Dear all. I wonder if anyone can help who has had a similar experience. My wife has been offered a job in Australia and can apply for a visa under the code 186 sponsored nomination visa. We are just awaiting our code before we can apply but I am very worried about the medical. I would be going within her PR visa as her spouse. I am 36 and in my early 20s I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis which is a form of arthritis. Apart from the odd pack of over the counter pain killers I have not been on any medication for any long period of time and in fact haven't taken any medication for the last few years. I am not very flexible but have maintained an active job for the last 12 years, never taken a days sick in relation to AS and am fit enough to have ran two london marathons. However.... As ever google can be the place of doom! And I have read many reports of people having PR visas refused because of the condition. Are there any success stories out there to give me confidence?? Also, can you undertake the medical prior to paying out the large visa application fees? Help!!
Hi Marts14
I too had ankylosing spondylitis diagnosed when 20 and applied for my PR Visa aged 28. I had my medical and told the doctor assessing about my AS and that it hasn't really affected me too much in continuing to play sport and an active job. He did a few extra flexibility tests on me than my wife during her medical but it didnt pose a problem at all and we both got passed through (tests of which were very easy like try touch your toes and look left and right etc. Unless you are stiff as a board, i don't think it will be worth worrying about) . I am sure also that if you can run two marathons, which is two more than i could do, i think you will be fine. With you not having taken any major medication, then this is very favorable. I was taking Humira at the time which is very expensive and still passed. The doctor explained to me that he used to specialise in AS which is a coincidence and he said it isn't a contagious or life threatening disease, and many can manage the condition well throughout their life so it is not something which should fail your medical. The doctors do an assessment and then send it off to Brisbane. He said he would be very surprised if i failed and if so he would call them and explain that AS is not a condition which should result in a medical fail.
I hope this goes some way to putting your mind at ease and if you have any other questiosn please feel free to ask. I am also friends with rickcuzza who also had a similar experience to me and passed fine with AS.
Unfortunately i think you have to pay for visa application up front but i am confident that given your set of circumstances, you should pass. Maybe give the medical assessment place a call prior to ask questions regarding AS and chances of passing to put your mind at ease before going ahead.
Best of luck with your medical and visa applications.
I too am on Humira and looking to move to Perth, WA with my job. I wanted to know if it costs anything to continue my perscription in oz and if so what will the cost be. I understand its expensive to the NHS here. It is to treat my Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Arthritis
in Health
Posted
Hi Marts14
I too had ankylosing spondylitis diagnosed when 20 and applied for my PR Visa aged 28. I had my medical and told the doctor assessing about my AS and that it hasn't really affected me too much in continuing to play sport and an active job. He did a few extra flexibility tests on me than my wife during her medical but it didnt pose a problem at all and we both got passed through (tests of which were very easy like try touch your toes and look left and right etc. Unless you are stiff as a board, i don't think it will be worth worrying about) . I am sure also that if you can run two marathons, which is two more than i could do, i think you will be fine. With you not having taken any major medication, then this is very favorable. I was taking Humira at the time which is very expensive and still passed. The doctor explained to me that he used to specialise in AS which is a coincidence and he said it isn't a contagious or life threatening disease, and many can manage the condition well throughout their life so it is not something which should fail your medical. The doctors do an assessment and then send it off to Brisbane. He said he would be very surprised if i failed and if so he would call them and explain that AS is not a condition which should result in a medical fail.
I hope this goes some way to putting your mind at ease and if you have any other questiosn please feel free to ask. I am also friends with rickcuzza who also had a similar experience to me and passed fine with AS.
Unfortunately i think you have to pay for visa application up front but i am confident that given your set of circumstances, you should pass. Maybe give the medical assessment place a call prior to ask questions regarding AS and chances of passing to put your mind at ease before going ahead.
Best of luck with your medical and visa applications.