Medical to be denied ... Hep C

[pos143]

Hi all,

Just done my medical for my residency just over 2 weeks ago.
Last medical for renewal of visa was 3 yrs ago.

This time I have been diagnosed with Hepatitis C ... dont know how I caught the stupid thing! Never a good time to hear, but this is the worst timing ever since my current visa is up in May. I still yet have to be assigned a Case Officer.

I know (assuming) my application will be denied but need to know since I have the following options, is there anyway I would manage to stay on in the country or eventually get my residency ...

I have a full time managerial job and they desperately need me to continue on working. I just told them the situation today. They are willing to help me as much as possible.
My job has recently been put on the skilled shortage list.
I am willing to pay for the first 6 months of treatment, approx $15,000 (this might be the full course of treatment I will require, depending on which genotype of Hep C I have ... I will find out this Thursday ... it could be a year long treatment @ $30,000)

Should I start getting a medical waiver form underway while waiting for the denial???
Would they just renew my current work visa for another 2 yrs and leave me pay for the whole treatment???

The treatment would be free back home but I aint ready to go back yet at all ... least not for poxy treatment of Hep C ... how depressing would that be.

At the moment, I aint ready to start spending money on immigration solicitors etc to help me since I am going to have some big bills to pay during the next few months on treatment ... but if it would give me a help, I am willing to.

Anyone have any previous knowledge of a case like this?
NZI hate anything to do with liver issues cause 30yrs down the line, they will say a transplant could/would be on the menu. Which is stupid to say so just after diagnosis!!!

Any help people?

Cheers in advance for any info!

Peter


(Questions all over the place above ... probably making no sense at all ... just a wee bit of a shock to the system to find out ya have Hep C and that I might be kicked out of the country after 5yrs here)

[JandM]

Hello and welcome.

Sorry for the dreadful shock you've had - hope someone will have some useful things to tell you.

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/index.htm MAYBE not a refusal, judging from this, depending on what type Hep C it is. Fingers crossed. ++++++++++++

[Fern01]

Typical of an insurance company. My husband had Hepatitis C a good few years back, after having had injections, I can't remember how many, he's as good as gold. It doesn't necessarily follow that a transplant could/would be necessary.

[dilanium]

*hug* sorry for you bad news, Hope you get well quickly!

Good luck!

[Kea]

Sorry to hear about your Hep C. Were you tested for your work visa's? Is it worth having a second test?

With regard to treatment, IIRC you should be eligible for free treatment under your work visa until May. I'm sure you only need two years worth of consecutive work visas. So you should be able to get halfway through it without having to pay. I guess you need to find out if your work visa can be renewed given your result, or if you have a chance of getting PR at any point in the future.

Good luck and keep us updated.

[pos143]

Cheers all for the wishes and info!

No point in a second test ... Hep C for sure ... just waiting on the genotype now!
I done a full medical for my previous work visa 2yrs ago and nothing turned up that time.

Wasn't too sure if I should try to claim for free treatment or not ... just as a good gesture for when they are assessing my application. Maybe I should ... $3000 a month is nothing to shake your head at. Anyone know who I could speak to to find out?

The gastroenterologist (specialist CityMed referred me to) also sent me a letter today that I can forward onto immigration. Just confirming I have Hep C but no signs of chronic liver disease, normal liver span and that the liver edge not palpable ... the latter of the three being good.
But still not sure if that will make any difference to INZ.

As you mentioned Joolzr, I just need to find out if I can renew my work visa, at least until this Hep C thing is kind of sorted.

Just keeping ye up to date and hoping more info will come my direction.

Thanks again everyone!

[JandM]

That NZIS link I posted - these are the 'Medical conditions deemed to impose significant costs and/or demands on New Zealand's health and/or education services', and therefore the ones that are going to get a refusal - the list states 'Hepatitis C, RNA positive, with abnormal liver function'. If your infection doesn't fit in those categories (and this latest result says your liver is all right), you should be accepted. I don't believe anything you do or don't do about paying will have any bearing on NZIS issues at all, as the officials there will be ticking boxes according to their procedures, not judging your actions.

[Duncan74]

(Echo JandM's comment)

[pos143]

Hi all,

Well just got the call from the specialist ... Hep C, genotype 1A!
Which now means a 12 month treatment, approx $30,000, and now down to a 60% chance of success.
I will assume now I am kind of screwed. There is no way will be able to afford to pay those costs over a 12 month period.And its over the $25,000 limit INZ set for medical costs too.
I don't think my work will be able to fight enough against INZ to get my residency or visa approved to stay on.
I will make a few more phone calls on Monday and see if there are any options left.

What a happy reply to post!!!

[JandM]

So sorry things are not better, but I don't know enough to make any intelligent comment on the details. Maybe one of our medical people can tell you something useful? Good luck with those phone calls.