[Gemini]

I've been turned down because of a high BMI. I know weight is a huge problem but all my blood tests, x ray, cholestrol levels, blood pressure etc are fine. But my BMI is admittedly very high.

I have a NZ partner and we were looking forward to starting our new life with his family, now we can't even go.

I said I'd go on holiday visa - lose weight while there and reapply but they said no, once they know my health is not to an acceptable standard I can't even go on holiday. :wah

Does anyone know what if anything I could do?

[Caroline and Dave]

Hi Gemini and welcome to the forum.
All is not lost. Put in a search for medical waivers on this forum and many threads will come up. Most people who do not meet their standards have to apply for a medical waiver.
These are granted to most people whose conditions are not going to seriously drain their resourses which I doubt yours will. To give us all on here a bit more background we need to know what your husbands occupation is and who is the main applicant. Then it should give us more of an idea what your chances are as it seems a little harsh turning you down flatly without advising you to apply for a medical waiver.
Anyway, if you can give us a bit more info then someone should be able to give more advice.
Please do not give up yet.

Kind regards

Dave and Caroline

Ps you could also try here and look under M for medical waivers in the index which is bottom left.
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/nzis/operations_manual/index.htm

[Gemini]

Thank you for that information. I am the applicant, my partner is a NZ citizen. They did say about a medical waiver, but I went to see my GP and he said that he can only say that I weigh 7 kilos more than last year and that he tried to help me lose weight and I didn't do it :(

I was terribly stressed in my job (no excuse I know) but I thought I'd do most of my weight loss once we got there .
GP says he can only deal in fact and those are the facts.

[dharder]

I have a NZ partner and we were looking forward to starting our new life with his family, now we can't even go.

Does anyone know what if anything I could do?

Wiki will know more about this, but I was under the impression that it is possible to get a medical waiver, especially when you are applying under the partnership category.

I don't think all is lost at all, talk to the immigration people about the waiver, and take it from there. Hang in there :)

Good luck,
Daniela

[wiki]

I'm a Kiwi and my partner got a medical waiver to be granted residency.

This was for a 50/50 chance of inheriting a fatal, debilitating disease from her dad.

This is the process we followed.

Submitted medical Feb 6, 2007

They replied said they wouldn't approve it because of the Huntington's risk and we could send more supporting evidence by March 20.

We then sent letter from specialist and they sent it to their medical assessor who said they'd turn it down because of the severity of the diseases - but a couple of the issues they mentioned were false.

So then we got the specialist to write back disputing those facts and I included a letter from myself pointing out that I a) wouldn't be going back to NZ without Sian so b) would they consider us for a medical waiver please.

We had to reply by April 26 but our case officer was on holiday and the letter had been given to another case officer with the same first name who was on holiday when our case officer got back, so we know they didn't look at the letters til mid-May.


We didn't hear anything for a month until a letter arrived granting Sian PR.

btw, i don't think they can ban you from going to NZ on a holiday if you have a return ticket. You should still be able to go in on your (I'm assuming) British passport.

As for the weight issues, I'd suggest you guys take a year and really focus on what you want to lose and why and then look at reapplying from scratch. If you can get your BMI down they should reconsider you - but it will probably mean paying all the fees again if they don't consider you for a medical waiver this time.

Best of luck.

[Gemini]

Thank you for your advice. Yes, you're right I can go on a holiday visa, the case officer who said I couldn't for whatever reason was wrong. I've now checked and provided I have a return ticket and a sum of money there will be no problem.

We're just going to fly out as planned with the addition of the return ticket and deal with it then.

[Belmont Babes]

I'm glad you've clarified your position. I take it that if you do lose the weight there will be no problem? Good luck with it all. I am a Personal Trainer and understand how difficult it can be to reduce BMI.

[Gemini]

Yes thank you, the only problem I have is the BMI, all other parts of the medical were absolutely fine. At least I'll have to stay motivated now.

[StevieD]

Good luck Gemini! Stick with it.

Steve

[leachio]

Our thoughts are with you, keep us posted wont you?? xx

[Myrkk]

big hugs. hope you get it all sorted out soon.

[Debbie P.]

Large BMI is a b****r, isn't it? I was reducing it, very slowly, before getting pregnant, but obviously have to wait until Beanie arrives now! (I was a bit surprised to get preggers so soon, as doc said the chance was low until I lost more weight :o ).

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. How about a personal trainer if you can afford it? I don't much fancy it, being a lazy so-and-so, but I bet they would get the weight off you quickly, if you had a deadline to meet. I might go down that route myself if I can't get the preggy weight down afterwards.

[Familyofmonkeys]

Are you able to get medical done while quite far advanced on pregnancy? I did.....your BMI means nothing then, and also as bloodwork is different when you are pregnant, they can't make too much of abnormalities there either. Plus you save money as you don't have to have chest x-ray!

If you get PR while pregnant, or at least submit ITA, it is really easy to get baby added later when born :)

[Debbie P.]

Yes, but we're not going until 1 year after baby is born, so I guess I'll have to lose weight like everyone else then! Unless PR lasts for quite a while? I haven't really investigated it.

[Croft]

Yes, but we're not going until 1 year after baby is born, so I guess I'll have to lose weight like everyone else then! Unless PR lasts for quite a while? I haven't really investigated it.

Once PR has been granted you have:


6 months to get it stamped in you passport - don't send in you original passports with the applciation, just certified copies, to ensure this.
Another 1 year to activate it (that can be just a visit)
Another 2 years before your Returning Residence Visa expires.


Total - 3.5 years.

Get you PR now if you can - you'll still be well within the initial 1.5 years.

[JoanneG]

Take a look at this - it might help.

http://www.therawfoodcoach.com/

I went on a seminar last Saturday, mainly to taste the food because I wasn't convinced it would be good - it was great! - I tried some of the recipes and by Wednesday had lost 2lbs and I haven't even taken it that seriously and certainly haven't had time to do any excercise.

Good Luck!

[holland]

Good Luck xx

[colindp]

Gemini, another member of the forum has the same problems and this is what I just posted in response to thier question and outlines my ownproblems with high BMI when we applied for visas......

you have exactly the same issues as I went through, I had a BMI of 39 and my case was referred to a consultant physician in NZ. I managed to get my BMI down to 36.5 when they gave me clearance, even though the tests showed that I was glucose intolerant and cloe to type 2 diabetes, strangely enough though my cholesterol was OK. I admit that I have continued my efforts and have since lost 4 stones got rid of my glucose intolerance my cholesterol is even better (although as I said it was not an issue anyway) and I aslo got my blood pressure back to normal...So for me it was a good wake up call!!!

All the best with your application.....Good luck.

[stu70]

Gemini, another member of the forum has the same problems and this is what I just posted in response to thier question and outlines my ownproblems with high BMI when we applied for visas......

you have exactly the same issues as I went through, I had a BMI of 39 and my case was referred to a consultant physician in NZ. I managed to get my BMI down to 36.5 when they gave me clearance, even though the tests showed that I was glucose intolerant and cloe to type 2 diabetes, strangely enough though my cholesterol was OK. I admit that I have continued my efforts and have since lost 4 stones got rid of my glucose intolerance my cholesterol is even better (although as I said it was not an issue anyway) and I aslo got my blood pressure back to normal...So for me it was a good wake up call!!!

All the best with your application.....Good luck.
What an uplifting post, cheers for that. I need to watch my borderline High BP that is caused by work related stresses (goes with the territory). Good luck to you all working on improving things.

[gpbenton]

We're just going to fly out as planned with the addition of the return ticket and deal with it then.

Put the return ticket on the wall where you will see it often - that should be incentive enough to keep you going.

;)

[Gemini]

Thank you all for your good wishes and advice. Colindp thank you so much for sharing your own experience. I've a lot to do but I've every intention of getting there. :)

Graham, good idea in case of the slightest wavering lol.

[Lupin]

I've been turned down because of a high BMI. I know weight is a huge problem but all my blood tests, x ray, cholestrol levels, blood pressure etc are fine. But my BMI is admittedly very high.

I have a NZ partner and we were looking forward to starting our new life with his family, now we can't even go.

I said I'd go on holiday visa - lose weight while there and reapply but they said no, once they know my health is not to an acceptable standard I can't even go on holiday. :wah

Does anyone know what if anything I could do?


Who on earth told you you'd be refused a holiday visa for high BMI?!?!? :uhoh

Have they tightened up on BMI since last year then because mine was over but all other tests fine and I was issued PR (also partnership application) within a few weeks?

Go for the medical waiver, annoying to have to do it and slows down your plans but for partnership applications medical waiver is given in almost all cases, as far as I understood it last year.

[Gemini]

The case officer at the time told me that I would not even be let into the country on holiday. I have since found that is not true. I'm assuming she said it because she didn't want me to get there and then reapply. She was also quite unhelpful throughout, initially when we applied she told me that she saw my BMI was high and may be a problem.

We have a letter in with my application from my partners fathers specialist that his health is deteriorating and the reason why we would like to get over to NZ asap, hence why I will do the holiday thing rather than spend any more time for now.

I think they may have tightened up on BMI, all I know is that it was an issue with NZIS from the start. The doctor who carried out my medical wrote, "although a high bmi, this lady is overall generally healthy and fit with no mobility problems".:rolleyes:

[mgbridges]

Hi Gemma,

If you are in the UK I can recommend the Lighterlife weight loss programme. Its specifically designed for people who have 3 stone or more to loose and it works FAST! My OH and I have both done it this year and between Feb & June we both lost over 5 stone. Its not easy or cheap (£66 per week) as its a very low calorie (500 per day), meal replacement programme but it works and it goes hand in hand with counselling which we both found essential. The fact that you have such big loses each week is a huge motivation as well (I lost 10lbs in my first week).

Anyway, if you want to loose weight quickly check it out www.lighterlife.co.uk (I think) it might just do the trick. It brought my BMI down from 45 (ish) to 36 (ish) and although I had to have extra blood tests done for my medical it didn't cause any problems.

Good luck and keep us posted!
Anneliese

[Gemini]

Thanks Annaliese, sounds interesting but I won't have time. Only got about ten weeks and such a lot to do with packing, working notice etc. Probably won't have time to eat much anyway ;) I will succeed, this is too important for me not to. Hopefully I'll be back to say all is well.

BTW, well done with your weight loss, I only wish I'd knuckled down much earlier.

[Gemini]

Just an update :D I did get a medical waiver, phew I am so so relieved (and sticking to my diet ;) )

We're arriving in Auckland 27th September :raebanana

[The Hodges]

Hey, congratulations.

Well done on sticking to it. See you soon, hopefully.

[colindp]

Great News...all the very best....:raebanana

[holland]

Fantastic News!!

J x

[red]

Great news Gemini,

I'm so glad for you, best of luck with the move :nice1

[sillyskuld]

If you don’t mind me asking, what was your BMI?

Mine is 34, but I wasn’t (before reading your post) worried about it since I have very good blood pressure and glucose, and my cholesterol is only a couple points above the optimal range (i.e., high, but way below needing medication to manage it). Now I’m worried!

Meep!

[colindp]

You should be fine if you are under the magic number of 35, At the time of our application mine was 39 but I was also glucose intollerant and had high blood pressure. I got it down to 36 and a consultant in NZ confrmed that I could receive the all clear...currently I am around the 30 mark and thankfully still going down!!!