Medical assessor

[rawsoncj]

I know it probably depends on many factors, such as the individual doctor's workload, but does anyone know how long it *generally* takes for a medical assessor to work through the paperwork for a residency application? For reference, I'm already in New Zealand, and I haven't been outside of the country in over two years.

From the sounds of things, my CO is just waiting for those medical results before making a final decision on my application. I was in perfect health when I had my last medical assessment, and I still am.

I'm worried about the time factor right now, because I have a job offer from an employer, but it's conditional on my residency application being approved before May. I can't qualify for an Essential Skills visa with them, and since they're not accredited Work to Residence won't work either. I already have an Essential Skills visa with my current employer, but I apparently can't get a variation of conditions to work for this new employer because I'd be switching both employers and regions simultaneously… gotta love these convoluted rules.

Basically unless I get some good news in the next couple of weeks, I stand to lose a very lucrative job offer.

[Otaku]

Turnaround time is usually 4 weeks, provided MA has all the records/reports. It might happen that MA may ask for specialist reports, in case of certain health issues.

[rawsoncj]

Four weeks? Great. Looks like I can definitely write off this job, then.

[sabi89]

for me it took 2 days
Medical Assessor Review 11-03-13
Medical Review Completed 13-03-13

[JandM]

A lot of the time of turnaround CAN be because materials are sent to where the MA is by ordinary post, e.g. from Europe to NZ in some cases. Here's hoping your MA is just down the road in NZ.

[rawsoncj]

My documents were sent from Palmerston North to Wellington a week ago.

I have a very strong feeling that my potential employer is going to withdraw the job offer today. It's not the end of the world -- I have other interviews lined up, and my current contract doesn't run out for another five months -- but it's intensely frustrating to have come this close after 2.5 months of searching for work, only to be let down yet again.