143 Meds Result for my dad

[Guest lovepuppy]

My parents currently are in OZ by holding visa 676 (tourist). They applied 143 May 2007. Two days ago they had meds in HSA. Today we received a letter in regards to his x-ray result. Saying' it has revealed an abonormality which may indicate past exposure to tuberculosis(TB)'. "will be required to attend nominated chest clinic for a review". The nominated chest clinic is at Royal North Shore Hospital.

 

We are shocked by this letter. Because my father came oz by visa 676 very year since 2006. As per the requirement, he was asked to have x-ray tests very time when he applied tourist visa (cos it is 12 month period). He just had x-ray last year in May and never have problem at all. How come he got TB past exposure? Maybe he got it when he is here since June 2007? We really can not accept the fact.

 

What we worry about is whether it will affect his visa application? What is the next step for meds review? What method they are going to take to detect active/inactive TB?

 

For sure, their application will be on hold until it is fixed. How knows how long it will take to get the review result? If my dad has active TB, will my mum be granted visa?

 

We all worry and worry.... I feel very sad when i think about worst things might happen... i love my parents.....and they love to see my son grow up here....

 

Please help if you have similar experience. THANKS

 

lOVEPUPPY

[Guest Gollywobbler]

Hello Lovepuppy

 

Welcome to Poms in Oz.

 

I can well imagine that you are worried to distraction right now because I was 10 time worse than you when my own mother's meds were queried in connection with her CP 143 application in 2005/6.

 

So although it is a daft and inadequate thing to say, please try not to worry. My mother sailed through her meds in the end. Although they didn't query her x-ray, I do know several CPV holders whose x-rays were queried but they now have CPVs and have validated them.

 

The drill when they want to make absolutely sure that active TB is not involved is described below:

 

Australian Immigration Fact Sheet 22. The Health Requirement

 

Poms in Perth Discussion Board :: View topic - November Migration newsletter here ..

 

Scroll down thorugh Stephen O'neil of ISCAH's November 2006 Newsletter on the thread above to see what they actually do and require.

 

You can be reassured by the fact that the x-ray suggests that past exposure to TB might have been found. Loads and LOADS of Parent visa applicants have been exposed to TB at some point simply because TB vaccines were not around when they were children or young adults. It does not mean a thing.

 

All that the Health Undertaking involves is a promise to go and have another chest x-ray done within a specified timescale. That is not a big deal. LOADS of CPV-holders have had to do it.

 

The MOC (Medical Officer of the Commonwealth) is very nosey, that's all. They just want a complete medical history so if there might have been exposure to TB in the past, they want to make sure what exactly it was and that there is no sign of recurrence.

 

With regard to the fact that they have never queried your father's x-ray before, a 12 month tourist visa is only valid for 12 months in Australia. They don't worry about the patient's medical history when it is only a temporary stay.

 

Which country are your Parents from? I ask because British Parents of 70 or over have to get their own doctor to complete a simple form of Medical Certificate in connection with a long stay tourist visa but they do not have to have an x-ray as well. The UK is deemed to be "medium risk" for TB, which is why they don't bother with an x-ray. Some countries are deemed to be "high risk" for TB which is probably why your parents have had to have chest x-rays in conncection with their tourist visas. Please see here:

 

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1163i.pdf

 

They are very quick about following up on medical conditions. A doctor from the MOC service will look at the results from the chest clinic very promptly once they get to Sydney.

 

This is VERY HIGHLY UNLIKELY to cause a visa refusal, even though I can fully understand that you must be beside yourself with worry right now.

 

When is the hospital appointment booked for? Please keep in tuoch and let me know how things progress.

 

My mother was 85 when she applied for her CPV 143. She was sent to see a geriatrician since they couldn't find anything else wrong with her for the MOC to worry about apart from her age. They send people for additional tests, examinations by specialists etc at the drop of a hat and 9 times out of 10 it is nothing but a sheer waste of money. However, it keeps the MOC happy (plus it keeps his medical cronies in beer money, my friend!)

 

Chin up. This WILL be OK.

 

Please don't hesitate to PM or e-mail me at any time if you just want a friend to lean on until this is resolved. I know exactly how I felt so I know exactly how you feel as well.

 

Best wishes

 

Gill

[Guest lovepuppy]

Dear Gollywobbler,

 

I feel a little bit relieved after reading your email. My parents are from China.And my dad is 64 (birthday was yesterday I tried to contact the chest clinic, HSA and Health Undertanking Services. Nobody can help me. Because what happen is my dad has to return to China in June (visa will expire). But the review appointment with the clinic is in July. They can not do anything for us to have earlier appointment. And nobody can tell us what we should do about the reivew if my dad is in China (we regret to have his meds done in Sydney, it was supposed to be in China).

 

I just want to know if the Case Officer needs to know my dad's meds review result in order to make decision on my parents' visas. Or the review really does not affect the application? If my dad can have review check done in China......

 

Still have so many questions in my mind. The last hope is to contact the officer. What do you recon?

 

Thanks you very much. I feel warm with your company.

 

Lovepuppy

[Guest Gollywobbler]

Hi again Lovepuppy

 

I have sent you a private message. Plese look towards the top right of yoru screen and you should see a flashing icon under your user-name.

 

Now that I know your Parents are from China, I agree with you about the x-rays. I've just been checking the website for the Australian Embassy in China.

 

The ony reason they bother to x-ray anybody is to find out whether the person has TB. TB is so contagious that I doubt they would grant a 12 month stay in Oz if they suspect it. Therefore why has it taken until now for them to fuss about Dad's x-rays?

 

Do you think there is any possibility that HSA have muddled up Dad's x-rays with somebody else's? How do HSA explain this?

 

If they say they have not muddled Dad up with somebody else, then are we to assume that chest x-rays done in Australia are more reliable than chest x-rays done in China? Frankly, I doubt that because DIAC are very fussy about who does x-rays for them overseas. In your shoes, I woud query this both with HSA and with your Case Officer. (The CO because s/he is in touch with people that you cannot contact on your own within DIAC.)

 

But please do remember that they are talking about evidence of PAST exposure to TB. Even if they thought that Dad might have active TB - which they do not - they would not - repeat NOT - refuse the visa because of it. They would simply put the CPV application on "hold" until Dad has been treated and cured. Once they are satisfied that the TB is gone, they grant the visa.

 

It is not expensive to treat TB, either. All that it needs is antibiotics and they are very cheap nowadays. Their only concern with TB is that it is apparently very infectious and that bit is the bit that worries them, not the condition itself.

 

Please keep me posted. I do know how you feel and you need a friend right now. I'll look after you and provide moral suport, never fear.

 

Please say "Happy Birthday" to your Dad from me and tell him also that Gill says not to worry. This is nothing but a minor hitch that will sort itself out, for sure.

 

It is very late in the UK now (where I am) so I am going to bed!

 

Nite nite

 

Gill

 

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[Guest jjvv]

HI all

 

i got a question. if we have HSA health check, and got the result letter said " do not open, please forward to immgration." is it mean the health check was pass?

 

Thanks all

[Guest lovepuppy]

I think so. If there is any issue on the medical, HSA will let you know directly.

[Guest Gollywobbler]

HI all

 

i got a question. if we have HSA health check, and got the result letter said " do not open, please forward to immgration." is it mean the health check was pass?

 

Thanks all

 

Hi there

 

Welcome to Poms in Oz.

 

I am not sure to be honest. Lovepuppy could well be right, though s/he and I have discovered since Lovepuppy's dads meds were done that HSA got all the procedures for it wrong, causing a lot of unnecessary confusion and delay.

 

DIAC's processing arrangements for the Health Criteria are in a mess. Please see this Australian National Audit Office report, published just over a year ago:

 

http://www.anao.gov.au/uploads/documents/2006-07_Audit_Report_37.pdf

 

Which visa have you or your relatives applied for, please? That seems to be relevant to exactly what is supposed to happen once your medical examination is done.

 

Does the letter or the envelope say exactly who to send the envelope to? Also, does it say that you may not open it?

 

Have you tried ringing HSA to ask them what the contents of this envelope are and why any part of your meds processing is being done via you instead of directly between HSA and DIAC?

 

Best wishes

 

Gill

[Guest jjvv]

Thx your reply

 

i m applying PR.

The letter wrote " do not open and please forward this sealed envelope to immigation" thats it.

 

so just bring it to immigration? hows about u guys?

 

thx all!