction was how much it cost. Probably because it looks expensive and one of my goals this year is minimizing spending.

Fortunately, this smart phone is one of the affordable ones that are available in the market today. It only costs more or less Php5000. Smartphones are getting cheaper and cheaper and I remember my boss saying that there will come a time when everybody would own a smartphone. I guess it is really time to change my jurassic phone.

I am not a techie person so this is not a real review. I just want to share my experience in using this Samsung phone so far.

I am not sure if all smart phones are like these but I find it hard to connect to the net and download apps. Probably because of the slow connection. It comes with a free micro-sd card and I have tried to transfer some of my fave files from my pc to it. It’s cool too but I can’t transfer the contents of my sd-card to the internal memory of the phone. When I take out the sd card, the files are also gone.

There are also times when the phone would hang but I am assuming that it is common to most smartphones. So far, I think only mp4 files work on this phone as I can’t play some of the movies I’ve added. It has a memo feature where you can stores notes about your day -sort of like a diary. I find it cute. The camera is not so impressive as it is only 2mp. The manual of this phone is also not so helpful but the phone is relatively easy to use.


I just heard that one cool feature of this Samsung phone is its tethering and portable hotspot feature. This means that one can use this phone like a router.One can share internet connection. 

To activate the Samsung Galaxy Y hotspot, go to Wireless & network then  to Tethering & Portable Hotspot. Then check on Portable Wi-fi hotspot option and Hotspot configuration. At Portable Wi-fi hotspot settings, select Configure Wi-fi hotspot and there you go.

I like the design of Samsung Galaxy Y GTS-5360. It looks expensive too as the many new Samsung phones in the market now looks identical. It is so light and fits nicely in my hand. As this is my first Android and touchscreen phone, I can say that I am satisfied and happy with it. 

Samsung GT-S5360 Galaxy Y Specs

Release:Date: October, 2011

Dimensions:    58 x 104 x 11.5 millimetres

Mass: 97.5 grams (battery included)

Software: Environment

Embedded+Operating;System:  Google Android 2.3.5

Browse devices running this OS

Microprocessor,+Chipset

CPU:Clock:     833 MHz

Memory,-Storage-capacity

RAM;capacity:         384 MiB

ROM:capacity:         512 MiB (accessible: 160 MiB)

Display

Display-Type:          Supported

Display;Diagonal:      3 "

Display+Resolution:   240 x 320

Sound

Microphone(s):         mono

Loudspeaker(s):       mono

Audio-Output:          3.5mm

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Medical Exam at St. Luke's Medical Center Extension Clinic for US Visa

In continuation of: Journey To a US Immigrant Visa

So we were all so glad to receive an email from the National Visa Center (NVC) that they are satisfied with the documents we submitted. Therefore, we are ready for the next step of visa processing which is the visa interview. However, one requirement in the visa interview is a clear medical exam.

I am not so nervous about it because at 70, my mother is strong and healthy. She doesn’t have any illness and is very cautious of what she eats.

The instruction was that we have to accomplish the medical exam before the scheduled visa interview. We don’t need to set an appointment; we just need to go to St. Luke's Medical Center Extension Clinic (SLMCEC).

So we went to SLMCEC two weeks before the scheduled interview. We were there at around 5 am as we were advised to come early to avoid long lines and for us to finish early. There are already many people waiting outside when we arrived. We had to wait before the guards would let us in which was around 6 am. To allow entry, we need to present the visa interview appointment letter; passport and I think 3 pictures of the required size. We also need to submit a photocopy of the requirements. Once inside, we were given a form to accomplish and we have to wait for our names to be called. There was a separate lane for the senior citizens and that is where we submitted our forms and docs. We first had to go to a screening process to see if my mother had complete requirements. One thing they check is passport validity. I think the person in that area is quite rude especially to old applicants.

Anyway after that, we need to pay the medical exam fee at the 4^th floor I guess. Sorry I forgot the exact floor but all throughout the medical exam, I think we were able to tour the whole building as there were designated floors for different medical procedures. After paying around Php 9,800, my mother had to undergo a physical exam. Everything went well I guess, then a complete blood count. The third step was a thorough physical exam which left my mother quite shocked because she really had to undress and bare it all. Then there is the x-ray.

I thought the medical exam would be finish in one day but we were asked to return the next day for the results and other instructions.

This time, we don’t need to be so early as our entry card indicates a time when the result would be available. I am expecting a clear medical exam so just imagine my disappointment when the nurse said that they saw something white or something blurred in my mothers x-ray. They are not sure if that was a result of my mom moving while the x-ray is being done or it can be a scar. To be sure, my mom needs to undergo a sputum test which will be done for three consecutive days. If the result of the sputum is positive, they will start to give treatment. If it is negative, we would need to wait for two months for the sputum culture result.

Because of this, the visa interview would not push through but we were advised not to call the embassy as they will be the one to inform them of the medical result.

It was devastating because my mother always had negative x-ray result. We were all sad but we can’t do anything but to comply and wait for the sputum test result.

As a consolation, my mother is not the only one who received this bad news. A lot of people were also required to undergo a sputum test and most are young and look really healthy. To be continued: Medical Exam US Visa: Sputum Test Procedure.

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Uno Pizzeria Voucher Review

Last Saturday, my family ordered take-out food from Uno Pizzeria Resto and Bar at its branch in MOA by the bay. It was my first time to try this resto and as I’ve been craving for a pizza, I’m excited to try their food. I actually ordered an Uno Pizzeria voucher from Pakyaw.com, another group buying site.

My voucher is valid for a set meal for 3 - 4 persons that includes a 16" Margherita pizza, pasta, buffalo wings (8pcs) and 1L Coke. As it is required, we called for a reservation three days in advance and specified that we will take-out the food at 5pm on the reserved date.

So we arrived at MOA a little past 5pm. The voucher said they are open from 4:30 pm onwards so we are surprised to see that it was closed when we arrived. We inquired and they invited us in but we had to wait for I think an hour before our food was ready. It was a good thing that we are not in a hurry. I noticed that there was also another customer claiming a voucher and she arrived earlier than us. I was quite disappointed with that because they should not have accepted a reservation for 5pm when the food will be served at 6pm and the resto is not even open yet. What if we preferred to dine in?

Anyway, when the food arrives, here is how it looks:

I deleted the buffalo wings pic by accident.

In fairness, the food tastes great. I like their pasta as the ingredients – the shrimps and mushrooms are fresh and tasty and the pasta is al dente. However, I think it would taste even better if it’s not too oily.

Their pizza is huge and tasty too. But I guess, I’ve tasted other pizzas that are more delicious. I don’t like the buffalo wings too much but my husband liked it.

One plus factor for Uno Pizzeria is the staff that seems nice and friendly. In conclusion, I wasn’t able to try other foods in their menu and I also don’t know their signature dish but Uno Pizzeria is definitely worth a try.

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Journey To a US Immigrant Visa

My sister who is working and living in America for eight years filed a US immigrant visa petition for my mother who is already 70 years old. Well, I have applied for a US tourist visa before so I kind of have an idea that the petition process may not be a walk in the park. But I am also hoping that this one will be fast and easy because of my mother’s age and my sister’s US citizenship. Anyway, I am the one living with my mother so it is my duty to take care of everything that my mother needs for the US petition. Of course, I constantly coordinated and followed the instructions from my sister in the US.

The first thing that my sister told me is to wait for the letter from the National Visa Center (NVC). From the time she said it, I think a month passed before the letter in a bulky brown envelope arrived. That first correspondence letter comes with instructions on the form that I need to fill out and the documents I need to submit.  

The form can be downloaded online and in the letter there was an instruction that I can submit the form and the documents online. I just need to inform them that I want to communicate with them thru email. I tried that option but the US Embassy replied that email communication with the NVC is not yet available in the Philippines. So I downloaded the forms and filled it out carefully. It was quite scary because I can’t afford to make a mistake. I also prepared the needed documents and then sent the form to my sister in the US thru Fedex. I think I paid more than Php2,000 so the forms will be delivered securely.

My sister will be the one to send the forms to the NVC in US as she also needs to fill out some details in the form. Anyway, after sending it to NVC, I think less than two weeks passed before we received a reply from them. We were disappointed because apparently, our forms have some inaccuracies. It was in the date where we need to indicate my mom’s addresses and dates of residences. The US Embassy wants us to list down all the places where my mom stayed for at least six months since she was sixteen. It was stressful on my part since my mom transferred to four locations so it’s difficult to list down the exact addresses and dates of residences.

I also found it difficult to fill out the area where I need to write the name of the parents of my grandmother and grandfather. My mom’s father passed away even before she was born- so I just had to specify that the data is unknown. To make up for our mistake, the NVC requested police clearances from all the cities where my mom resided. Each of the police clearances should indicate my mom’s address and date of residence. That was such a hassle then as I need to take a leave from work so I can accompany my mom to  four different locations and explain to government employees what we exactly need.

Anyway, after two weeks, we were able to complete all the police clearances they want. This time, we need to fill out a new form and my sister and I were extra careful now as we don’t want them to request new requirements.
 
So I prepared two forms. I filled out the first form and then prepared one blank form. The blank form only contains my mom’s signature as my sister will be the one to complete the blank form. She will only copy the details in the form I filled out. I went to Fedex again to send the forms.

After a week, we received an email from the NVC. We both felt triumphant because the NVC is satisfied with the requirements we submitted. This new correspondence letter instructs us to go to St. Lukes Center in Manila for my mom’s medical exam. What happened to the Medical Exam at St. Lukes for US Visa--to be continued.

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