I do the work. YOU get the gal (or guy)! Click to CALL or EMAIL the VisaCoach
Fred Wahl (the VisaCoach) is an Immigration Consultant, not an attorneyEmbassy Name & Address
Embassy of the United States of America
Consular Section – Immigrant Visa Unit Manila Philippines
1201 Roxas Blvd., Ermita, Metro Manila 1000 Continue reading “US Consulate Manila Philippines”
Every year, Manila leads the world with the most fiancee visas; being more than three times as many as the next busiest consulate. Guangzhou, China.
We’ve been working together and sent in our winning “front loaded” petition. Now our efforts have been rewarded, USCIS approved, NVC is sending the case to Manila, and now its time to prepare for the final step, the consular interview.
Every year, Manila leads the world with the most fianc�e visas. This is great for interviewees, as the Department of State has commissioned efficiency experts to ensure that the process here is streamlined and works as smooth as possible.
About two weeks after NVC notifys you as the American Sponsor that the case has been forwarded to the Philippines, the case should arrive in Manila to be input into the Manila consulates database. The consulate then sends your fiancee an email or letter telling her she can proceed to prepare for her interview.
Manila no longer mails out a packet with instructions and forms. Instead the notice she gets provides her links where she should go to download forms and instruction sheets as needed, for her to follow in order to schedule the interview.
If she doesn’t get the notice, don’t worry, we can proceed anyway, I have already posted copies of what you need at your online Dashboard
Very important: You really must wait until the case is in Manila. Jumping ahead before the case is actively in the consulates database will only cause confusion, and does not speed processing. Give it a good two weeks from the date of the NVC letter. If in doubt call the consulate to confirm the case has well and truly arrived.
First: Your fiance registers at Travel Docs. This website has been set up to help her book her interview. The bad news is this website has been designed and is operated by the same company that designed the Obama care website. It is difficult to navigate, and worse, it was designed primarily for travelers applying for tourist visas. so Fiance visas seem to added as an afterthought and the online instructions don’t reflect the specific needs of a fiance visa applicant.
After registering, your fiance prints out a machine readable deposit slip, this she takes with her to a local branch of the Bank of the Philippines Islands, in order to pay the consulates $240 visa application fee.
8 hours later, she can return online where the consulates scheduling calendar should now be visible. Here she books her interview.
The calendar is updated in real time. if someone cancels, an opening pops up instantly. The consulate releases available time slots a few weeks at a time a few months in advance. If you don’t see any available time slots, return to the calendar every few days until an appointment time is available.
If having trouble using the online scheduling, I recommend telephoning the consulate’s Visa Information and Appointment Service to have an human operator do the booking.
The consulate emails her confirmation of her interview appointment time and date.
She should print out a copy of this page. She will show it for entry to the consulate on the interview day, as well as entry to St. Lukes for her medical.
About two weeks prior to her interview, your fianc�e should go to St. Luke’s Medical Centre, it’s about a block away from the embassy for a medical. The process takes two days, the first for testing and prodding, such as blood and urine tests and chest x-rays.
The second day for review of test results and vaccinations.
St. Lukes now provides online registration. She can save herself a little bit of time effort on the day, by going online to fill in her personal contact and medical history details online, prior to arriving at the clinic.
When she attends St. Luke’s, she brings with her the appointment notice, three visa photos, her vaccination records, enough dollars or Pesos to pay the $223 US Dollar fee, her passport, plus a photocopy of its info page. St. Lukes retains her passport and later forwards it together with her medical results to the consulate.
Before attending the interview fiance needs go online to the State Department’s CEAC website and there complete and submit form DS-160. I have already completed this online. Your fiance reviews her information is accurate and then clicks submit. After submission, she prints out the confirmation page, and adds that to her set of documents to take to the interview.
To the interview she takes the appointment email, two visa photos, her birth certificate issued by the National Statistics Office Philippines called NSO, Certificate of No Marriage if she has never been married also issued by the NSO or if she’s previously married then proof of anulment or death of spouse, Police Clearance issued by the National Bureau of Investigation Philippines, NBI, and if she’s lived at any other country besides the Philippines for more that six months at a time after she was 16 years old, a police certificate from that country.
She also brings the confirmation page from the DS-160, and the bank receipt showing she paid the visa fee. along with documents you send her about your financial eligibility, such as your affidavit of support, recent tax return, a letter from your employer confirming your job and compensation, three to six recent pay stubs and if you were previously married, proof of termination of your past marriages.
Finally, she should carry evidence of the bonafides of your relationship such as photos, letters, emails, phone bills, instant messaging messages, money transfers, plane tickets, and visa stamps.
In the final preparation for the interview, you should talk to each other refreshing your memorys on the timeline of your courtship and general knowledge about each other. I have prepared a list of 120 common interview questions. These should be practiced until your fiance is fluent and can answer each in a relaxed and confident manner.
On the day of her interview, she should arrive early and arrive at gate number two.
This is the entrance that faces the Bay View Park Hotel. She’ll pass security to get inside the embassy compound and later there’ll be another checkpoint where she surrenders cellphones and any electronics. Once inside the building, she turns in some of her documents, then is given a number just like a ticket at a delicatessen. Eventually, her number is called and she goes to another clerk for a pre-interview. This is where they check to see if she’s brought in all of her required documents.
Eventually, when her number is called again, she goes to a cubicle where she speaks with a consular officer. The officer may ask about her background, your background, the relationship, and what your future plans are. This is the moment when the efforts we made “front loading” your petition pay off. During his review of the case file, the consular officer should see so much convincing evidence that your relationship is genuine, and that the visa should be approved, that there should not be much left to talk about. Our expectation now is for a quick wrap up and to hear “Welcome to the USA”.
She gets a pink slip, and takes this downstairs, to a counter where she writes her preferred delivery address, where the “2 Go” courier service will deliver her passport with new fiance visa attached.
Depending on where she lives, she gets the passport in 1 to two weeks.
Sometimes there are typos on the visa. It is best not to book flights, chapels, etc until after the passport is received and the visa is verified to have been typed correctly.
This is Fred Wahl the Visa Coach
I do the work, you get the gal (or guy)
Call me.
By Fred Wahl
Currently making the rounds are rumors that the US Embassy located in Manila is closing in July 2019. This rumor is absolutely false. The US Embassy has no intention of closing or moving or curtailing any of its services.
When embarking on the path to deal with US immigration to bring your fiancee or spouse to the USA there is a lot of information on the Internet. Sadly there is a lot of mis-information too. There are rumors, out of date material, and sometimes deliberate lies and pranks.
And that really is why, why it’s good idea to work with an experienced guide who knows the facts and can certainly separate rumor from reality.
I am Fred Wahl the VisaCoach and I help you get through a confusing and frustrating Immigration process so you can have a happy life together in the USA with your foreign partner.
In this video I’ll talk to about the background on what’s REALLY going on. And by the end of this video you will know who is effected and who is not.
About two months ago I announced in one of my videos that the USCIS international offices scattered around the world, were going to close. USCIS has been reducing its overseas presence for many years, currently or at least when the notice was made they still had about 20 offices with about 70 American personnel plus local staff. Their work was to support the US Embassy where they were located in helping process applications that came from Americans and their dependents who were living in area that the US embassy served.
This kind of service was called Direct Consular Filing. What DCF means is that Americans and their dependents, who are living in the overseas country that the consulate served, if they were applying for immigration benefits, could for applications such as spouse and dependent visas, submit their applications directly, in person to a local USCIS office or the consulate, and this avoided expensive mailing and speeded processing times.
For example, for an American ex-pat living in the Philippines. If he or she had been granted an alien card by the Philippines government, and then had had lived in the Philippines for at lease six months, then he or she could file directly to the USCIS office in Manila, for his or her spouse or child. The American could make an appoointment, come in, show proof of the Alien card and over 6 months of residence, and then drop off the application.
In only a few short months, the USCIS staff would complete their review of the application, then pass it over to the consular staff at the Embassy. The Embassy staff would conduct the final interview.
This was a real boon to those applicants, because most applications are submitted in the USA, and take about a year and a half to be processed, before arriving in Manila for the interview. Instead the application filed using DCF, would take only a few months to get to the interview.
Twenty years ago when I applied to bring Joyce to the USA on a spouse visa, all US embassies and consulates offered direct consular filing. I was living as an expat in Hong Kong with Joyce, and I was able to file directly to the Hong Kong embassy on Garden Road, and we got our spouse visa in about 5 months.
As time went by, one by one, the various consulates and embassies stopped offering DCF. Finally only 23 locations still offered it. These were locations that ALSO has a USCIS office. Now these USCIS offices are closing. And with their closing, Direct Consular Filing, DCF will no longer be available.
But for most, the closing of the USCIS offices makes absolutely NO DIFFERENCE. Only a very few applications were eligible for DCF, the VAST majority all followed the standard route.
And by the way, while this process was available for spouses and dependents, it was never available for Fiance visa applications. Always Fiance visa applications had to be submitted in the USA, regardless of whether the American sponsor lived inside or outside the USA.
So the closing of the last USCIS international offices, will frankly have little to no effect, simply now regardless of where the American sponsor lives, when he applies to US immigration, he will have to submit his application to USCIS offices in the USA. No longer can he submit the application or drop it off at a local USCIS international office.
So what caused the rumor that the US Embassy in Manila is closing in July?
Well, basically people are misreading the headlines.
The news announcements, the headlines in the Philippines press all say something like. “USCIS Closes Manila Office”
Somehow people miss read that statement and changed it to the “US Embassy in Manila is closing”.
USCIS is closing its small office presence, is certainly not the same that the US Embassy is closing.
USCIS had some office space located within the US Embassy compound. There a half a dozen American USCIS personel and local Filipino supporting staff conducted USCIS business working on DCF applications. Now these few Americans are returning to the USA and will conduct their work in the USA.
The Filipino staff will probably be reassigned to job opportunities at the US Embassy itself. And some office space within the Embassy will temporily become vacant.
The embassy itself will continue to operate, business as usual. Interviewing visa applicants and processing their cases, also business as usual.
The last local DCF application was accepted by the Manila USCIS office on May 4. Then they stopped excepting any further DCF applications. Today they are wrapping up the last cases they have in the pipeline, and packing to move back to the USA.
The vast majority of applicants never were eligible for DCF, so for them there is absolutely no change. For the few, well, now they will be treated just like the rest of us.
The few applicants who were previously eligible to apply locally in the Philippines now must send their applications all the way to the USA, and then wait for them to eventually return to Manila where the interview will be held at the US Embassy that is open today, will be open tomorrow, will continue to be open in July, and will remain open as long as the USA and Philippines have diplomatic relations.
By Fred Wahl
the VisaCoach
If you have been keen to travel to the Philippines, now you can.
Spouses of Philippine citizens are now allowed in. No longer banned from travel due to Covid 19.
So if you are married to a Philippine citizen and ready to travel, now you can.
This really is great news.
To the great frustration of all, since Covid quarantine started, nobody except Philippine citizens have been allowed to enter the Philippines.
Until recently.
Starting in August 2021, after 15 months of Tight lockdown, the Philippines immigration service finally announced that they would start issuing visitor Visas to American citizens who are married to Philippine nationals.
This includes those who got online marriages and may not have even met in person yet.
For details on how to obtain an online marriage for $100
The visa now available to allow American spouses travel to the Philippines, is called a 9a temporary visitor visa.
To apply for it, reach out to the nearest Philippines consulate, fill in an application form, pay $30, and provide supporting documents and evidence.
Last week, I got calls from two of my clients who had successfully accomplished this. They were on their way to the Philippines.
And of course, immediately on return To the USA,from this honeymoon trip we will apply for their spouse visas.
Previously They had to put their plans to submit CR1 spouse visa applications on hold, because US immigration only approves spouse visa applications when there is proof that the couple has met in person, AFTER the wedding has taken place.
So not only are these couples on the way to their honeymoons, but are finally making progress to complete the necessary steps to have a Life together In the USA !!
For those who don’t know about online marriages, this is what they are and how an American can obtain one..
An officiant based in Utah can conduct a lawful marriage ceremony over a zoom conference.
This is called a “web conference” wedding. It is not a proxy wedding. As a proxy wedding means one of the couple is absent and someone else is standing in as a representative, a “proxy” at the ceremony.
At the “web conference” wedding everyone is present, bride, groom, officiant, and witnesses all via a Zoom video conference.
The result of this wedding is a binding and acceptable marriage certificate. And it does not mention that the ceremony took place online. It reads the same as any marriage certificate proving a lawful marriage has been entered into.
And this proof of marriage is totally acceptable to the Philippines and can be registered in the Philippines at the PSA, the Philippines statistics authority.
But for US immigration purposes, you are not quite there yet. US immigration requires this piece of paper proving a lawful ceremony has taken place, AND on top of that also requires proof that the couple spent time together in person after the ceremony.
Due to Covid this in person requirement has been very hard to satisfy.
Until now!
Here is how you you apply for your Philippines visa
Your marriage needs to be recognized by the Philippines government. If you married in the Philippines this should have followed as a matter of course. Obtain a certificate that confirms your marriage from the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA).
If you married outside the Philippines then register your foreign wedding certificate at PSA and wait on them to issue their corresponding certificate.
Do a google search on what Philippines Embassy or Consulate location is responsible for handling cases from the State where you reside and download from the consulate an application form for the 9a Temporary Visitor Visa. Fill it in.
Gather the documents and evidence needed for your application. Usually this includes your Passport, your PSA marriage certificate, proof of income, visa photo, and an invitation letter from your spouse. Unfortunately the application process is still in its early stages, and there is no uniform set of requirements yet. Each consulate appears to have slightly different requirements. So obtain the list of supporting documents that is needed from the consulate you will be working with and follow their individual procedures..
Send in your completed application package and include a self addressed prepaid return envelope.
Be patient.
Feedback so far is that it takes awhile for the consulate to process your application, And I have received multiple reports that the consulate’s seem to change the goal posts during the process asking for more materials than which were instructed to you at the start. Bear with it and eventually your visa will be on its way to you.
Once you receive the visa, Jump on a flight to the Philippines, and enjoy quality time with your spouse and her family in person. If you had married over the internet and this is your time to meet then also enjoy your honeymoon and collect and bring back proofs to apply for a CR1 spouse visa. Ideally you hired me and the VisaCoach staff to prepare your application.
This was Fred Wahl, The VisaCoach, here to personally guide you on this journey.
During the height of the Covid pandemic, th US Embassy in Manila curtailed their operations, shuttering their doors, and ceased visa processing.
This lasted about a year and a half. Cases destined for interviews in Manila, piled up, higher, higher, and higher. The State Department’s National visa center (NVC) which normally would hold onto a case for a very short time, before shipping it to Manila, instead held onto the cases,
Stockpiling them in New Hampshire. By the end of 2021 almost 18 months of pending cases awaiting to be shipped and eventually processed in Manila were stockpiled at NVC.
While closed, the US Embassy in Manila, promised that once quarantines were lifted, and travel to and from the Philippines was no longer restricted, it would import extra staff, open more desks and work diligently to clear the backlog.
US Embassy Manila has KEPT it’s promise !!
In February 2022 the Philippines reopened and tourists from around the world could the country again. They came for tourism, and to rekindle their in-person relationships with partners who they had endured enforced separation from during the Covid Pandemic.
The US Embassy, as promised, recruited more staff, more contractors, more officers capable of interviewing visa applicants. They have been working long hours. First interviews are scheduled at 6:30 am. progress to clear the backlog have been made. Hopefully within 6 to 12 months they will have caught up.
Philippines Spouse Visa Update
In late 2024, some Philippine spouse visa applicants were told that their cases had been “expedited” from the National Visa Center to the U.S. Embassy in Manila. This page explains what that unusual transfer meant, why it did not always produce an immediate interview, and how today’s slower processing environment changes the practical timeline.
Updated July 2026
The unusually fast USCIS approvals discussed in the December 2024 video should not be used to estimate a new case today. Recent USCIS historical data reports a 12.9-month median for immediate-relative Form I-130 cases through May 31, 2026. In July 2026, the Department of State’s interview scheduling tool showed Manila scheduling many immediate-relative cases that became documentarily complete in January 2026.
For practical planning, many couples should expect the full Philippine spouse visa process to take about 18 months or longer, depending on the USCIS service center, document preparation, NVC review, Manila interview capacity, medical results, and any additional processing.
The 2024 notice described as an “expedite” was mainly an administrative transfer of backlogged cases from NVC to Manila. It did not necessarily mean that USCIS had expedited the petition, that the embassy had reserved an interview date, or that the visa would be issued quickly.
Video Explanation
NVC Expedites Spouse Visa Cases to Manila
I am Fred Wahl the VisaCoach.
I personally work with you preparing for you the forms and documents needed
to bring your loved ones home to the USA, Unlike those common second rate services
that abandon you once your application has been submitted I remain with you providing
support throughout this complicated immigration journey.
Today's topic is: NVC Expedites Spouse Visa Cases to Manila
The normal process for a spouse visa is that one's case is first submitted to USCIS.
This means United States citizenship and immigration service.
USCIS reviewers process a spouse case and once satisfied, forward it to the State Department's National Visa center (NVC).
The US sponsor then submits to NVC his or her financial documents, and the spouses civil documents and police clearances. NVC reviews these and when satisfied that the applicants documents are complete,
they advise the applicants they are "documentarily qualified".
Soon after NVC staff directly contacts the US consulate in the spouse's country to schedule the interview.
Once the appointments confirmed, NVC transfers the cases to the foreign consulate while at the same time sending the couple an email advising them of the time and date for their consulate interview.
This is how the process should work.
But for spouse visas for Filipino beneficiaries, this system has broken down this year.
Earlier this year, I announced that USCIS had hired new staff, and due to the addition of new staff
they had been processing fianc's Visa cases much more quickly than usual.
During 2023 USCIS had taken about 15 months to process a fianc' visa case,
whereas with the influx of new staff many cases were approved by USCIS five times faster than previously, many in only three months!
That was good news for the applicants who had applied for fianc' visas.
But, that good news, had unintended consequences.
The speed at which USCIS pushed out cases that later ended up at consulates for their interviews
virtually a year earlier than originally planned, created a log jam.
Three times as many cases were now chasing the limited available interview appointment times.
A consulate that was staffed to conduct X number of cases a month,
suddenly was faced with three times as many applicants asking for interviews.
And until additional manpower could be recruited and transferred from the USA,
the backlog of those waiting for interviews kept piling up.
This was especially felt at the US Embassy in Manila.
This embassy is the busiest of all the US Embassies in the world.
Suddenly, with a much larger than usual influx of cases needing interviews, the consulates appointment calendar was overwhelmed.
Applicants who normally had to wait only a few months to get an appointment date. Now we're waiting half a year and longer.
Now let's return to NVC. Clerks of NVC reached out to the consulate in Manila asking for dates for interviews.
Instead of being given dates, they were put on hold.
Next month the clerks now with twice as many cases on hold reached out to Manilla again to schedule the interviews and again were put on hold, rinse and repeat.
Finally, after 6 to 9 months of cases that should have departed NVC, still just piling up at NVC, awaiting an appointment date.
NVC gave up trying to coordinate with the Embassy to book appointments directly.
NVC has given up, and has decided to kick the problem over to Manila. They have cleared their pile of hundreds of backlogged cases by transferring them to the Embassy in the Philippines without waiting any longer to schedule the interview for the applicants.
Once the cases have been shipped out, NVC have emailed each couple advising them of the good news "their cases have been expedited".
I view this as good and bad news. The bad news is the State Department's internal communications have failed.
Routine coordination between NVC and the consulate has broken down. This is a professional management issue I hope they find a way to resolve going forward.
The good news is that for each spouse visa applicant there now is activity on the their case.
Yes, now the client is going to be battling with a scrum of other applicants all struggling to score a limited appointment time.
But at least the different type of frustration of simply having to wait and being helpless is over.
For most hearing from NVC that one's case has been shipped to, "expedited", to Manila is good news,
Though hearing from NVC that one has a confirmed interview date would've been better news.
In the meantime, Visacoach is working with our Filipino spouse visa clients, to prepare for their interviews
to bring their partners home to the USA
This was Fred Wahl, The VisaCoach,
here to personally guide you on this journey.
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Process Overview
The U.S. citizen or permanent resident files the family petition. USCIS reviews the relationship evidence and decides whether to approve the petition.
After approval, USCIS sends the petition to the National Visa Center. NVC creates the case and issues instructions for fees, Form DS-260, financial evidence, and civil documents.
NVC reviews the submitted documents. When the required items are accepted, the case becomes “documentarily complete,” sometimes called documentarily qualified.
NVC coordinates with the U.S. Embassy in Manila and generally assigns available appointments in documentarily complete order. The appointment letter gives the interview date and time.
The 2024 Backlog
During 2024, a surge of cases reached overseas posts faster than expected. Manila already handled a very large immigrant visa workload, and interview capacity did not immediately expand to match the increased volume. Some documentarily complete spouse visa cases remained at NVC for many months while waiting for interview capacity.
NVC then transferred some backlogged cases to the U.S. Embassy in Manila without first providing the applicants a confirmed interview date. Couples sometimes received messages describing this transfer as an expedite.
The case had moved out of the NVC backlog and was physically or electronically assigned to the interviewing post. That represented progress after a long period of inactivity.
Transfer to Manila did not create new interview capacity. Applicants could still wait for an appointment, and an “expedited” transfer was not the same as receiving an interview letter.
Important Distinction
This is the situation discussed in the video: NVC moved a backlog of cases to Manila. It did not necessarily guarantee priority treatment or an immediate appointment.
A genuine request to accelerate a visa case is considered case by case. Department of State guidance generally reserves NVC expedite treatment for urgent circumstances, such as a documented life-or-death medical emergency, and the embassy must be able to accommodate the request.
Most spouse visa cases are scheduled through the ordinary NVC process based on documentary completion, visa availability where applicable, and the interview capacity provided by the embassy.
Prepare While You Wait
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A transfer or expedite notice may indicate that the case moved to Manila, but it does not necessarily include a confirmed interview appointment. The appointment letter is the controlling notice for the interview date and time.
Every case differs. Current planning should account for USCIS processing that can take about a year, NVC document review, and a separate wait for Manila interview capacity. Around 18 months or longer is a more realistic planning range than the unusually fast timelines described during parts of 2024.
Normally, NVC schedules documentarily complete immigrant visa cases using appointment capacity provided by the embassy. Applicants should follow the specific written instructions issued for their case rather than assuming they can self-schedule.
Ordinary delay alone generally does not establish an emergency. Expedite requests should be supported by strong documentation and circumstances that meet the government’s criteria. Unsupported requests can create false expectations.
Related Guidance
Understand the full CR-1 and IR-1 process from petition filing through entry to the United States.
Follow the major USCIS, NVC, and consular steps in the correct order.
Build persuasive relationship evidence before USCIS review and the consular interview.
Learn how incomplete forms, weak evidence, and inconsistent answers can cause delays or denials.
Personal Guidance
Fred Wahl works personally with couples preparing the forms, evidence, NVC documents, and interview strategy needed to bring a husband or wife home to the United States.
Philippines Visa Medical Exam Video Guide
Watch Fred Wahl explain how the U.S. visa medical examination works at St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic in Manila,
including appointment timing, documents to bring, first- and second-day procedures, vaccinations, possible delays,
current fees discussed in the video, and practical steps that can help applicants avoid problems.
Watch the Video
This video walks K-1 fiancé visa, CR-1 spouse visa, and IR-1 spouse visa applicants through the St. Luke’s medical process,
from scheduling and document preparation through testing, vaccinations, results, and situations that can extend the examination beyond two days.
Published August 30, 2026 · Runtime: 15:25 · Presented by Fred Wahl, The VisaCoach
Prefer a written guide you can review before your appointment? Read the companion topic page,
St. Luke’s medical procedures for U.S. visa applicants in Manila.
If you are applying for a K-1 fiancé visa, CR-1 spouse visa, or IR-1 spouse visa through the U.S. Embassy in Manila, you must complete a medical examination at St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic.
But what should you bring?
What happens during the examination?
How long does it take?
And what problems could delay your results?
This is Fred Wahl, the VisaCoach.
Today, I will walk you through the procedures for completing your U.S. visa medical examination at St. Luke’s in Manila.
First, there has been an important change from the old procedure.
St. Luke’s now follows scheduled appointment times.
You should not arrive at midnight or wait in an overnight line.
Applicants are generally admitted only about 15 to 30 minutes before their scheduled appointment.
Arriving many hours early will not help you get inside sooner.
Because procedures, fees, vaccination requirements, and document rules can change, always review the current instructions on the official St. Luke’s website before attending.
Before a K-1 fiancé visa or immigrant spouse visa can be issued, the foreign applicant must complete a medical examination performed by an authorized panel physician.
For applicants processing their cases through the U.S. Embassy in Manila, the approved medical examination is completed at St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic in Ermita.
You cannot simply visit your family doctor or another private hospital.
A medical examination performed by a doctor who has not been authorized for U.S. immigration purposes will not be accepted.
The examination is designed to identify medical conditions that may affect eligibility to enter the United States.
It also includes a review of the applicant’s vaccination history and any vaccinations required under U.S. immigration rules.
The U.S. Department of State generally recommends scheduling the medical examination about two weeks before the visa interview.
Do not schedule it at the very last moment.
Some applicants finish the process quickly, but others may require additional testing.
For example, additional time may be needed if the applicant has:
Leaving additional time before the visa interview can help prevent avoidable delays.
Before going to St. Luke’s, carefully review the clinic’s current document checklist.
Requirements can vary depending on whether the applicant is applying for a fiancé visa or an immigrant spouse visa.
Applicants should generally be prepared to bring:
Make sure the applicant’s name, passport number, case number, and other personal information are entered exactly as they appear on the visa documents.
Even a small error could create confusion or delay.
Fasting is generally not required for the initial blood or urine testing.
St. Luke’s advises applicants to eat before arriving.
Food is not allowed inside the clinic, and the examination process may take several hours.
Eating beforehand can make the day more comfortable.
Applicants who are 17 years old or younger must normally be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
The accompanying adult should be familiar with the child’s medical history.
If someone other than the parent or legal guardian accompanies the child, additional identification and authorization documents may be required.
Review the current instructions before the appointment to avoid being turned away or asked to return with additional documentation.
The medical typically takes two days.
On the first day, Applicants normally move through a series of stations inside the clinic.
The process generally begins with registration, identity verification, and payment.
Clinic staff may then review the applicant’s:
Every applicant receives a physical examination.
Routine measurements may include:
Applicants age two and older may be required to complete an Interferon Gamma Release Assay, also called an IGRA test, for tuberculosis screening.
Applicants age 15 and older generally receive a chest X-ray.
Younger applicants may also need a chest X-ray when medically indicated.
Depending on the applicant’s age and medical history, testing may also include:
The physician may order additional testing or refer the applicant to another doctor or specialist when necessary.
On the second day, applicants return for vaccinations, completion of remaining procedures, or instructions concerning their medical results.
Immigration rules require applicants to receive age-appropriate vaccinations.
The standard medical examination fee generally includes required vaccinations.
Applicants should bring all available vaccination records.
Complete records may help the doctor determine which vaccines have already been received and which vaccines are still required.
St. Luke’s states that copies of the immunization worksheet and IGRA result are generally emailed within three to five working days after immunization.
However, applicants should follow the specific instructions provided by the clinic.
Not every case is completed within two days.
The process may take longer when the applicant has:
When additional testing is required, follow every instruction promptly.
Ignoring or postponing additional testing can delay completion of the medical examination and may also delay the visa interview or visa issuance.
Depending on the clinic’s current procedure, St. Luke’s may electronically transmit the medical results or provide the applicant with a sealed medical envelope.
Follow the clinic’s instructions carefully.
Never open a sealed medical envelope.
Opening it could cause problems at the visa interview.
If the applicant receives X-ray images, the Department of State generally instructs the applicant to carry them when first traveling to the United States.
The X-rays are not normally required at the visa interview, but they may be needed after arrival.
As of July 10, 2026, the listed medical examination fee for applicants age 15 and older is:
29,995 Philippine pesos.
This fee includes required vaccinations, including the updated polio vaccination requirement.
For applicants under age 15, the listed fee is:
13,910 Philippine pesos.
The medical examination fee generally includes required vaccinations.
However, additional charges may apply for:
St. Luke’s lists payment options that include its online payment portal, cash, and credit card payment at the clinic cashier.
Because fees can change, confirm the current amount directly with St. Luke’s before paying.
St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic is located at:
1177 Jorge Bocobo Street, Ermita, Manila 1000, Philippines.
The clinic is generally open Monday through Friday from 7:00 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon.
It is closed on Philippine holidays.
Always check the official clinic schedule before traveling, particularly if your appointment is close to a holiday.
Here are several practical ways to reduce the chance of problems.
First, use only the official St. Luke’s website to register, schedule, and make any authorized payment.
Avoid unofficial agents and social-media payment requests.
Second, make sure all personal information matches the passport and visa documents exactly.
Third, bring complete vaccination and medical records.
Fourth, arrive during the permitted appointment window instead of arriving many hours early.
Fifth, do not schedule the examination immediately before the visa interview.
Finally, respond quickly to any request for additional testing, vaccination, medical records, or specialist evaluation.
The medical examination is only one part of the fiancé or spouse visa process.
Applicants must also be properly prepared for the final visa interview.
At VisaCoach, I work personally with couples throughout the immigration process.
I help prepare a carefully organized, front-loaded petition designed to demonstrate that the relationship is real, sincere, and bona fide.
I also guide clients through the USCIS stage, the financial sponsorship requirements, document preparation, and final interview preparation.
The goal is not simply to submit forms.
The goal is to prepare the case carefully so the couple can move through the process with fewer surprises and avoid preventable delays.
Remember, St. Luke’s procedures and fees can change.
Before attending, review the latest instructions directly from St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic and the U.S. Department of State.
Do not rely on an old video, social-media post, or advice from someone who completed the examination several years ago.
For more guidance about fiancé visas, spouse visas, medical examinations, and U.S. Embassy interview preparation, visit VisaCoach.com.
This is Fred Wahl, the VisaCoach.
If you would like to learn more about how VisaCoach helps couples prepare their fiancé or spouse visa cases, click the video on your screen. Also subscribe to the VisaCoach channel for practical immigration guidance and updates.
Quick Answer
Applicants processing a K-1 fiancé visa or immigrant spouse visa through the U.S. Embassy in Manila must complete the required immigration medical examination with an authorized panel physician. The video explains that the Manila examination is completed at St. Luke’s Medical Center Extension Clinic and typically takes two days, although additional testing or specialist review can make the process longer.
The companion St. Luke’s medical procedures guide provides the written topic overview for applicants who want to review the process alongside this video.
Important 2026 Update
The video highlights a change from the old procedure: St. Luke’s now follows scheduled appointment times. Applicants generally should not arrive at midnight or wait overnight, and they are generally admitted only about 15 to 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment.
Arriving far ahead of the scheduled time is not expected to get an applicant inside sooner under the procedure described in the video.
The video says the U.S. Department of State generally recommends scheduling the medical examination about two weeks before the visa interview because some applicants need additional testing.
Procedures, fees, vaccination requirements, document rules, and clinic schedules can change, so applicants should review the current official instructions before attending.
Before You Go
Exact requirements can differ between fiancé visa and immigrant spouse visa applicants, so the clinic’s current checklist should control. The video identifies these as items applicants should generally be ready to bring.
The video also warns applicants to make sure names, passport numbers, case numbers, and other personal information match the visa documents exactly. It states that fasting is generally not required for the initial blood or urine testing and that St. Luke’s advises applicants to eat before arriving.
Two-Day Process
The medical typically takes two days according to the video, with the first day focused on registration, history, examination, and testing, and the second day generally used for vaccinations, remaining procedures, or instructions about results.
Applicants generally move through registration, identity verification, payment, medical-history review, a physical examination, routine measurements, tuberculosis screening, age-appropriate chest X-rays, and other laboratory testing when required.
Applicants generally return for age-appropriate vaccinations, completion of remaining procedures, or instructions concerning the medical results. Complete vaccination records may help the doctor determine which vaccines have already been received.
Possible Delays
Not every applicant finishes within two days. The video identifies several circumstances that may lead to additional testing, medical review, or outside specialist evaluation.
An abnormal chest X-ray, a tuberculosis screening issue, or a history of tuberculosis may require more time and additional evaluation.
Missing or incomplete medical records, incomplete vaccination history, or a condition requiring further review may extend the process.
Pregnancy-related decisions concerning chest X-rays, psychological or psychiatric history, or a referral to an outside specialist can also add time.
Fred emphasizes responding promptly to requests for additional testing, vaccination, medical records, or specialist evaluation because postponing these steps can delay completion of the medical examination and may also delay the visa interview or visa issuance.
Fees Discussed in the Video
The video states that, as of July 10, 2026, the listed fee was ₱29,995 for applicants age 15 and older and ₱13,910 for applicants under age 15. It says required vaccinations are generally included, while certain specialist evaluations, extra procedures, or tests may involve additional charges.
Because fees can change, the video recommends confirming the current amount directly with St. Luke’s before paying. It identifies the clinic location as 1177 Jorge Bocobo Street, Ermita, Manila 1000, Philippines, and describes general hours as Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding Philippine holidays.
Avoid Preventable Problems
Several simple preparation steps can reduce the chance of avoidable confusion or delay.
Continue Learning
Use these VisaCoach resources to continue preparing for the medical examination and the broader U.S. visa process.
Read the companion evergreen guide covering the St. Luke’s medical examination process for U.S. visa applicants in Manila.
Explore VisaCoach guidance for couples preparing a K-1 fiancé visa case and the steps leading to the consular interview.
Review VisaCoach guidance for married couples preparing the immigrant spouse visa process.
Browse more VisaCoach videos about fiancé visas, spouse visas, interviews, financial requirements, medical examinations, and immigration procedures.
Personal Visa Preparation
VisaCoach provides one-on-one immigration consulting and document-preparation assistance to help couples organize their forms,
supporting documents, relationship evidence, financial sponsorship materials, and final interview preparation.
