Sarcoidosis

[slavvie]

Can anyone help.
I found this website last nite and found a post from last year, someone had applied for PR and had been granted that had SARCOIDOSIS.
We have received our ITA, i have a job offer for end Feb
Problem...my husband has just had his xray and has found he has this same condition.
How do i contact the person who posted this thread if the discussion is closed and was from a year ago.
I am desperate to know if they have let one person in with the condition do you think they will let others in with it ?
Please help....
Thanks

[sophiedb]

hi slavvie,

I don't know how to answer your question, however I did search the Residence Review Board decisions (http://www.residencereviewboard.govt.nz/srchres.aspx) and found no cases containing the term "sarcoidosis".

From this I would deduce that whoever it was who applied before with that condition (nor any others) didn't have to go for a medical waiver

best wishes!

[JandM]

Hello, and welcome to the forum.

I presume this is the thread you found. http://www.enz.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-19093.html
I'm afraid the person there who mentioned sarcoidosis hasn't been back to the forum since September 2008, so you aren't likely to attract their attention.

However, on the matter of granting PR - the point about the medicals is that they are (mainly) checking for a state of health that isn't going to cost the NZ health service over $25,000 in the first four years. If a condition is there, but isn't giving the person any problems, or is controlled by medication (of the sort that doesn't cost an arm and a leg), they are allowed in anyway. As you say your husbands sarcoidosis was discovered by the X-rays for the medical, presumably it hasn't been causing him any trouble up till now. What will probably happen is that his medical will be 'referred' (which means that a medical assessor in NZ will look over his records, and may ask for more details from your doctor, or for a specialist to be seen, or for tests to be done, as s/he thinks appropriate). If these further details state that the condition isn't causing him problems, hasn't needed treatment and isn't likely to need treatment, then he's likely to be accepted. Unfortunately, this is going to take a bit of time.

[cani]

When I did my medical in February, an xray showed a problem, I did a search of this forum to see if anyone else had gone through the same and what had happened to them. They got their PR but weren't posting anymore and I had questions so I posted in the lounge if anyone knew them which someone did and helped me contact them so I could ask for what I needed to know. Perhaps you could do the same, good luck.


Kristina

[slavvie]

Thankyou so much guys for your speedy replies, you are correct he has no symptoms, is not suffering in anyway and at the moment the consultant said they will monitor him every 6 months but no teatment is needed.
Hopefully this is good news.
My job is to start end of FEB...do they still try and push ITA's with job offers through in a matter of weeks, I read somewhere it should only take an extra 1-2 weeks for a medical referral. I just hope we will not need a medical waiver.

[JandM]

I can imagine how you must be feeling, now this has thrown a spanner in the works all of a sudden. Hang in there!

As Sophie says above, nobody appears in the records as having had a medical waiver for sarcoidosis, AND the forum member on that old thread reported how they had been accepted WITH the condition, so it looks very unlikely that you would have to go the medical waiver route.

Another important thing to know is that the MAs are an independent body from NZIS. Your CO can't do anything to hurry them up or influence them in any way. Also, apparently, medical records have to be sent by ordinary mail from London to NZ - it's not just a matter of emailing them. And you yourself can't communicate with the MA.

For the rest of it, nobody can tell you timings for certain. NZ immigration is a big bureaucracy, and it takes the time it takes, maddening as this can be. In general, people with job offers see their case processed more quickly, and if there is an employer waiting for you, it seems that some COs do try to get PR done in time (though others have replied rather stingily that people shouldn't make arrangements till after their case is dealt with). HOWEVER, there is a fall-back available, in the shape of getting a work permit to tide you over till they finish dealing with PR, and your CO can advise about that. Talk to your CO - don't just be in limbo trying to second-guess NZIS.

Sorry not to be able to tell you a brilliant way through straight off, but try not to be too worried.

[slavvie]

Hi Sophie
If you are turned down due to health issues and need a medical waiver is this where all applications are posted if refused. I have looked at website link and all these health issues are severe

[sophiedb]

Hi Sophie
If you are turned down due to health issues and need a medical waiver is this where all applications are posted if refused. I have looked at website link and all these health issues are severe

Yes, pretty much

If someone is denied a visa on medical grounds, they can appeal and get a second MA to look at the files. If refused yet again they can apply for a medical waiver, at which point it seems that other factors can be considered (e.g. whether the applicant or their sponsor has a job offer, has much-needed skills, is Kiwi, etc etc). The website I linked lists those that were granted a waiver (and so their visa) as well as refused.

I can very much sympathise with your search for the original "sarcoidosis" poster btw. I first looked at this forum due to my own health problems - I'd been on BritishExpats and found that someone had posted about their experience with NZIS and thyroid cancer (which I had too). One of the mods said they'd been more active here, so over I came, but I still never found anything but their posts. The info within helped us decide to apply though, even if I never managed to ask them any questions. My medicals are with the MA right now (or rather on his desk - I'm pretty sure that he's on holiday!).

Best wishes

[Albertz]

Hello, I arrived in NZ in 2006, in 1987 I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, I had a shadow on my lung shown up on X Ray, I had treatment for the same symptoms but the illness itself is self righting, I was told that its always in your system and may reoccur but to date have had no problems and had the full medical to get here and nothing showed up on the X Ray, I'm sure its a worrying time but hang in there its not a deal breaker maybe as someone said it will need a referral to a specialist for a report to get you on your way, Good luck

[slavvie]

Hi Albertz
Thanks for your reply, as your xray was clear at the time of your medical did your doctor state that you had sarcoidosis on your medical report for immigration ?
If so did NZ Immigration ask for any more details
When we send our ITA back we will have to send it with my husbands xray as it is showing on there..my only worry is that they defer our application to see if my husbands condition is likely to change in the near future as he has only just been diagnosed through the medical xray.
However i have a teaching job to start in Feb so i wonder if they will look on this as a big positive !!
Sarah