Mental Health Issues

[slyth_sub]

I am seriously considering moving to Australia. Here in the United States, I am on permanent disability due to manic-depression. Would this condition prevent me from getting a visa? If I do get in, will I be able to receive healthcare? I do not have any sort of criminal record or history of substance abuse. My doctor and counsellor can attest to the fact that I am not a violent person. Are there any mental illnesses that can prevent someone from getting a visa?

[Sheelagh Blanckenberg]

Hi slyth_sub

No health condition, with the exception of tuberculosis, automatically precludes the issue of a visa. Apart from tuberculosis, every condition identified in the course of the examinations, or through the questions you are asked in your application, will be individually considered for possible impact on the Australian community, including the costs of treatment or support that would be attracted by that condition. Visa officers are not authorised to advise on medical conditions: the opinion on whether a condition means an applicant does or does not meet the criteria comes from the Medical Officer of the Commonwealth.

So, there is no mental illness which will automatically lead to visa refusal.

Mental health conditions can be at times particularly difficult if not outright impossible for doctors to identify from just a physical examination. For this reason the form required to be completed as part of the medical examination asks for disclosure of any known mental health condition.

When there is a recent history or current clinical evidence of:
• schizophrenia
• bipolar or depressive affective psychosis
• personality disorder
• paranoid disorder
• autism
• chronic alcohol abuse
• drug dependence or substance abuse
• eating disorders
• chronic neurosis (for example, chronic anxiety or depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, phobias)

the doctor undertaking the examination will be required to refer you to a specialist for psychiatric assessment and determination of prognosis, treatment required, work history, ability to undertake activities of daily living, social history etc.

Once received this information will be forwarded to the Medical Officer of the Commonwealth to make a decision. The MOC will use the clinical findings and specialist report(s) to determine whether the condition you present will:

• be a threat to public health in Australia;
• be a danger to the Australian community;
• require health care or community services, the provision of which will either result in significant cost to the Australian community or prejudice the access of an Australian to the relevant health care or community service.

Based on this determination a decision will be made to either approve or fail the medical.

The critical issue for success is ensuring you obtain detailed and high quality reports about your conditon and which specifically address the legislative issues involved.

I would strongly recommend you obtain professional advice from a registered migration agent who has wide experience in dealing with medical issues.

I hope this helps.