And yet another speed bump...

[Mrs Pony]

We've heard back from our CO about my medicals... They want a letter from my Rheumatologist now. The email went like this...

''Please have the applicant produce a report/opinion from a Rheumatologist

Applicant seems to have Systemic lupus erythematosus. Please confirm. How did the disease present and how is it currently manifest. What are the potential long term complications and how frequently do these occur.

What monitoring is required re: specialist inputs, bloods, imaging etc.
Is there the likely future need for immunosuppressant drugs such as Cyclophosphamide or TNF inhibitors.
From reported series, what is the 5 and 10 year mortality rate''

Now I'm worried that they aren't going to approve me for PR ... and if I can't get PR can OH get it since he's the Primary?! My Lupus isn't bad at all to be honest. I'm very luck! I only went to the dr about every 4 months and he took me off one medication before we left the US. Now I'm only on Voltaren (50mg, once a day) which you can get over the counter here (maybe not my dosage)!

I have an appointment with a GP tomorrow and I'll see if they can refer me to a Rheumatologist here... I have copies of my medicals with me, both my GP and Rheumatologist from the US... I'll also see about staying up late or waking up early to get a hold of my dr is the US to see about getting that letter from him.

I just feel like crying right now! NOTHING has gone smoothly for us!

[BodaciousBean]

Hey Ponies,

Sorry for your hiccups on the way. I am sure it is not as bad as it may seem, NZIS probably needs some extra clarification that everything is A-okay. Hang in there guys, you are almost there!

[mgf]

It gets frustrating I know. Hang in there....

[Kanga]

I just feel like crying right now! NOTHING has gone smoothly for us!

Try really, really hard not to take it personally. It's more than likely a box ticking exercise and you will get there, just don't let it grind you down completely in the process. VISA applications are agonising beaurocracy because you have such an emotional investment in them, so it can be so incredibly draining ((((Mrs Pony))))

[dusk]

... these things happen, I guess you will feel more pressured as you are trying to do all the application stuff whilst also trying to survive in NZ whilst job hunting and trying to survive on your savings.

As for your question, your OH could potentially get PR if you removed yourself from the application should it turn out that you were refused on medical grounds, as long as he then had enough points and there were no other issues with his application and he completed any other requirements that NZIS may require (such as an interview if he doesn't have employment offer from an employer ont he accredited list/on the LTSSL) but this would mean you would have to submit another application for yourself of some kind, so would not really help in the long run and it's a long way from certain that it's going to come to that anyway, so try not to fret about it unless it happens

The best thing you can do is gather all the information about your medical condition that NZIS have asked for and hope that the MA agrees that it's not serious or too costly to support.

I might add for anyone else reading this considering coming over during or before submitting your PR/work visas requiring full medicals, it is important that if you have a serious/ongoing medical condition you get all the information and reports you can before you set off, so that you have a decent history of the condition and can prove (where necessary) that it is under control and you have a decent prognosis for ongoing care for the forseable future - or should that not be the case you at least have all the information possible at hand.

The additional stress and costs associated with medical referrals on your application are the last thing you need if you are already trying to cope with all the challenges life in a new country will be throwing at you.

[BkyMonster]

If you remove yourself from the application, assuming enough points and otherwise for the application to continue, keep in mind that you will not be eligible for a medical waiver if you were eligible to be included in the original application. Best to fight it through for the eventual chance of medical waiver if everything else goes badly (I have spent our entire process planning for what-if-things-go-wrong and boy has it helped because they sure did). I just (today) found out that I am now done with a 7 month MA hassle (...and now they can go back to looking for other things wrong with the application. Cynical, me? Never.) Be prepared to pay out the nose for private specialists.

[Mrs Pony]

humm... No I don't think he would have enough points on his own... unless he got a job offer and well you all know how that's going... I just want to feel settled already and I'm not going to feel totally settled until we get PR... must...have... patience...!

[CJ22]

The MA is simply looking for an opinion at this point. If the opinion given is 'not a major problem' then the MA is likely to go with that opinion. It's not neccesarily the case that chronic conditions are refused. Diabetics are regularly passed, despite it being a fatal condition without constant and permanent monitoring and treatment. Diabetes is passed on the basis that the sufferer can continue to be a productive member of society with that treatment. If Mrs. P can get an opinion that says the same thing then there's likely to be no problem in the end.

Yes it will add a delay to the process, but at least they are unlikely to refuse the application while the investigation is ongoing. Many people have over-stayed for long periods (with NZIS approval) while medical issues are resolved. Bear in mind you are in NZ, so the delay may be less. Most of the delay associated with the MA is the 1 month round-trip for the slightest communication between NZIS London (or wherever) and the MA.

Finally, the opinion may not be massively costly. It depends how much lab work would be required to provide it. If you can provide a rheumatologist with a detailed history, he may produce an opinion without having to do much investigating himself, who knows.

If your condition is mild, then this is more likely just the MA justifying his expensive retainer than a genuine attempt to block the application.

[Mrs Pony]

I'm going to a NZ GP tomorrow so I'll see what happens then... I have a copy of all my medical records (GP and rheumatologist from the US)

I'll also see about calling my rheumatologist in the US and see about having him write me a letter. Maybe with the medical records that I have I won't need it though...

It gives me a bit more hope knowing that diabetics don't have a problem getting in!

[BkyMonster]

Finally, the opinion may not be massively costly. It depends how much lab work would be required to provide it.

Having had to do one specialist report that required no lab work at all and cost me over 1kNZD (and could have cost 1.5k), it's more the expense of having to deal with specialists who are private network rather than the subsidized network (which I was not eligible for not having a 2+ year permit). Another private specialist I had to deal with was also expensive IMO. When I had to deal with the public hospital I had a very reasonable bill IMO for the services provided.

I'd agree that the MA just wants more info and the best thing to do is just give them everything (and more, very thorough is best IMO) that they ask for.