Cancel my Mother's Visa Interview in Manila US Embassy?

Question

I have petitioned my mom to come to the US a year ago. She has an appointment for her medical exam and Visa interview next month. The problem is, my mom has been sick and been put on medication for her to take for 6 months, I guess her illness is nonactive tuberculosis. My question is, can I reschedule her appointment? will they let us know when her next appointment is? will this affect her visa issuance? My mom is changing her mind on coming here but I want her to come here and be with me. She can always go back home if she wants to since her application is for immigrant visa.
And What exactly is Nonactive Tuberculosis??

Answer 1

Tuberculosis is a lung infection caused by the tubercle bacilli. Nonactive means noncontagious. This means that your mother was exposed to the disease, but she herself will not be able to spread the disease as long as her condition remains nonactive.

This is because her chest xray does not show signs of cavitation/activity, but her tuberculin skin test (TST) is positive. Yes, she has to take anti-TB drugs for 6 months as prophylaxis (to prevent disease progression, that is, to protect herself against the possibility of developing the disease because she has been exposed).

As part of US immigration policies, she needs to have a medical examination prior to her interview at the US Embassy, usually a week prior to the interview. Chest x-ray/s will be taken as part of the examination (blood will also be drawn for AIDS test). If her chest x-rays are suspicious for the disease, she will need to submit sputum samples for testing.

If it is proven that she has active tuberculosis (contagious disease), then she will need to undergo treatment which will be monitored. She will not be issued a US visa while she has active disease. Once she has completed treatment (usually a 4-drug regimen) and is deemed noncontagious, then she will be issued a US visa.

If her condition is truly nonactive tuberculosis (noncontagious), she can still be issued a US immigrant visa even though she is on prophylactic medication IF she sticks to her regimen.

Regarding your questions whether her appointment can be rescheduled and if the embassy will let you know of the date of her next appointment, the answer is YES to both. Rescheduling does not affect visa issuance, but having a contagious disease does (AIDS/Active tuberculosis). A lot depends on the test results and the recommendations of the examining physician. If she is given a clean bill of health, she will be issued a US immigrant visa.

Here's more about tuberculosis if you are interested:
http://www.who.int/topics/tuberculosis/en/

I hope you find this helpful.

Answer 2

Manila Embassy Interview

Answer 3

If your information above is accurate, it sounds like your mother would not be ineligible for an immigrant visa. The medical question for immigration purposes is whether your mother has active, contagious TB. If she did, then she would be ineligible until she had gone through the treatment for that and was found to be no longer contagious. That can take quite a while, particularly if the particular strain of TB is drug resisitant.

However, if it's active but non-contagious, it would not be an automatic ineligibility. If your mother would require long term treatment in the US that might have to be taken into consideration to the extent that you would have to show how you would be able to afford the medical care your mother would require. If it's not active, that will probably not be a problem.

If you do decide to postpone the interview, contact the immigration unit in Manila. This is the website for the IV unit: nhttp://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3023.html

Foreign Service Manual 9 Fam 40 deals with visas in general. It's available on travel.state.gov.

9 FAM 40.11 N6.2 Immigrant Afflicted with Tuberculosis
(3) “Class B”-1—clinically active, not infectious (see 9 FAM 40.11 N6.2-2);

(4) “Class B”-2—not clinically active (see 9 FAM 40.11 N6.2-2); or

(5) “Class B”-3—old or healed tuberculosis (see 9 FAM 40.11 N6.2-2).



9 FAM 40.11 N6.2-2 “Class B” Finding for Infectious Tuberculosis

(CT:VISA-905; 09-18-2007)

An alien who is found to have “Class B” medical condition for tuberculosis is not inadmissible under INA 212(a)(1)(A)(i) (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(1)(A)(i)).

Answer 4

can't she bring her medication with her or is she bedridden? you can request to reschedule but it may be another 3 -6 months if not longer. why not have her come and then return as soon as she gets her green card in the mail.?

Answer 5

Request for a rescheduling of the appointment so that your mother cannot be disregarded for non-appearance.

Answer 6

I think here having TB would be enough to deny her entrance in to this country.