clearance timelines?
November 13th, 2006 by manwalksonmoon.Hi - glad to have happened on this site. I’m a 51 y.o. male who applied to PC earlier this year and started my medical etc. clearance process in May. It was suggested that I would be going somewhere in South America (agriculture) - staging in late January ‘07.
So can anyone give me a little insight into the clearance process? Every time I turn around, medical is asking for another drib or drab of info - and always by snail mail, never by e-mail or phone. I think everything they are asking for is valid and important - but wondering why they can’t request everything at once - they’ve had my medical records since July.
I’m not normally a whiner - but has anyone had similar frustrations in the clearance process - or maybe I’ll find out that everyone does and I should quit whining!
Thanks for any replies!
mwom
November 13th, 2006 at 11:03 pm
I’m leaving Feb. 6 for Paraguay. I had some additional requests for med clearance and dental clearance and it was done through snail mail, but I was cleared in August and was invited to serve in October. My advice, I would call the RN who is handling your clearance and get a good talking!!! Who knows - maybe we will be in the same program!
November 14th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
thanks Trevor - I appreciate the comment. If I head out in February I’ll keep an eye out for you. Good Luck and have fun.
Roger
November 17th, 2006 at 6:14 am
It took me 17 months to clear everything and get invited, most of it waiting on medical. Then I flew out just 4 weeks after the invite. Definately call the RN, often if need be. Don’t wait for them to contact you. Good luck.
November 17th, 2006 at 4:34 pm
17 months!! that would try anyone’s patience. Thanks for the advice, I’ll start calling next week. Where did you end up - and how’s it going?
Roger
November 25th, 2006 at 4:30 pm
How is the medical clearance handled - do you go to one of their recruiters, or to own private doctor and then submit your information? I couldn’t figure this out on the Peace Corps website, but my hunch is you foot the bill and send in the documents. Am I correct?
November 29th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
texmez, I think that’s right for the most part. They’ll reimburse you up to $X for most doctors, but not all specialists. My eye doctor bills, for example, were my own. There is a reimbursement form on the web site, I think, but it’s not viewable until you’re in that step.
I’m stuck in medical, too. I’ve found this quite frustrating and the RN assigned to me was extremely rude. I had asked her for definitions and such and she snapped that the doctors knew what it was. Gee, my doctors have filled out the forms twice already. Perhaps it’s in red tape’s best interest that I be aware of what they need so I’ll know if it’s complete before I send it.
When I went back in to my primary doctor Monday for more information, she didn’t even greet me. She just held up the paperwork, rolled her eyes, and said, “I hate the Peace Corps.”
‘Twas good-natured, but her point is valid. It’s a federal agency, and not only do the Ts have to be crossed, but they have to be crossed with completely horizontal lines that don’t stay over the next letter.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:16 am
Hi all,
Wow I got cleared in a week YAY..literally I sent in my medical on feb 9th , it was recieved feb 26 and was cleared March 2. 17 months is crazy..I think it is really hit and miss.
Now does anyone know how long it takes to an invite?
Thanks!
March 3rd, 2007 at 4:14 pm
i turned all my stuff in sept 2002. got cleared in feb 2003. come may i had to figure out some sort of living situation and started calling every 1-2 weeks and finally got frustrated and explained that i had to sign a very unforgiving lease so i needed to know WHEN i was leaving, even if i didn’t know where to- so they finally told me late july or early september. i told them i preferred early september and by the end of may i had an invite to leave sept 2. i think you do have to nag a bit and they get annoyed, but it’s hard to plan your life when you have no idea when you’re leaving a job, home, when to sell your car, etc.