Student Visa Application: Medical Forwarded

[WWWW]

Hi!

I was working in Auckland for 6 months with a working holiday visa. When my work visa got rejected, I decided to go back to school to do my postgraduate studies. Since everything was done in a such a rush, I could only submit my visa application a little over a week before the school terms starts. A couple of days after I have submitted my visa application, I submitted an e-mail that is forwarded to INZ Bangkok (I am from Singapore) informing them about the urgency of my application.

My CO got back to me and said that she has forwarded my medicals to a Medical Assessor and she is waiting for a comment or reply before she can approve my visa. I am already prepared to miss the first week of school, but I am worried that I would have to miss more. I don't want to defer my semester because I already have my apartment (which I am still paying for) over in Auckland.

If someone who had a similar experience could please advise me on how long I am looking at for the MA to come back to me, that would be really, really great!

[JandM]

The MAs are in a completely different department from the COs. When the CO follows their guidelines and refers a medical, they will get on with the rest of the process regardless, BUT even if everything else is in order, they cannot issue Approval unless and until the MA says the medical can be passed. If the verifications of qualifications and the offer of your place come through quickly for the CO, it's possible that the whole case is ready and waiting by the time the MA's reply returns, and those are the examples where the person hears 'medical OK - Residence approved' in very quick succession. On the other hand, if answers don't come back quickly for the verifications, or if there are supplementary questions to be asked, the MA's go-ahead could return while the CO still has a lot of other factors on the case to wait for.

Also, it's not possible to say exactly how long YOUR MA's check will take - an average time is pretty meaningless. The MA's job is to keep on asking for whatever information they need, from doctors' reports or further test results, until they have a clear understanding of the applicant's condition, and that it won't cost the NZ Health Service above the limit set. The MA CAN have all the info immediately, but there can be others who have to get a succession of tests and specialist opinions, and there can be a three-week turnaround for each one.

Of course I understand that you're looking at things from the point of view of your convenience and what you would prefer to happen, but that personal angle doesn't have any pull with the MAs and INZ - they have to do their procedures, regardless. Sorry, I know this isn't what you hope to hear, but it's better to be realistic.

[WWWW]

The MAs are in a completely different department from the COs. When the CO follows their guidelines and refers a medical, they will get on with the rest of the process regardless, BUT even if everything else is in order, they cannot issue Approval unless and until the MA says the medical can be passed. If the verifications of qualifications and the offer of your place come through quickly for the CO, it's possible that the whole case is ready and waiting by the time the MA's reply returns, and those are the examples where the person hears 'medical OK - Residence approved' in very quick succession. On the other hand, if answers don't come back quickly for the verifications, or if there are supplementary questions to be asked, the MA's go-ahead could return while the CO still has a lot of other factors on the case to wait for.

Also, it's not possible to say exactly how long YOUR MA's check will take - an average time is pretty meaningless. The MA's job is to keep on asking for whatever information they need, from doctors' reports or further test results, until they have a clear understanding of the applicant's condition, and that it won't cost the NZ Health Service above the limit set. The MA CAN have all the info immediately, but there can be others who have to get a succession of tests and specialist opinions, and there can be a three-week turnaround for each one.

Of course I understand that you're looking at things from the point of view of your convenience and what you would prefer to happen, but that personal angle doesn't have any pull with the MAs and INZ - they have to do their procedures, regardless. Sorry, I know this isn't what you hope to hear, but it's better to be realistic.

Hi!

Thank you for your response!

I understand that the CO has procedures to follow, but I was advised that the e-mail I sent was the most I could do to highlight my situation to immigration, although I knew that it wouldn't be much help. My CO told me that she is waiting for the comment from the MA before she can go ahead with further processing. I have gone ahead to do another updated blood test in case the MA requests for anything additional -- this is regarding my HBA1c levels. I have already sent in a letter from my GP with the tabulated test results for HBA1c (5.8%) and she has informed me that she has already forwarded that to the relevant team and would get back to me once she receives an update. You said that the CO would go ahead with the rest of processing. Would my CO tell me in the meantime of this wait if she needs anything else other than the comment from the MA or is it possible for me to still encounter some other requirement problems even if the MA's OK comment comes back?

I understand it is hard to say exactly how long my MA would take to get back to me, but the wait in oblivion is increasingly worrying -- regarding whether I should consider deferring my studies. I have been online researching on other cases and the results have made me even more paranoid, seeing that people have waited from 2 days to 6 weeks.

Thank you so much for your help!

[sheepland]

Hi there!

I'm from Singapore too and was in this situation (applied for visa too late). Like JandM said, there's nothing much you can do except wait. But what I did was email all my lecturers informing them I was starting late. I guess it kind of sucks when you can't start on time, but I just bought the textbooks and started reading them on my own, so at least you won't be too far behind, I suppose. I also kept the enrolment office updated on my status, so they knew what was going on every step of the way. Best of luck, I'm sure it won't be too long now

[WWWW]

Hi there!

I'm from Singapore too and was in this situation (applied for visa too late). Like JandM said, there's nothing much you can do except wait. But what I did was email all my lecturers informing them I was starting late. I guess it kind of sucks when you can't start on time, but I just bought the textbooks and started reading them on my own, so at least you won't be too far behind, I suppose. I also kept the enrolment office updated on my status, so they knew what was going on every step of the way. Best of luck, I'm sure it won't be too long now

Thank you so much -- really comforting to hear from someone who was in a similar situation. Waiting is the hardest! Yep, I have e-mailed the international students office and all my professors -- who have all been really understanding. I guess all I can do now is do my readings and 'start classes' on my own! (Was really really worried about missing class!)

However, a lady from the international students office told me that if I would like to start late I would have to get some sort of permission from the student's centre. I e-mailed her back asking if I still had to do that if all my course professors already knew about my situation. Did you have to do something like this as well?

Thank you so much for your reply

[sheepland]

Thank you so much -- really comforting to hear from someone who was in a similar situation. Waiting is the hardest! Yep, I have e-mailed the international students office and all my professors -- who have all been really understanding. I guess all I can do now is do my readings and 'start classes' on my own! (Was really really worried about missing class!)

However, a lady from the international students office told me that if I would like to start late I would have to get some sort of permission from the student's centre. I e-mailed her back asking if I still had to do that if all my course professors already knew about my situation. Did you have to do something like this as well?

Thank you so much for your reply

Hmm I didn't have to do this but perhaps it's different with different unis (I'm at Otago). I would probably do as she said though, playing safe and all that!

[WWWW]

Oh, Otago is great for the Arts I heard! I am planning to do a part of my studies there as well She got back to me and told me that if my professors are fine with it then it's okay. Thank you so much for replying though

[JandM]

Would my CO tell me in the meantime of this wait if she needs anything else other than the comment from the MA or is it possible for me to still encounter some other requirement problems even if the MA's OK comment comes back?

It's difficult to answer this with certainty. The thing is, every CO will be working other cases in rotation with your own, so it's possible she might be busy with someone else's business when some reply came back regarding you, in which case it would just be put in your file until its next turn for her attention came round, so there could be delay in proceeding. From the applicant's point of view, it would be ideal to imagine the CO sitting eagerly waiting to proceed the minute any information came to hand, but the reality is that what is vital and life-changing for applicants is just one file of papers among hundreds that make up their daily grind for the INZ officials, and they have their work routine to follow.

[WWWW]

It's difficult to answer this with certainty. The thing is, every CO will be working other cases in rotation with your own, so it's possible she might be busy with someone else's business when some reply came back regarding you, in which case it would just be put in your file until its next turn for her attention came round, so there could be delay in proceeding. From the applicant's point of view, it would be ideal to imagine the CO sitting eagerly waiting to proceed the minute any information came to hand, but the reality is that what is vital and life-changing for applicants is just one file of papers among hundreds that make up their daily grind for the INZ officials, and they have their work routine to follow.

Understood. I'm really appreciative because my CO is really quick with replies; I didn't even think she would get in contact with me about the progress of my application! Thank you so so much for your help; this forum really is the place to get some really good answers. I guess there is really nothing I can do except wait. Oh well, more time with the family!