Australian visa Health Requirements - Did you know?

[Sheelagh Blanckenberg]

Did you know....

• the Australian immigration system has very strict health requirements for all people applying for permanent residence, designed to minimise costs to Australia’s health care and welfare system?

• people are regularly excluded from migrating to Australia on a wide variety of health grounds?

• if any one family member fails the health requirement all family members will be refused the visa (unless the visa being applied for is one which has access to a health waiver)?

• no condition, with the exception of tuberculosis, automatically precludes the grant of a visa?

• all other conditions are investigated individually for estimated costs and resource use impact on the Australian community regardless of whether the visa applicant accesses these services or not once in Australia?

• where potential health costs for a condition are determined to reach 50% or more of the average per capita health care and community services cost for an Australian over a five-year period, these costs are considered significant and likely to result in visa refusal?

• the current significant cost threshold is around A$21,000? The calculation of this figure incorporates data on health and welfare costs plus a 20% loading to take into account rapid increases in average expenditure on health and community services.

• costs taken into account include the applicant's likely need for medical, pharmaceutical and community services, including assisted accommodation, home and community care, special education and income support such as Special Benefit, Disability Support Pension and Carer's Pension, and that these costs can amount to more than $2 million for one person?

• Resource use impact refers to facilities in high demand, where waiting lists are common, or where the consequences of failure to obtain treatment may seriously disadvantage a person by causing premature death, unnecessary pain or suffering or loss of quality of life. Examples of diseases or conditions which will fall within this group are ones which require:
  • organ transplant
  • recurrent use of blood or blood products
  • radiotherapy
  • dialysis
  • interferon treatment
  • nursing home or residential care, or
  • treatment for active hepatitis

That despite the above all is not lost if you or a family member have a health condition initially expected to impose significant health costs to the Australian community and thus prevent you from obtaining a visa? Speak with a professional advisor who has experience in this area as many migrants have been successful in obtaining their visa despite initial gloomy prospects.

[Robert K Chelliah]

Thank you Sheelagh for the detailed pointers. Are they found in PAM or other guidelines?


Robert K Chelliah
rkc@austmigration.com.sg

[PIO3]

I have a serious liver complaint and must admit was on pins whilst waiting for my medicals to be processed. Thankfully after being sent for further investigation ( a panel specialist) i was deemed O.K and our visa's were granted.
So if you are thinking of applying and do have a medical condition, try not to worry too much(easy for me to say, i know) the answer isn't always NO!

[Sheelagh Blanckenberg]

Good to hear you came through PIO3..

I agree with your comment that one must never give up hope.

The mistake many people make is to try and play down a medical condition (I guess in the hope that a case officer will 'overlook it'?). Whatever the reason though it is not a wise move.

My advice to anyone is that if you or one of your family members has a health condition you must be proactive about it and work on a strategy before you have your first medical.

You need to lead from the front and get the answers and reports in a format that reflect the condition in the best light. Do not leave it to chance or try to get a case officer feeling sorry and on side. They do feel sorry let me tell you, having worked as an assessing officer, and without exception all feel terrible when they have to refuse an applicant, but they have no choice when making a decision under the law.

It is up to you as the applicant to put sufficient evidence/paper work/research under the nose of the Medical Officer of the Commonwealth that they cannot refuse you!

[hellsbells]

Regards to having Chronic fatique syndrome, does anyone know how this is viewed in regards to having a medical for migration. Mild CFS, able to work, activities of daily living not a poblem. Is CFS or M.E as is known also as, likely to have significant costs to the community and healthcare sysem. Will not need access to any benefits, have enough funds to live on, not the main applicant applying for 176 visa. Main appcant is a nurse and healthy. Understand if 1 fails, all fails. Any info would be great.Thank you,
H

[Sheelagh Blanckenberg]

Hi hellsbells

Welcome to the migration help forum. I am sorry your posting seems to have been overlooked!

I have never personally dealt with an ME case for migration purposes but would just state that chronic fatigue, like any health condition, will be looked at from the angle of any likely burden that the condition may impose on the people of Australia (either significant cost or access to community services). It will also depend on whether you have a mild or severe form of the condition. Discuss this with the panel doctor when you have your medical. They will be able to guide you on what the current mindset of the Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC) is. My experience with other medical conditions leads me to think you are unlikely to have a major problem but you need to be proactive in this respect and be mindful you may need to get specialist(s) report(s) outlining the condition, its progress and likely (non)impact on Australia society at large i.e the financial costs as well as any usage of community services.

Hope this helps and good luck with it all.