[baboonworld]

Hi

Just wondered if anyone here has experience of older / retired people trying for PR. My in-laws are about to go for their medicals and of course, in their 60's, they have their share of medical problems. MIL has thyroid, blood pressure probs and FIL has diabetes (controlled with tablets). He is also overweight.

We were told that normal medical issues like these shouldnt stop them from getting PR - but things seem to be getting tighter and tighter.

Obviously they are planning not to work or only work part-time, and they know they will have to pay for meds - but does anyone know what the rules say for their type of situation.

thanx!

[YouMeAndThree]

I have no idea, but was chatting with an old couple in the Warehouse on Friday - they came out 14 months ago from the UK, he just turned 80 this week. Their only daughter emigrated 14 years ago and they've come to join her. Didn't think to ask how they managed it at the time...........if I bump into them again I'll ask :D

Best of luck.

Lx

[baboonworld]

yes please!

[JandM]

You could contact Mickstim, who came out on parent sponsorship. And Moorf's parents are shortly making the move, after a long saga with medicals being referred.

The rules on medicals are basically the same for everybody - that they shouldn't be going to cost the state a lot over the next four years. The NZIS Manual gives details of certain conditions that are an absolute no-no, but apart from those, 'ordinary' existing things which are demonstrably under control with regular medication aren't a bar. If your f-i-l is very much overweight, they may push for him to try to lose some, and defer acceptance to see if he does - this is on the same grounds, that obesity links to expensive other conditions NZ would have to pay for.

[Moorf]

Hi,

As JandM mentioned, I have sponsored my parents and they arrive in the next month or so (when house completion goes through, basically).

I ran a thread on it and the medical saga starts around page 17! http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=8913&highlight=sponsoring+parents&page=17

Basically, Dad had problems with medical (previous heart problems) and had to jump through hoops with specialist reports etc but eventually got through.

Managed conditions are fine, you'll be asked details about history and current meds etc - there's a list on the NZIS website of conditions they are likely to delve further into but they're mostly serious complaints etc.

Weight is something they are hot on - for all ages. If you can get down some weight before the medical that would help - I believe they work on BMI.

If you've got any questions, just shout :nice1 My parents put in their sponsorship application last March and it was end of September by the time they were given approval.

Moorf

[baboonworld]

his weight wasnt helped by "bad knees" - but he has just had them done and so is getting more exercise - hopefully that might help his case???

[JandM]

How are his BMI and waist measurement? These are the things which trigger the demand for further tests.

[baboonworld]

his bmi will be over 40 - his waist measurement - well I'd hate to guess really - he is a short tubby guy. he already has diabetes so further tests for possible diabetes are probably pointless - are they that pedantic even when someone is in their 60's?

[JandM]

Yes.

This is a matter of hard economics. As I said before, the rules are the same for everybody, because they're designed to discover whether the person is, on balance, likely to cost the NZ health service $25,000 or more over the next four years. A person of 60 or over will cost money for treatment, just as much as anybody else. Also, as they'd be coming in on sponsorship, not as a skilled migrant new member of the work-force, they won't be contributing as much to NZ society.

[baboonworld]

it is a shame that you cant opt to pay for your own meds - or pay some kind of private health scheme so that it isnt costing NZ as such. they will be bringing their pensions with them and 100K+ pounds - you'd think that would be of interest to NZ.

[baboonworld]

does anyone know a website that tells you how much medications really cost NZ? then i could work out how much medication my in-laws need $$$ wise.

ta

[JandM]

As far as I'm aware, you CAN pay for your own medication in NZ - for instance, if you have a condition that can be better treated by something that isn't funded by the NZ health service - but that doesn't get anyone off the necessity for passing this medical.

Honestly, there are lots of us, us included, that wish certain parts of the immigration rules didn't stop us doing what we want in various ways. I can understand your wish to go in to bat for your f-i-l, but you truly aren't going to get anywhere fighting the NZ government's system. You'd do better encouraging f-i-l to get a bit fitter, as it may well help if he shows a bit of an improvement.

[BkyMonster]

There was a National proposed plan to allow a retirement visa for self sufficient migrants, but haven't heard hide nor hair of that since the initial press release.
http://www.prlog.org/10122465-nationals-propose-major-change-to-new-zealand-immigration-policy.html

[baboonworld]

thanks for that link - it lead me off in a whole other direction, as the web tends to do.

[Trendynana]

Hi

My husband and I had our medicals in February 2009 (Parent Visa application). We are both in our 60's. The previous year I joined Weightwatchers and lost 3 stone to get my BMI under 30. I think the BMI should be 35 or under - and they are really strict with this. They will probably have to loose weight if it is over 40. My hubby also lost nearly 2 stone - we knew we were eventually going to apply like your family is - so what better incentive for them to start exercising/swimming/eating sensibly. To be able to joint their family in New Zealand is a great reason to keep at it.

When I had my medical my waist measurement was 1cm too big for their guidelines and the Doctor didn't even pull the tape measure tight!! I had to have an extra blood test. I was very anxious and my blood pressure shot up - it is normally fine so Doc took in 6 times. 3 sitting up and 3 at rest on the examination couch. When it finally calmed down. Phew!!! Fortunately I had given him my BP readings from my Practice Nurse over the last 3 years on a printout from my doctor's surgery and they had been normal. I am on Blood pressure tablets.

The thing is for them to start now - altering their lifestyle. Swimming is one of the best exercises they can do. Especially if they have had an operation. If they really, really want to join you I am sure they will do it. Starting from now :bluebanana Good luck with your plans and theirs'. :nice1

[baboonworld]

Thanks Trendynana. They are waiting for their UK Police checks and then they are going to submit. He has already started on a diet so that should help! On the med notes it says for him to go back and be rechecked in 3 mths. Does anyone know if he then sends that on even if they dont have a case officer at that time?

[Trendynana]

You have to submit all the information at the same time - Police Checks results, Medicals that have been done, sponsorship form and all the other things they ask for.

If you mean on the medical report from the doctor that did the medical - I did not read my report as the envelope was stamped across the opening and I assumed you could not read what the doctor had put? However, if he has told him verbally re his weight - then start now because probably the Visa/Case Officer will ask for this evidence or it will be referred to the Medical Assessor and they will ask for it.

So remember the date when he had his medical and book an appointment with his GP 3 months from that date to get whatever they wanted tested. Then ask the GP to do a report on headed notepaper of the outcome of his visit and his prognosis. There may be a small charge for this - I paid £10 for a letter from my GP.

I would then wait and see what happens but you at least have the letter if/when they ask for it. Or you could just send it in even though they have not asked for it yet and they will, I assume put it with his application.

[IanW99]

...
If you mean on the medical report from the doctor that did the medical - I did not read my report as the envelope was stamped across the opening and I assumed you could not read what the doctor had put?
...


Just to note that whilst the doctor does normally seal the medicals, there is no requirement from NZIS for the medicals to be sealed. You paid for them, they are yours, so if you want to open and read them, then go ahead.

(IMO) It's actually worth opening them to check that they have been filled in correctly.

Ian

[Trendynana]

Its strange that the doctors stamp was stamped about 6 times across the envelope where it is sealed - why did they do that? I just assumed that we were not supposed to open them. Lets hope that he has filled them in correctly otherwise there will be a delay!!

Maybe you cannot open them if you are emigrating to Australia - I am sure there is a country in the back of my mind that you cannot open the medical reports. In someways I would rather not read what has been written about us - otherwise I would probably dwell on it for a further two years waiting to be allocated a Visa Officer!! (Parent visa - long wait)!!

[IanW99]

...
Maybe you cannot open them if you are emigrating to Australia - I am sure there is a country in the back of my mind that you cannot open the medical reports. In someways I would rather not read what has been written about us - otherwise I would probably dwell on it for a further two years waiting to be allocated a Visa Officer!! (Parent visa - long wait)!!

You are correct, for Australia the medicals must be sealed.

Ian

[baboonworld]

I dont know if they were stamped or not - since they are in UK and me in NZ. There were comments on them, eg. Blood Pressure then a note saying that it is controlled, etc, but next to the note about weight and waist size, it said that he should seek advice about lifestyle change and retest in 3mths. I didnt realise there would be a long wait. Have you been officially told that they wont even get to your application for 2 years? When we applied for my hubby we were told they were running at about 6mths before anyone was hearing - but then got approval in less than a month.

[Trendynana]

It depends what visa you are applying for. Parent Visa is the one that I and my husband are applying for. Approximately 2 weeks after we had handed our application in to the London branch we got a letter from them saying that it could be up to 2 years before they look at our application and then a further 4 to 6 months before it is processsed.

It also says that from February 2009 the system has changed as to how they process Parent Visas. They are now going to look at them in strict date application order regardless of where you hand it in in the world.

Obviously it may not be 2 years before they open our application but it could be. I know other people who have also got the same letter as us. So it does give you a while to get your health in order and a bit fitter, especially if the doctor that did your medical has commented on this - because I think it will be picked up by the Medical Officer if it is referred by the Visa Officer and why delay the action plan.

If you go in on a spouse visa the application is far quicker I think.

It is a great shame that Parent Visas rules have changed - but on the other hand I suppose it is fairer for everyone who is waiting, around the world. It is just a pity that more Visa Officers cannot look at our applications a bit quicker as everyone is waiting for something to happen and it seems a long way off, especially as we have already been waiting 3 years to hand in our sponsorship forms!!! :uhoh

[baboonworld]

especially as we have already been waiting 3 years to hand in our sponsorship forms!!! :uhoh

exactly right!

[baboonworld]

well they sent off their forms - and got a letter back less than a week later .... the form changed in May! So they quickly completed it and sent it back. Funny thing was NZIS sent them a receipt for the fees with their new form - so they are pretty quick to make sure they take the money even without the appropriate paperwork!

they are hoping to come over for xmas for three months - so at least they have a client number/applicant number and will be able to get their passports back for then.

trendynana - you heard anything? i assume you got a letter of receipt by now!?

[Trendynana]

Hi Baboonworld

No we have not heard anything yet - we got a receipt right away as we handed in our application in person to the London branch in March 2009. It was briefly checked over while we sat there and we had colour photocopied our passport pages and we asked if we could have our passports back there and then and after the Visa Officer checked our passports were correct with the photocopy pages - she handed our passports back to us.

Obviously when (notice I am being positive here) we get our residency visas - we will need to send our passports back to London for the visas to be put in the passports.

I do know of a couple that sent in their application for a Parent Visa in August 2008 and they have not heard a peep yet - and that will be a year up next month - they are the furthest back couple that I have heard of - unless there is someone else out there that is still waiting for their Parent Visa that can beat August 2008?

We may visit our children in the New Year if we have heard nothing ourselves - as we have not seen our new grandson yet.

Keep in touch.

[baboonworld]

my inlaws came over in March (we went to UK for 3wks and they travelle back with us) and they met our youngest (now 1) daughter then - so can completely sympathise.

mose can apply for a visa without having to wait 3 yrs first so it is sad that parents have to wait 3yrs then wait another 2.

sounds like u have done everything you can to get ready for this - so i wish you so much luck in getting your blue stickers! keep me posted!

[baboonworld]

they have received their letter to say they are in the queue, another 23 mths 1 wk and it should all be over - assuming all other paperwork/medicals are okay.

[JanetVin]

Parents have been declined at the first medical Assessors statement - have to prepare to battle now....

[baboonworld]

Good luck JanetVin - I hope everything goes thru eventually - it might be a hard battle but definately one worth fighting!