Medical Assessor referral Processing Time

[Budoy]

Hi.

I recently applied for a visitor visa, purpose of which is for short-term study (6 week-programme). The immigration officer referred my medical certificate to the medical assessor (because something in my urinalysis result was wrong) and said it would take up from 3 to 6 weeks before they are returned to the immigration officer. I already submitted my repeat urinalysis report to the panel physician, result of which, by the way, is normal. I was wondering if any of you here have the same problem and did it take earlier than 3 weeks? And would MAs take special consideration in applications whose class are about to start? I am stressed right now thinking i won't make it to the class in time, having paid the entire tuition fee already. And would it be possible for me to check my own emedical file?

[Budoy]

Addendum:

Does anyone here know if MA's workload this time has significantly decreased? In an email, the immigration officer quoted the medical assessor as setting a deadline for my repeat urinalysis, which is Sept. 9. I was wondering if this is an indication that my med. certificate can be assessed at much an earlier time?
And is there a way to contact medical assessors or their office? Hoping for your help guys. thanks.

[JandM]

http://www.enz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=47749

Nobody from outside can contact MAs, and there is no way to know about their work queues, either. I don't think anyone can be of any significant help to you, except by hoping it goes through quickly. You've done everything you could, by doing as you were required to.

[Budoy]

Thank you JandM

Do you hear of cases where some applicants get their medical referrals faster than 3 weeks? And when do we start counting the 3 weeks, from the day my application was lodged or the day the Immigration officer notified me? I guess I am having psychosomatic problems right now waiting for the outcome of my visa..hehe

And is the immigration officer the CO?

I guess all that's left for me to do is hope that my medical gets assessed in time for the class.

Thanks again JandM

[JandM]

Do you hear of cases where some applicants get their medical referrals faster than 3 weeks?

I understand your wishfulness, but no, I don't think that's every been known.

And when do we start counting the 3 weeks, from the day my application was lodged or the day the Immigration officer notified me?

From when it got sent off. It has to go, be dealt with, and come back. And the MAs' job is to get to a thorough understanding of the applicant's state of health, so it CAN HAPPEN that the reply after that lapse of time can be to tell the CO to require the applicant to have more tests done, or to get a report from their doctor or a specialist, then there will be further three weeks (or whatever they say) until another reply - that isn't LIKELY for you, given that your next result has been sent and proved to be clear, but the possibility exists. Also, the timing quoted is only nominal, not precise, or a promise. INZ times are always only a guess, based on roughly how things have been going lately.

And is the immigration officer the CO?

Maybe. Anyone working at INZ could be called an immigration officer, whereas a CO (Case Officer) is someone trained to work cases, that is, check evidence and apply the regulations to see which applications will be granted visas. The person who notified you that your medical had been referred might have been a CO who had started to work your case, or it might have been a clerk looking over your paperwork to see that you had sent evidence to prove each point about yourself.

And yes, tough though it is, the only thing to do for now is wait. Everyone dealing with INZ gets very used to that, and nobody likes it! Good luck.

[Budoy]

Thanks so much JandM You've been a great help

I guess I'll be losing the waiting game; the school gave me until tomorrow to give them good news regarding my visa. They said they will have to give my place to someone else, but I may defer to their January 25, 2016 intake. If my class gets moved on January, should I apply for another visa and get another medical certificate or would my application now still apply for January?

[JandM]

I think you would probably find that INZ would change the terms of THIS student visa application to refer to THAT student intake, but if you have to be deferred, you absolutely must immediately notify INZ what is happening and get their reaction.

[AlfalNZ]

Medical assessors are currently taking 8-10 weeks but I just heard it might be 11. Basically they don't know and there's a massive backlog. Stay positive but you might have to defer your course!