THINGS NEEDED FOR THE MEDICAL EXAM

* Appointment Letter/ Interview Notice

* Medical Examination fee $85

* Passport

*Pen

***So far this is how I went through with the Medical Exam. Some cases got problems with the results which causes delays but my medical exam has no appointed date or schedule, I decided to take it as early as possible before the set Interview date so as to avoid any delays. Thank God everything went well so I might as well share with you my experience...

I read other webpages regarding the Medical Exam and that they went there as early as possible to beat the long line but I procastinated and got there at 9AM and lo! There were only 5 of us taking the Medical Exam although there are some people sitting around and waiting for their typewritten results. It only took me more or less than an hour to finish all the procedures. Please note that YOUR PASSPORT SHOULD BE CARRIED AROUND SINCE YOU WILL BE NEEDING TO PRESENT THAT IN EVERY PROCEDURES.***

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE

* I arrived at exactly 9am at St. Luke's Medical Center Extension Clinic along T.M. Kalaw which is 3 blocks away from the US Embassy and it is NOT the St. Luke's Medical Center along E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave. in Quezon City. I showed my passport and appointment letter at the ground floor, and I surrendered my drivers license to serve as a valid ID in exchange for a laminated visitor's ID. My Nanny stayed behind since only applicants are allowed inside. I was told to proceed to the fifth floor, where my passport and letter was inspected again by another guard , and gave me a number then told me to go down to the 4th floor.

* I was greeted by 2 security guards and for the third time they double checked my passport and appointment letter and was told to go to this application counter where you will be given several papers of an application form that you will need to fill out and sign. I handed it back and was told to pay the $85 medical exam fee in PESO BILLS at the cashier since they do not accept Dollar bills. So I paid the peso equivalent of that $85 fee and was told to proceed to the Laboratory Room.

* I proceeded to the Laboratory Room and handed over the application form and my passport. A male nurse extracted some blood from me for serologic tests for HIV and syphilis (waahh i hate needles tho I'm a nurse lol). I was also asked about the last date of my menstruation and to submit a urine sample for a pregnancy test. After 5 minutes my name was called and was told to go to the X-ray Room.

* X-ray was the fastest procedure but you will need to take off your necklace, shirt/blouses & change into a laboratory gown and for females you also need to take off your brassiere. The lady gave me a protective abdominal shielding from the waist down, which I held with both hands behind me.

*While waiting for the X-ray result I was assigned to a lady doctor who gave me a complete medical check up and I was also inspected thoroughly while standing naked infront of her at first and was later asked to lie down to a hospital bed in her room. I was also asked about my past medical history, your family history, while she note it all down. I also pointed out the scars I had from my childhood chickenpox.

* After walking to and fro around that floor for the procedures I was so relieved that I reached the last stage which is the Vaccination Room. Since I had never been hospitalized since I was born, I was required to have the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), Td (tetanus-diphtheria). Varicella (a.k.a. chickenpox) was obviously no longer needed since I had chickenpox already. Anyway, a fiancee has the option to defer vaccination until entering the US. It was already part of the $85 I'd already paid, so I decided to have it & was warned not to get pregnant within the next three months since the component of rubella may be harmful to the unborn child. I was given the shots right after the interview.

* It only took a while for them to finish typing up all my medical reports signed by the doctor who examined you, including your laboratory results. After a few my chest film in a big brown envelope was handed to me, with my blue vaccination record slipped inside it, and a white envelope stapled shut that says "DO NOT OPEN. To be opened only by the consular officer at the time of interview." Thank God everything on went smoothly :-) .