| This is something that can cause a huge amount of | | | | - Defer the application (this gives you up to 3 months |
| trauma to applicants trying to emigrate to New | | | | (or 6 months in the case of Pulmonary Tuberculosis) |
| Zealand, whichever route they take to get here. I'm | | | | to treat the condition and prove you have improved |
| guessing that it affects more parent sponsorship | | | | your health.) |
| applications because generally the applicants are older. | | | | If the Medical assessor says they will not give you a |
| | | | favorable opinion - they need to specify why that is. |
| So what is the deal? | | | | There are cases that you can read at the Residence |
| Your parents have to be reasonably healthy in order | | | | Review Board where the Medical Assessor failed to |
| to emigrate to New Zealand. Immigration New | | | | do this - and it can be enough to overturn their |
| Zealand (INZ) has what is called an "acceptable | | | | decisions. If the Medical Assessors ask for further |
| standard of health" that they need to have. | | | | information - they should be specific. Again, the |
| When your parents have their original medicals done, | | | | Residence review board has overturned immigration |
| the panel doctor will record any issues or problems, | | | | decisions on the basis of "The exceedingly brief |
| and has to tick one of two boxes: | | | | comments provided by the Medical Assessor in the |
| - No abnormal or significant findings | | | | Report" |
| - Abnormal or significant findings. | | | | If you are asked for more information - you can |
| If the second box is ticked - you will almost certainly | | | | actually refuse to provide it if you wish. You need to |
| have the medicals referred to a Medical Assessor | | | | let INZ know in writing. This can be useful if like us, |
| (MA). It is worth noting however that, despite what | | | | you get the run-around for over a year! We also |
| many people believe, having a tick on the "No | | | | found though, that while INZ staff were happy to |
| abnormal or significant findings" box does not mean | | | | repeat over and over that we had the right to do |
| you have "passed the medical" and that it won't be | | | | this - they didn't want to accept it when we actually |
| referred to a medical assessor. It was pointed out to | | | | did refuse to get them more information. |
| us rather snottily that "Case Officers look at the | | | | If the Medical assessor refuses to give an opinion on |
| whole medical certificate in deciding whether to refer | | | | your health, then INZ will send the information to |
| a medical: we don't just read the last page." | | | | another Medical assessor for a second opinion. If the |
| The medical form says, "A significant finding is one | | | | Medical assessor says your health is not acceptable - |
| that should be reviewed by the Immigration New | | | | you have the right to ask for a second opinion as |
| Zealand Medical Assessor. Note this is not an | | | | well. |
| assessment of whether or not the applicant has an | | | | A second opinion is final, so if that also comes up as |
| acceptable standard of health in relation to the | | | | "unacceptable"- your only choice is to then apply for |
| Immigration New Zealand standard." (My emphasis) | | | | a Medical Waiver. |
| When a Medical assessor reviews the file they have | | | | It is well worth noting that the burden of proof in |
| a number of choices about what to do. They get a 5 | | | | this is squarely on the Medical Assessor to show that |
| page document to fill out and send back to the case | | | | you have an unacceptable standard of health if INZ |
| officer. The medical assessors can either: | | | | want to turn you down. If they cannot prove that, |
| - Ask for further tests and information (they have a | | | | then you are deemed to actually meet the standard |
| whole host of boxes to tick to specify which ones, | | | | required. Again, reading the Residence Review Board |
| and plenty of room to make comments). | | | | cases shows quite clearly that unless INZ shows |
| - Give a favourable opinion (in which case you are | | | | specifically that you do not meet the standard of |
| home and dry) | | | | health required, a decision not to grant residency can |
| - Give an adverse opinion (they think your health is | | | | be overturned. |
| unacceptable) | | | | |