[MB]

We're about to do something a bit risky re. medicals. Please note we are in the USA, not panel-doctor-based UK, so there's a bit of reasoning to it. But I'd like folks' opinions.

We were only selected on 10/27. We don't expect to hear anything on our EOI before, say, late January.

Thing is we have opportunities to have our medicals done in early December. This is significant 'cos USA folks like us have a 'free' annual physical (and this qualifies) per year. So we're thinking of risking 3-month expiry (which would be early March) on the theory that we'll only have to pay for x-ray and blood test.

How daft is this? What does NZIS mean when they say we likely won't "hear anything" about EOI until January? Do they mean the change of status or recepit of the ITA (Hmm, I'm betting on the former).

It's risky, 'cos we're betting on that window between late Jan and early March to receive our ITA (if we get that far!) and get it back to them. But we should have everything else ready to go.

Slightly daft or really daft? :?

Cheers,
Matt.

[Bubbles]

Go for it Matt. You've got nothing to lose.
Wish I had the chance of a free medical, every little bit helps, doesn't it.

John :nice1

[clg]

I think what NZIS means when they say you will not hear anything until January is that would be when you would get the ITA. If you have not done so yet you need to get your FBI checks done, that takes a couple of months too but at least that is good for 6 months.

We got selected on Sep 1 and are still waiting for your ITA so we are at about 12 weeks now. You might make it but then again, you may not.

Can you delay the appointment at all or do you have to do it early December?

Chris

[MB]

Thanks, guys. Chris, I guess we could delay a while although from mid-Dec we'll be out of the USA for a couple of weeks.
If it helps other US folks, our doctor just told me that the billing code used for the physical includes lab work (blood, urine) but that the x-ray will likely cost $50-$100. Fair enough. Maybe we could delay the x-ray, although you know what it's like once you're in clinic and you have the chance to get it all done at once without another drive up there, toddler care logistics, etc.!

It's certainly a timing gamble. If you know what I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if it works out or if our paperwork gets outdated by many weeks!

Cheers,
Matt.

[climbthehill]

If your medicals or x-rays are over 3 months old you do not have to have another medical, you just have to get your old ones resigned.

[MB]

Well, we went ahead and had them done. Just waiting for the blood and urine test results now. An, yes, we did get FBI police checks sent off, thanks. Will start Brit ones when we visit London this month.
By the way, if any non-US reader is puzzled about the 'free medical' idea: an annual physical w/basic lab work often comes free to folks who have medical insurance on the grounds -- I think -- that it is preventative and/or can give you early warning of any problems that might otherwise become much more expensive to the insurers.
So, in turn, the rationale for hurrying and getting a medical before year's end is that neither of us have had our annual 'freebie', so we may as well risk it. But we will be out of pocket, probably, for the x-ray. If medical exprires, we might either get a re-sign or have next year's 'freebie' in, say, Spring.

Like I say, we were selected 10/27 so it's been a risk as I'm assuming we won't get ITA (if we're gonna be offered one!) until about late Jan. We have no job offer yet, and the only thing noteworthy about our EOI is that principal applicant (ballet teacher and choreographer) is experienced and Masters-qualified in a Future Growth Area. After Dec. 13, especially, that may get us a bit more of a thumbs up once we're looked at, but no priority status (even assuming such a notion exists for any EOI except job-offer EOIs, which is doubtful).

Ah, well! We'll see.

Cheers,
Matt.

[Chris Blunt]

We were selected on the 1st of September but still haven't received our ITA pack. We had our medicals done last week as the next appointment that we could book after that was in the middle of January!

Cheers,

Chris.

[deebat]

Good luck with the timing of your medicals, Matt. Please keep us posted about whether your gamble pays off!

Can I ask you how long it took for your FBI report to be prepared?

Thanks,
Dan

[MB]

All the best, Chris. Dan - sorry if I was misleading, but we have only sent off our FBI paperwork, not got the results. Sent them at the start of November. Preparing entailed going downtown to the front-desk section of the police HQ, and getting a fingerprint technician to do them . Cost about $7 each. We were in there for a half-hour or so. One tip: pay a little attention to the blank fields at the top of the fingerprint card (some police stations will give you a free card, others might have you pay or print one from the Internet). Some of these blanks need to be filled in, some may not, but why not go ahead and complete them all anyway. They're just questions about country of citizenship, etc.

Cheers,
Matt.