Upfront Medical, NBI and Others

We now have every reason to prepare for the next CIC draw as discussed during my previous blogs. Thus, my husband and I opted to do the following:

Firstly, I asked my husband to secure a new TOR and diploma to his school which cost him P390.00. 

Secondly, on 8 December 2015 (my 6th week in our NBPNP Application), even before we received our nomination to NBPNP, my husband and I decided to apply "again" for an NBI. Why again? Because we already applied for it last May 2015. So do not follow what we did. Wait for a nomination and/or an ITA from CIC before getting your NBI. I felt short in reading the NBI requirement for Filipinos. NBI has a validity of 1 year but CIC specifically states in their instruction that it must not be older than 6 months before uploading it in your application. We paid P140.00 each for the renewal of our NBI plus transportation and meals. A total of P1,100.00 added in our expenses.

Thirdly, my husband and I decided to consolidate our 2 bank accounts into 1. This can be done as per my NBPNP fellow applicant, fjd2011, we just have to indicate in a LOE that we closed our LDB account and deposited it to our PNB account. Thus, on 11 December 2015, we went to LDB and closed our account in the form of a Manager's Check (MC). On the same day, I deposited the MC to PNB. The problem is, it is late for clearing. So the amount will be posted only on 14 December 2015, a Monday. So, I need to attach the debit memo, Manager's Check, the closed LDB passbook and the PNB deposit slip to our LOE. I will just secure a bank certificate and statement of account by Thursday, 17 December 2015. We paid for the MC and since it is located in Cavite, where we have to pay for the cost of travel and meals, a total of P650.00 added to our expenses.

Fourthly, on 12 December 2015, we again opted to get a new Canada Visa picture which is in line with CIC requirement as follows:

• The frame size must be at least 35 mm x 45 mm (1 3/8″ x 1 3/4″).
• The photographs must show the full front view of the head, with the face in the middle of the photograph, and include the top of the shoulders.
• The size of the head, from chin to crown, must be between 31 mm (1 1/4″) and 36 mm (1 7/16″).
• Crown means the top of the head or (if obscured by hair or a head covering) where the top of the head or skull would be if it could be seen.
• If the photographs do not meet the specifications, you will have to provide new photographs before your application can be processed. (See CIC Photo Requirements)

We have had a picture submitted to NB but the problem is we failed to get a soft copy of said pictures. Thus, the repeat of the pictures. We spent P600.00 for the pictures plus a CD where the jpeg format of the pictures are saved.

Lastly, we did our upfront medical yesterday, 14 December 2015, at St. Lukes Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City Branch. We chose to have an overnight stay in a hotel in Makati Avenue on the 13th of December 2015, which is a 30 minutes taxi drive to St. Lukes, to save ourselves from heavy traffic brought about by a Monday medical. We spent a total of P3,548.00 for the hotel accommodation, transportation and meals.

Thus, we arrive at St. Lukes at 5:30 AM. No problem getting there so early, we got numbers 10 and 11 in the registration. We are the 5th family to do the medical but I do not know why we are the first one to pay our fees and do the xray, LOL. We paid for P7,953.00 each for the upfront medical non ede category or a total of P15,906.00.

So, first things first, when we entered the clinic, they took a photo of us, like when taking an NBI or passport. No smiling again, LOL. No more biometrics for us but instead they required us to sign our e-Medical Information Sheets. While a nurse was processing our papers, meaning encoding our details in his laptop (I think an e-online application), a nurse called us to check our eyes. So, do not wear your contact lenses. Good thing I just used my eye glasses that time. You will need only to read the letters in front of you, just like in an Optical Clinic. Afterwhich, the nurse got our BPs, weight and height. Then wait for your name to be called by the registration nurse. When all is okay in the registration, they will ask you to sign the e-Medical as stated above, gives you copies of it where the UMI numbers are also indicated then off you go to the cashier for payment.

Once payment is done for the upfront medical, another nurse will get your papers on the cashier section, calls your name then off you go to the Xray room adjacent to the clinic. Funny story, the Xray room is so cold, colder than the clinic, so after doing my xray, I told my husband I need to pee only to come back for a urine sample collection, LOL. So, I pass the urine collection for half an hour. A nurse called me so she can do a blood extraction first. My husband both did the urine collection and blood extraction. After it, they directed us to a room for a doctor's physical exam. So, for female, having a monthly period is a big NO because we are required to remove everything. Don't worry, a female doctor will be checking on you while a male doctor for your husbands. In the room, the doctor will check on your eyes, throat and ears. The doctor asked me to lie down on the bed. From there, she checked on my 2 hands (she let me stretch it, maybe because I stated in my form that I have an operation due to a fractured left arm), then my abdomen, my anus (LOL, she asked me to open it) and then my breasts (for lump, just in case you have one). Afterwhich, she interviewed me again if I have other operations aside from my left arm. I opted to tell the truth and told the doctor that I have an operation in my left ear when I was 7 or 8 years old. I told her, my doctor has to remove my leaf eardrum to save my life. The next part is a headache.  For my husband's physical exam, I cannot give more details because he is in another room with a male doctor. All he told me is that he were also asked to remove everything and he underwent the process like mine.

After the physical exam, we were asked to go to the reception again and wait for our names to be called for further instructions. When a nurse called us, the sad news came for both the husband and I. My husband needs to pay an additional P2,765.00 because of an ear piercing, which is already close. Note that for male applicants, if you have your ear pierced and also a tattoo, you will be required to do an additional tests for hepatitis B and anti-HCV. The breakdown of the fees will be as follows:

On my part, I was required by the doctor to provide for a medical certificate for an impaired hearing condition on my left ear. Ouch, I never expected this because my operation was way back 1986, 1988 or 1989, whichever. Good thing, I was allowed to go to any ENT specialist for said medical certificate, we are in the hospital and we finish everything at 9:00 AM. So, we went to the information to ask for an ENT specialist. At the ENT doctor, I was required to do 3 hearing tests as indicated below. These tests made me dizzy. There is even this one test which requires a machine being connected to my ear and to my brain. Dizziness overload. Final assessments: within normal hearing range, right; and profound mixed hearing loss, left.

We went back to the ENT doctor for the medical certificate. That was 11:15 AM. I felt bad when the doctor told me that he cannot give me the medical certificate and asked me to come back today, 15 December 2015, because he told me he cannot finish doing the certificate because the Canadian Clinic (10th Floor) of St. Lukes is requiring so many details on it. OMG, the paper is just asking for his license number, date, clinic, specialization (which is ENT specialist), result, am i required for a maintenance medicine, opinion on my case for the next 5 years. OMG really. But I pleaded that I need the certificate on the same day because I came all the way from Cavite just to do my upfront medical. He frowned and told me to wait outside. He will give the certificate if he can finish it because he has patients waiting outside (but there is none). At around 11:45 AM, he issued the medical certificate to his secretary. We were asked to pay P1,500.00 for his professional fee and maybe for the medical certificate too. No need to debate on this (so no need to post the receipt too) so we just paid and went directly to the 10th Floor. I honestly did not see the date only what is written in the certificate. (I forgot the xerox copy, I will upload the medical certificate tomorrow)

At the 10th Floor, at around 12:00 noon, I gave my medical certificate plus the result of my hearing tests. I thought everything will go smoothly after we have taken our lunch. Note that we did not went out of St. Lukes premises because we are hoping to catch up for my MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) interview too along with my husband. This can only be done if my medical certificate will be accepted by them. Sad to say, this one has taken me so long because of my age on the result of my hearing tests and the date of my medical certificate. Stress go away, my patience is testing me. Good thing I am done with BP, xray and blood extraction, LOL. Imagine, I gave my medical certificate at around 12:00 noon, my husband went to the reception twice or thrice just to follow up my case because the doctor who did my physical exam told me that I need to go back to her for go signal. Test of patience, isn't it? At around 2:45 PM, I stood up and went to the nurse. He told me that what is written in my medical certificate is accepted by the doctor in-charge but I need to change my age (from 36 to 35) in my hearing tests result. My bad, i rounded it of because there is only 6 days left (from 14 December) in my 35 years. Also, my medical certificate is dated 15 December 2015 just like the date when the ENT doctor told me to come back for it. The papers must be changed. OMG. Good thing, they allowed me to do the MMR interview (this one is a different story, LOL). So, we went down to Neurology Section to ask for a change of age in my hearing tests which they gladly change. The problem is with the ENT doctor. Closed clinic. Good thing is they accepted my medical certificate even if it was dated 15 December 2015.

Okay so back to the MMR interview. I was still next to my husband. Yehey. He was already given a form for him to pay a MMR vaccine fee of P1,300.00. On my part, the doctor ask me basically the same questions during my physical exam but an added question of: when is your last contact? (LOL, married couples know this). I told her on the 6th of December 2015. She asked me if I am sure of it and answered yes. I have my app, LOL. BUT...BUT...I was not allowed to do my pregnancy test (required for adult women) and my MMR vaccine not until 21 December 2015. I told the doctor, I am sure I am not pregnant because when we had our contact I am not yet in my fertile window plus I need to take fertility drugs for a chance to get pregnant. That I have infertility issues. But the doctor, even if she is so friendly and accommodating, was very firm to say NO because she is thinking for a 1% chance of conceiving for our last contact of 6 December 2015. Okay, so my advise, no contact for 2 weeks or better yet do the medical a week after your last period, hahaha (I will laugh this time). I told the doctor that I am only here in Manila until the 18th of December because I will be going home to the province by 19 December 2015 and will only be back on the 3 January 2016. She told me that it is okay that I will not have to do a pregnancy test and MMR vaccine and just do it on the 21st of December in any private hospitals. I just have to make sure that I ask for a Certificate of Vaccination because I will need it at the port of entry stage. Relieving. I asked again if it will affect my medical. She answered, NO, because just like what she said I need it only when we land in Canada. She even told me that my husband can also do the same but the problem is she already ask him to pay for his vaccine. Good thing he did not pay yet because he was waiting for me. So, the doctor just asked us to sign that we will just do the MMR vaccine outside of St. Lukes. Please note that the MMR vaccine is a new requirement given by Canada immigration and is required for ages 1 to 39. The most important of everything that the doctor told us is that all our tests are normal. Thank you, Lord.

After doing the interview. The nurse told us that they will just call us if and when there will be problems in our medical but so far he confirmed that all our tests are normal. He also instructed us that we can scan and upload our e-Medical Information Sheet to CIC after 2 weeks from 14 December 2015.

The total expenses we incurred for our upfront medical is at P25,395.00. We still need around P4,000.00, more or less, for our MMR vaccine. It is either, I go down with my husband on the 21st of December which will entail us an additional bus fare so we can have the vaccine at St. Lukes or we do the vaccine in Baguio City at P1,500.00 each for the MMR plus doctor's professional fee. Let's wait and see. We are just so happy we accomplish so many things for the last 2 weeks.