peter bull

Hi Rick how's mandurah treating you we eventually settled in shoulwater just up the road but down that neck of the wood all the time oh n how's the medication going I've still not managed to see a specialist yet I'm still waiting n I've been here 12 months on the first of July :-)

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Hi all

We have had our visa granted today with no further requests we sent 2x letters from specialist stating my condition psoratic arthritis, the medication i was on methotrexate injections, and that i had early signs of spondilitis in my spine also i had a shoulder injury which i had been refered for a scan and they didnt even request the results from that so all in all apart from the wait it was prity plain sailing and nothing to worry about:biggrin:

Good Luck everyone

Pete

Hey Pete, We had our medicals in Jan and have not heard anything. I would think if they were referred we would have heard by now??What do you think? We are getting our PR visa through MA (AMA) arranged by employer. They have not contacted us so I presume no CO yet.

Hi Landrover7

Im not sure on the refered thing as we didnt do our medicals until the case officer requested us to, did them 5 weeks ago and not heard a thing, wasnt sure with you having done your medicals if you was just waiting on a reply from the MOC but best of luck :wink:

Pete

Not a word here still as frustrating as ever! Love to here good news that some 187 are being granted

Hi Landrover7

Did you mention you thought that your medicals may have been refered or do you not have CO yet :biggrin:

Pete

 

Hi Pete,

 

When taking the medical. Did they specifically ask for a letter from your specialist or were you being pro-active? Trying to get hold of my specialist is like trying to speak to the queen.

 

Thanks

 

Rick

Hi Rick

My MA told me to ask for a letter from my specialist and his receptionist was a little reluctant to pass the message on and said he is a very buisy person and its is at his own descression, but he did it and when i went back in february i thanked him for doing it. When i went for medicals the letter was more than 6 months old so he phoned the specialists receptionist and asked for a more upto date prognosis (he sends a letter to my GP after each visit) which they emailed while i was having the medicals done. I would go as prepared as possible to save you time in the long run.:biggrin:

Pete

Hi Pete,

 

Any news back regarding your medical yet? Hope it is good news for you.

 

Rick

Hi Rick

No pal not heard a dicky bird 4 weeks today fingers crossed, i thought waiting for a case officer and doing the rest of it was hard but this part is worse knowing that after 12 months of hard work and a lot of cash it could all end in tears, but hey eather way i would have still wanted to give it ago just to know that we tried :biggrin:

ill keep you posted

Pete

Hi Rick/Pete/Jules

 

thanks for all your messages wondering if you can point me in the right direction. My partner has been recently diagnosed with AS as well she is currently not on humira and is coping well without for the moment, she takes some meds like Meloxican, that she pays for. She is uniquely flexible and has some pain that comes and goes (she is 34), apart from that she is fit as a fiddle. My work has agreed to put me through PR (ENS) from my 457 on a transition and my partner will be on as mine as "de facto". Obvioulsy we are worried about getting her accepted through the medical (fingers are crossed).

 

- Would she stand a chance based on what i have said and your experiences?

 

- Also when do we bring it up, in the Health Character part in the Application (47ES Form) or when we have a medical?

 

- lastly does the desicion effect my application (as she could continue on her 457) we have been togther for 3+ years?

 

thanks for any help

 

Tchristie212

Hi

Ill let you know if i pass the medical:biggrin:

Pete

Hi Jules

When I first started getting aches and paines I went to see my GP he kept fobbing me of and even told me to buy some tablets from holland and barret even though my fingers and ankle were obviously swoled to the point where i couldnt bend them. So after 3 visits to the GP and explaining that i was struggling to do my job he eventually refered me. That was october and i got an appointment for august the following year 10 months :-( I literally hobbled through the door and after an examination he put me on some anti inflamitry tablets and to come back in 6 months with not having more than 3 swolen jont that was all he could do so on the second visit he put me on methotrexate tablets to go back in 6 months then as that didn't seem to be doing the trick he put me on the same dose but in the form of injection which does seem to have taken the swelling down but my joint are still sore so I think the damage could have already been done due to the 2 year wait, as you have already been diagnosed you may have a much smoother ride things are very tight in the NHS at the moment so make sure you play on it very much so or they may just start you back fom the bottom.

Good Luck

Pete

Hi Pete,

 

Thanks for sharing the info. You are right, topics on this subject are hard to come by. Can you kindly detail what the medical entails and what happens? My specialist is very supportive and understanding of the situation and would give me a good report I am sure but i want to know if me switching to a cheaper drug alternative like methotrexate, or coming off Humira will benefit me. What medication notes do they take during medical? Do they see what you have been on previously?

 

Many thanks

 

Rick[/quote

 

Hi Rick

 

The medical is quite basic really, first of its height, weight and basic eye test, as I told him I'd lost nearly a stone since last visiting my specialist he did coment on me keeping it up as weight plays a big bearing on my condition but don't think he was to concurned with me I'm only slightly over weight. Then it was down to underwear and checks you all over for skin condition make sure you can move freely by moving you from left to right touch you toes, listens to you chest checks for hernias then wee sample, blood tests & x rays regarding past conditions then I had a letter from my specialist but it was more than 6 months old so he requested a more up to date copy which he acquired by phoing the hospital whilst I was there so in my case they didn't look at any past history so if your specialist gives you an up to date letter stating your current medication then as long as that medication seems to be Woking for you then all should be ok. This was just my experiance so could be different for your self, if you can show your fit enough to do your job for the foreseeable future and the meds won't cost the earth you should be ok, fingers crossed for us both and anyone else out there trying to get past the last hurdle

 

Good Luck

 

Pete

Hi Pete,

 

I believe it is $35,000 over a 5 yr period of which i think humira is more expensive than this, however you are not currently on this right? It is your choice to go on anti tnf and if you show early syptoms, then i dont think this would cuase too much of a problem. The threshold has been increased recently i think though from $21,000 - $35,000 and their aim is to create a fairer approach. If you google Chris Bowen MP media release October 31st 2012, there is an article on it. It seem positive, and looks like they will also assess everyone on their own individual merits and what they will bring to the table for australia and if the benefits of them working in oz will outweigh the potential treatment costs.

From doing research on this topic, and speaking with various people, it seems that AS or arthritis is not particulary the stumbling block, it very much seems it is the cost of treatments and future potential treatments. I've heard a last resort to getting into oz if you fail the medical is on a company sponsorship visa and to sign a health medical waiver.

I am currently on Humira but want to ask my rhumy if i can be put on cheaper drugs for the time being. Then hopefully if it allows me to pass a medical then i would look to progress back onto anti tnf in oz. I know its a long process to obtain anti tnf in oz but i do recall having to try other treatments in the uk also before going onto it. Good advice from MamaPesa i feel to get the ball rolling as soon as you get out there and thanks for the info Jules 2409. I hope that you are managing well in WA and hope i can soon be there too.

 

 

I am

Hi Rick

Thank s for the info i manage quite will just on the methotrexate and anti inflamitry tablets, i do have good and bad days but find that exercise does help and have been given a program to follow by my phisio. I got diagnosed around 3 years ago so regarding the future who knows. Ive never had time of work and submitted a letter from my manager explaining this and a letter from my specialist outlining my condition currently being stable on the meds im on. When having the medical for the visa the doctor said he had no issues with giving me a good report as his findings were all good so fingers crossed all should be ok, ill keep everyone posted as info on these subjects are hard to come by and when starting out my MA just said its a risk ill have to take :biggrin:

Pete

Hi Stephane,

 

I also take Humira for Ankylosing Spondylitis and looking to move to Australia on a PR Visa 190. However, after doing a little research i noticed that if your drugs cost greather than $35,000 as of 1st July 2013, then you are likely to fail the medical. You can however, go on a temporary sponsored visa from an employer and sign a health waiver. What i would like to know however, (before my State sponsorship visa application timeframe runs out) is, if i chose not to take Humira for the foreseeable future, and manage without (have done previously for a period of a yr for certain reasons as directed by my consultant with minimal effect to my health), would this allow me to pass the medical. I undertstand that it is the medication and not the condition which would cause me to fail the medical. My specialist consultant for my condition has ben very supportive and will write a letter should i need any back up. Hopefully the skills i possess will outweight the negatives of putting up with me in australia. Fingers crossed. Has anyone else had any similar scenarios with Ankylosing Spondylitis or Humira or Enbrel or any other Anti TNF drugs?

Hi Rick

The information regarding the $35,000 is that per annum or over a number of years ?

Cheers

Pete

I was diagnosed with RA after moving to WA, I am currently on oral Methotrexate, Plaquinal and ENDEP. Biologics are not the first choice treatment here due to the cost - you have to prove other combinations don't work for you before they can be prescribed (unless you pay privately which is arounf $30k per annum). Essentially 6 months on a DMARD, 6 months on a combinations of DMARDS and then biologics can be prescribed under PBS - the rules are complex though but it seems to me Humira CAN be prescribed for psoriatic arthriris

 

http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/pbs/drugs2/files/9156-1204-guide-to-prescribing-biological-agents.pdf

http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/pbs/drugs2/rheumatoid.jsp

 

Providing you are eligible for medicare the maximum cost per item is $36.10 and no more than $1390.60 per annum. If your arthritis is severe you may qualify for a disability allowance or mobility allowance (if you are working) and then get a healthcare card which significantly reduces these costs - each prescription costs $5.90.

 

http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/pbs/pharmacists/safety-net.jsp

 

Private health care will cover mecine not on the PBS but obviuosly subject to covering pre-existing conditions (usually a year eligibility and subject to excesses and maximum benefits) - if you have private health cover in the UK you may be able to transfer it here without qualifying periods.

 

The good news is you can continue your treatment here (though maybe not initially) but the bad news is it will cost medicare a significant amount per annum and on that basis you may not be granted a visa.

 

The DMARDS are cheaper so being on something like Methotrexate is not likely to prove a problem - ultimately immigration way up the benefit of you being in the country to the lifetime costs of caring for you and if the benefits outweigh the costs you will get a visa - harsh but an economic reality.

 

I am just relieved my diagnosis came after PR - we moved here on a 457 and if the diagnosis had come sooner we may have been sent back. There was a sad story doing the rounds of a Dr. and his family here on a 457 visa being refused PR because the wife had breast cancer. There was a public outcry and an appeal but i am not sure of the outcome.

Thanks for the replies,fingers crossed I get a positive out come :biggrin:

Hi Stephane,

 

I also take Humira for Ankylosing Spondylitis and looking to move to Australia on a PR Visa 190. However, after doing a little research i noticed that if your drugs cost greather than $35,000 as of 1st July 2013, then you are likely to fail the medical. You can however, go on a temporary sponsored visa from an employer and sign a health waiver. What i would like to know however, (before my State sponsorship visa application timeframe runs out) is, if i chose not to take Humira for the foreseeable future, and manage without (have done previously for a period of a yr for certain reasons as directed by my consultant with minimal effect to my health), would this allow me to pass the medical. I undertstand that it is the medication and not the condition which would cause me to fail the medical. My specialist consultant for my condition has ben very supportive and will write a letter should i need any back up. Hopefully the skills i possess will outweight the negatives of putting up with me in australia. Fingers crossed. Has anyone else had any similar scenarios with Ankylosing Spondylitis or Humira or Enbrel or any other Anti TNF drugs?

Hi

I to have psoriatic arthritis and had my medical today, I'm on methotrexate injections, I gave the doctor a letter from my specialist which was dated August 2012 stating my condition which is good, but he asked when I saw my specialist last which wad February 2013 so he phoned the hospital whilst I was with him and asked for a more up to date letter. When i last visited my specialist i told him i was suffering from stiffness in my lower back in the morning so his last prognosis was i were showing early signs of Ankylosing Spondylitis and was being refered in march for a scan on my shoulder which was to do with an old mountain bike injury. The doctor didn't seem to happy with this due to still having an outstanding referral at the Time of medical but said there wasn't much he could do about that, overall he was happy with me and said my condition seems very well controlled but said I will have to see what the MOC decide as its them who make the decision, he also commented on my weight I'm 5ft 10 and weigh 85 kg but said I need to keep up the weight loss due to my condition and the impact on my joints. Overall he seemed quite happy but it's all down to the MOC so fingers crossed :mad:

Its really strange how ur Agent applied ur Nomination before RCB ,,Am i correct here,,can u plz share ur timeline mate,,and what is ur occupation ??

My agent wouldn't lodge the nomination until RCB was approved not sure if it was possible to do so or not, but I have read somewhere that they prioritise offshore applications over onshore even though they state a 6 month processing time, it could be more you push then a faster response to your application it worked for me.

Where abouts are you going? The seasons can be quite different here. It can easily be 20c different from one day to the next. I hear Melbourne is known for it's fluctuating weather.

 

The odd thing I found about medicals is that they were far harsher in the uk than Australia. I had three in oz and they didn't even ask for medical history! Strange. Hubbie did get refered, not for his bmi, which is high, but for scarring on his lung from a chest infection. Took bloody ages to go through.

 

Good luck.

were of to sunny Perth ha ha probably to bloody sunny just have to see how it goes fingers crossed it will go through, better late than never :biggrin:

grr so close yet still no end in sight- how frustrating!

my husband and I liken it to standing on a bungee jump platform or cliff edge staring down into the abyss- not knowing how it will be, preparing to close your eyes and take a leap of faith........ and then you realise that some wottsit is holding on to you/ your harness saying "ya can't go yit mate" read with oz accent in mind)

 

injections once a week quite strong then and not exactly pleasant.- my mother in law's husband is on methotrexate- he's got Crohn's disease- he says it wipes him out for a couple of days after, mind you he's old and very grumpy!

if it suits you and allows you get on with life, then stable is very good- hopefully its short sharp bursts that keep that keep the psoariatic arthritis at bay.

 

by the way; pardon my ignorance but does a metal fabricator make sheet metal in like a steel works or summit?

 

fingers crossed they wont dawdle with your case

Yes metal Fabrication is anything from structural steel work for buildings to making gates railings fire escapes etc, i actually work in high pressure water jetting and build machines for ship cleaning, mines, fuel refineries and oil rigs so the welding and fabrication is just a small part of the job but when doing the nomination DIAC only like to work with one job description as mine is covered in three areas so it started to get a little complicated. The methotrexate is fine doesnt bother me at all i think they like to get you on the meds early these days to slow the damage early on, i do have days where im a little stiff but nothing magor, im hoping the steady climate will help as my specialist said dramatic change in climate doesnt help and a lot of his older patients go to the likes of spain for 3 months at a time and it helps them no end, so im staying hopefull just hope the MOC think the same :biggrin:

Pete

12 weeks:shocked: presumably thats for cases that need looking into- not just general processing. what sort of arthritis do you have- i'd be suprised if it needs referring for osteo arthritis- everyone gets that eventually- Rheumatoid/psoriatic would raise quetions coz for some people those types can be delibitating and the medication can be expensive and have nasty side effects.

fingers crossed

psoriatic pasorapathy or sumthing like that, im on methotrexate injections once a week and got a good letter of my specialist to say that the condition is stable. Ive had a look at the meds and they dont seem to expensive but as people are getting refered for BMI being over 30 then im quite confident mine will to :arghh:

ooh! sounds promising, shouldn't be long now for you:twitcy:. Approaching 6 months now for us; still no idea when it may happen:skeptical: - not that i'm jealous or anything

Not counting mi chickens just yet, still got the meds to do and MA said they will get refered due to my authritis so fingers crossed that wont take the 12 weeks thats currently being stated on another thread :biggrin:

Pete

Hi People

Time Line so for:

visa subclass 187

Lodged through Perth office

Through perth Migration Agent

Off Shore Application

RCB Lodged 16/01/13

RCB Ack letter 17/1/13

187 Visa lodged 22/01/13

Visa Ack letter 23/01/13

RCB Approved 06/02/13

Nomination Lodged 07/02/13

Nomination approved 21/02/2013,

Case officer request police and meds 21/02/2013

Police checks sent 21/02/2013

Pete

I suspect that the lack of info is most likely due to the lack of post 1st July visas being granted.

I haven't come across many and certainly not from Melbourne office!

 

My application went in the same day as yours to the same office and were still in the UK, arent you already in Oz? so at least you're already living the dream!

 

I'm currently in limbo doing odd days of work, my husband is working in a call centre for slighty more than minimum wage and the kids don't believe that were going anymore.

but at the the back of our minds is this impending feeling of complete chaos as once the visa is granted we'll have to pack up 4 kids, 2 adults, rehome the dog and cat, ship stuff, clear out the house in order to rent the house out, book flights (none of the kids have been on an areoplane before), get to heathrowsit on a plane for 2 days and start new live in oz.........

 

who's idea was this again?..... cant wait for a new adventure:wink:

This sounds o so familiar

Ive got it all to come myself (hopefully) but hay thats all part of the adventure :biggrin:

Hi guys just got disappointment today nomination has been refused don't know the reason my employer just called me, whenever I ll Come to know I ll let share on pomsinoz. Thnx best of luck you guys ll get urs visa soon

Hi Jazzi87

I take it that your qualifications match the nomination and the nomination matches the job description, did you have to do a skill assesment or not with being on shore. Realistically you MA should have picked up on anything that doesnt look just right, i do know from what my agent has told me that if your trade involves more than one skill then only put down one skill on the application and tailor the job description around that, for me it was quite easy as i have 14 years in the skill i am applying but could have added other things to that but she said that would be of no interest and complicate thinks.

Good Luck & Hope it all works out

Pete

Hi landrover we have just applied DR so I hope we have your luck it's gone through really fast for you up to now, may I ask where your from as a friend of mine knows someone who is emigrating that works at strata tone landrover in burnley Lancashire thought there may be some connection ?

If not good luck with your time line and the move over we are also going to Perth I'm a diesel fitter / boilermaker with a job waiting since April last year so I need to get a bloody move on :biggrin: all the best Pete & Martine

Hi

Ive recently had a quote from yourselves regarding our mitsubishi warrior, ill be coming over in july with my partner and kids to follow 3 months later the vehicle is registered in the missuss name and will qualify for the 12 month period in june. When can we ship it over when the visa is granted, when i leave or do i have to wait for the missus to come over ?

Regards

Pete

Hi Big bird

Ive been waiting on this post for ages couldnt find anyone who was processing the new 187 visa, i got my job offer back in april this year but due to the skill assesment its just dragged on and on all paper work has been sent to my agent and just waiting on her sorting a fiew things out with the employer so should be submitting over the next fiew weeks ill keep everyone posted as i know that all applications recieved before 1st july have very long processing times hope they have a different team on the new system fingers crossed :-)