[Tentun]

Hi everyone

I hope the title of this message didn't scare anyone. I know lots of people have queried this on recent posts.

I was on the phone to a relative today who suggested that there was a new rule about the BMI/waist measurement for potential immigrants. Does anyone know if this is fact or just the 'via the grape vine' hearsay that usually happens between relatives in our family.

Just interested to know because while we are not obese, we, like a lot of people, are carrying a few extra pounds and this would seriously be depressing if we were declined based on this alone. Ok - on with the diet.

Thanks everyone

[BkyMonster]

New rule? Do you have any details on what it supposedly was?
The current guideline is a BMI of under 35 and a waist of 102cm for men 88 for women. If you have a BMI of over that you can expect extra tests on the medical.
If everything else is good and you are denied for health reasons due to a high BMI you can apply for a medical wavier (though there is no guarantee on that of course).

[Tentun]

Hi there

Yeah, that's what I thought. I just got my knickers in a twist this morning as I feared there was some kind of hard and fast rule about being overweight.

[snowy747]

Do the BMI rules apply to everybody, ie if we applied based on my partner's skills could they still decline me because of my BMI if it was over 35, despite me not being the main applicant?

Ali

[dilanium]

you're not automatically declined if your BMI is over 35- you just need extra tests. They may decline you after those tests, but you never know.

And yes, it applies to everyone trying to come into NZ regardless if they are the primary applicant or not.

[RamblingPaddies]

just a note to add

the rule from NZIS states that if BMI is greater than 35 and/or waist is over 102cm for men, then the extra tests have to be done.

my BMI was fine 33.5 but waist line was 106cm - no concessions for a stocky prop forward then despite the OK BMI - extra tests were done anyway

48 days to go :exit

[LesleyS]

[QUOTE=BkyMonster;167542]New rule? Do you have any details on what it supposedly was?
The current guideline is a BMI of under 35 and a waist of 102cm for men 88 for women. If you have a BMI of over that you can expect extra tests on the medical.
/QUOTE]

My BMI was 29 and my waist exactly 88cm, I wouldn't consider myself particularly obese, just a regular size 14 lady. So it's back again today for further tests ( and futher costs! ) :wah

I'll let you know the outcome

[IanW99]

New rule? Do you have any details on what it supposedly was?
The current guideline is a BMI of under 35 and a waist of 102cm for men 88 for women. If you have a BMI of over that you can expect extra tests on the medical.
If everything else is good and you are denied for health reasons due to a high BMI you can apply for a medical wavier (though there is no guarantee on that of course).

Seeing as this is a world wide public forum, thought I should just point out that the measurements for waist are actually a little bit more complicated.

From the Medical Examiners Handbook

Measure the waist circumference of all applicants 20 years of age and over where the BMI is ≤35. With a tape
measure, comfortably measure the shortest circumference that is below the rib cage and above the umbilicus.
The Medical Examiner is to request fasting glucose and fasting lipids when the waist circumference in applicants
20 years or over is greater than the following limits:
> men ≥ 102cm, except Asian / Indian men ≥ 90cm
> women ≥ 88cm, except Asian / Indian women ≥ 80cm.

Ian

[dilanium]

huh, I wonder why it's different for asian/indian people...

[IanW99]

huh, I wonder why it's different for asian/indian people...

It is to do with metabolic syndome, see The IDF Consensus Worldwide Definition of the Metabolic Syndrome (http://www.idf.org/webdata/docs/IDF_Meta_def_final.pdf) which details the waist sizes of concern.

Ian

[thekiwibarkers]

Is this something which is checked when you arrive at the airport???!!!...

Just wondering as I have been granted my PR Visa and arrive into NZ in March but I may have put on a couple of pound over Xmas and my medical test when done earlier in the year set me pretty close to the limits!!!!......HELP!!!!!...

[Mickstim]

Is this something which is checked when you arrive at the airport???!!!...

Just wondering as I have been granted my PR Visa and arrive into NZ in March but I may have put on a couple of pound over Xmas and my medical test when done earlier in the year set me pretty close to the limits!!!!......HELP!!!!!...

Oh my goodness, can you imagine getting weighed on arrival? I'd never step off the plane! No, don't worry - once you have passed the medical you can get as fat as you like!

B x

[thekiwibarkers]

Ha Ha!!

...It could be like professional boxing with a weigh in wearing nothing but a small pair of underpants while they post your weight on a giant screen for all the other passengers to see!!...

Thank you for the reassurance B, I'll get back to my pizza and beer now! ;0)

[catt]

i know my bmi is over the limit and so is my waist and therefore can expect the extra tests. If i turn up for the medical and have fasted will they do the extra tests then an there or will i have to make another appointment...............anyone any idea? :exit

[BkyMonster]

I'd imagine it depends on the doctor, but probably if you have fasted they can just take your blood then and there.

[IanW99]

i know my bmi is over the limit and so is my waist and therefore can expect the extra tests. If i turn up for the medical and have fasted will they do the extra tests then an there or will i have to make another appointment...............anyone any idea? :exit

Agree with Becky, we had our blood tests a couple of days after the medical so it was easy just to be told to fast for the tests.

It may be a good idea to fast on the day anyway just in case they need to do the extra tests as it would save you having to go back later for them.

One point to note, it is always possible that you will need the extra tests even if your BMI and waist measurements are OK so if going back for the blood tests is a problem, then I would recommend fasting regardless (just ensure that the testing is done early in the day).

Ian

[catt]

thanks for the advice .......... will fast and try to get an early in the day appointment........makes sense :cheers

[Buksie]

Hi all

Is there any one who had succesful application with an extremely high BMI? My OH had all the other test done and there are absoutely nothing else wrong with him. All the blood, xrays urine are all clear.

We submitted application for Talent Visa as he has a wonderful job offer with excellent salary and private medical aid. What can we expect from the emmigration agents?

As far as I know we can not apply for medical waive on a talent visa?

[dusk]

I know at least one person on the forum was given 3 months to go away and reduce their BMI buy going on a diet, that's a possibility, if your potential employer would be willing to hold the position?

[Destiny]

We are all off to have our medicals next week. Can anyone tell me how long you have to fast for before these extra blood tests. This is just in case one of us needs the test. We are quite short on time to get the medical results cleared so getting the extra blood tests (if required) on the same day would save us valuable time. When they say fast does this mean both drink and food and for how long before the test.

If anyone has had this test done perhaps they can let me know what it involves.

Thanks

Destiny

[Kiwi-In-Texas]

Fasting Blood Tests:

My husband had nothing to eat after 10pm the night before the tests and just drank water. He decided to have the fasting blood tests done incase they were needed...Saved him having to go through more blood tests.
His blood tests were done at around 10am.


Hope this helps.

Suzanne.

[dilanium]

Don't drink alcohol for about a week before the fasting blood tests, and nothing other than water for at least 12 hours prior to the test.

[Lambuel+Ruby]

The waist measurement thing is SCARY!

We aren't very overweight at all and both OH and I are right on the cusp.

Is it safe to assume that if we're otherwise healthy and the "additional tests" go well, that there won't be an issue?

Have many people who has taken the extra tests faired alright? :(

[kags1694]

Hi all

Is there any one who had succesful application with an extremely high BMI? My OH had all the other test done and there are absoutely nothing else wrong with him. All the blood, xrays urine are all clear.

We submitted application for Talent Visa as he has a wonderful job offer with excellent salary and private medical aid. What can we expect from the emmigration agents?

As far as I know we can not apply for medical waive on a talent visa?

Hope you dont mind me asking, I have the same problem as your oh, how are you getting on.

Regards
Karen

[Buksie]

Hi Karen

We have submitted application for Work to residence last week. They have alread let us know that the application have been referred to London. We then decided to also apply for PR.

We have only submitted our EOI last week. Hoping that we get selected tomorrow the 23rd. Then we will have to apply for medical waiver.

It is so unfair. I can understand that they can not allow people to be a burden on their health care, but my OH is never sick and we will have private medical aid through hi new employer and are even to put a lumpsum in trust for future expenses.

We really just want to go now...

Have you heard anything yet?

Rita

[kags1694]

Hi Karen

We have submitted application for Work to residence last week. They have alread let us know that the application have been referred to London. We then decided to also apply for PR.

We have only submitted our EOI last week. Hoping that we get selected tomorrow the 23rd. Then we will have to apply for medical waiver.

It is so unfair. I can understand that they can not allow people to be a burden on their health care, but my OH is never sick and we will have private medical aid through hi new employer and are even to put a lumpsum in trust for future expenses.

We really just want to go now...

Have you heard anything yet?

Rita

Hi,
How do you apply for a medical waiver?

Regards
Karen

[baz]

Hi,
How do you apply for a medical waiver?

Regards
Karen

I would like to know this as well. Apart from being a large expense, it is just one more thing in the way :wah

[Buksie]

I found a very interesting link to a article on medicals on another thread. (if only I knew how to add a link, I could post it) The web adress is :http://www.emigrate2.co.uk/visas_and_advice_detail-91.htm

It is about the medical decisions made on BMI, and that it should not just be accepted. I for one will defintely obtain some legal advise if they make a negative decision.

I really think that it is outrageous that someone can denied based on weight, if they have not have weight related problems.
My OH has a very BIG bodyframe, and he would look totaly out of proportion if he were to loose 50kg just to have an acceptable BMI.
Do they not know of all the problems that can be caused by the crash diets? I am definetly not advising him on that. He is curently on a healthy diet with a registered doctor, but they have also advised him rather to stick to this diet, than to switch to a crash diet.
Will have to wait for New Zealand to make a decision now, before we do anything else.
Rita