Medicals for Accredited Employer Work Visa - (hearing impairment son with cochlear implants)

[Tich]

Good day everyone,

I just want to ask for your opinions.

I am offshore and I got a job offer in NZ and we are near lodging the visa applications. However our son has hearing impairment and has 2 cochlear implants that have made his hearing now good. He is in Grade 1 at a mainstream school where they accept a few kids with hearing impairments (that have an intervention of cochlears and hearing aids). At the school they offer compulsory speech therapy for the hearing impaired learners until mid primary school or when the speech is excellent.

So for us we got letters from the ENT specialist who operated him, the Audiologist that does the annual mapping/checking of the cochlears and the Speech therapist at his school. The therapist indicated that he is getting therapy (which is true) and highlighted that his spoken language has improved significantly and he is getting towards independence in terms of spoken language.

Do you guys think we will make it? I am worried about the implications of speech therapy (when our file gets referred to the MA) although I dont see him doing the speech therapy for too long because his spoken language is improving and getting towards almost fine.

Regards,
Tich

[Sim1602]

Hi Tich,

Below is my thoughts but I suggest getting expert advice:

Immigration may assess if you can afford to get speech therapy for your son here in NZ if not already covered for him in the school you decide to send him to.

However if you do apply for Residency after working here for the required period of time, Immigration will check if your son's hearing condition will be more costly to the NZ Public health system than the limit allowed at the time. Since your son already has 2 cochlear implants - he should meet the criteria and you may not even need a medical waiver. However, as with what happened with my application, you may have to take your son to get a letter from an ENT specialist here in New Zealand if they ask you to.

Cheers, Sim1602