dragon_lady_bute

Thanks for the karma, ladies!!

M x

Kags1694

Hi Marion,

If you have got a while before you have your medical, I would get your OH to get his BMI as close as possible to the magic 35. I was unfortunately turned down before my BMI was 50, I have just re-applied with a BMI of 34.7, my medical results has had to be sent back to MA for his approval.

It is not worth the stress and up set to have problems after you have submitted your ITA.

Good luck
Karen

iwannagonow

Congrats Karen for getting it down to 34.7 That's brilliant! Well done!

Diet karma on the way

j19fmm

You can lose pounds just by moving it off the floor on to the rug!! Not sure NZIS accept Wii fit data though

dragon_lady_bute

Thanks Karen. I found your thread last week and was very impressed. What a time you have had. But very well done right enough!!

As you say, we've got a bit of time yet. Haven't even got a job yet!!!

We have booked to go to the Exp09 at the end of March and hope to get a better idea from the Immigration guys as to what is feasible and what isn't. Then we can take it from there....

Kags1694

Thanks for your kind comments.

becky667

Hi

It would be worth getting your fella to have a check up at his GP surgery for BP, cholesterol etc.

These are common problems and are more so the higher your BMI. If for example his BP was high then he could start medication and after 4-6 weeks it should within normal limits and will keep the medical assessor happy.

My friend had the same problem and has had issues with immigration as her BP was not controlled at the time of the medical so she has to have a repeat medical and it will delay things so far by 2 months, not to mention the cost!

Becky

dragon_lady_bute

Thanks Becky. Might be a good idea to get him checked right enough.


Marion

soontobethin

[F]Hi , I have just had my medical and my bmi was 37. I have a gastric band fitted and am steadily losing weight. The panel doctor informed me that I have nothing to worry about, however he has ticked the box 'significant findings' on the medical form and written 'obese' in the comments box. Does this mean I will be referred to the MA? I had fasting blood tests all of which were normal. I am really worried as my OH has a job offer and a start date for Feb. Any advice would be appreciated.
Sorry if I have posted in the wrong place, please bear with me as I am new to this, although I have been reading this forum for many months.
Thanks
Lynda x[/FONT]

jo_hedge

I'm having problems with BMI issue at the mo. Have had to have bloods done again, which have come back clear. Seems strange when you look at list of 'expensive' conditions in INZ App10, & you know you haven't got any of them. Have read that INZ's doctor's panel handbook (which we don't have access to) says that BMI over 35 is not given visa, & yet the medical form we actually fill in does not say this. The cynical amongst us may think they're just trying to get our money! However, I'm still plugging away. No-one is telling me I'm unacceptable!!! I hope you have much luck with yours & have no problems at all. It's been reassuring to read that other people have been given visas when BMI is over 35. There's still hope yet!

bourbon-biscuit

That can't be the 'rule' for NZIS because plenty of us have got in with BMIs over the 35. I'm ashamed to say mine was over 40 when issued my visa but a couple of years in NZ and it was under 35 Good luck to everyone!

soontobethin

Hi, I haven't heard back from NZ house yet regarding a desicion on my visa due to high BMI. They informed me it would take around 2 weeks for the MA in NZ to reply. It will be 2 weeks today!! Fingers crossed. I will keep you posted. The good news is, the OH's new employers have put back his start date to mid to late April, so if things do drag on a little longer than anticipated, at least we will be ok or time.
Lynda x

pornopants

This story was in the Herald this week:

135kg woman refused NZ residency over size
7:08PM Monday Feb 16, 2009

An American woman who tipped the scales at 135kg has been refused residency in New Zealand because of her weight and health.

The 41-year-old, who had a body mass index (BMI) of 50 when she applied in January last year, suffers from morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes.

At her heaviest, she was said to weigh 148kg. A "normal" BMI ranges from 18.5 to 25.

Though she had taken steps to lose weight since making her application with her 31-year-old husband and two-year-old son, she still had a BMI of 47.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) turned down their application for residence on account of the woman's unacceptable standard of health.

Now the Residence Review Board has thrown out their appeal.

"It is difficult to see how the INZ officer could have come to a different conclusion on the (medical) advice and information placed before her," the board said.

While the unnamed couple did not have job offers and indeed had no connection with the country, they scored well on other aspects of their application.

The husband was a butcher with an Arts degree and culinary qualification, and the wife who had business qualifications also had 17 year's experience in design.

INZ concluded that although the couple "had the potential to have a relatively significant contribution to New Zealand through their skills and experience, it was not compelling enough to outweigh the potential cost (the wife) was likely to impose on the NZ health service", the board said.

As a result, the INZ refused to grant a waiver to the couple.

A medical assessor said there was a relatively high probability that the wife would cost the health service more than the threshold $25,000 over the next four years.

He noted that the guidelines said that people with BMI over more than 35 should not be considered.

The assessor also said that the woman was at high risk of developing other diseases including heart disease, arthritis, cancer, gout and increased blood pressure.

Since starting the weight-loss programme, the woman said she had lost 24.5kg.

She said her diabetes was manageable and said that the amount spent controlling the disease was only $1090 a year, so it would take 23 years to hit the $25,000 cut-off point.

Her contribution to New Zealand would far outweigh the medical costs, she said.

However, the board said that while medical costs had so far been low, the medical assessment was that diabetes was a chronic condition with significant complications and costs over the lifetime of the condition.

The board said that the substance of the plea for special consideration was that the woman had been following a weight loss regime, which the couple believed would succeed.

"The appellant submits that his application should be considered as an exception to policy in preference to waiting for her to achieve this reduction.

"In effect, the appellant seeks to anticipate the success of his wife's weight reduction programme."

- NZPA

Seems that it will only be a factor if the BMI is very high or there are other diseases involved?

NZBee

Really hope that NZIS get on to the band wagon a lot of consultants are getting on, and that is shunning BMI. It is inaccurate, and can be damaging, as those labelled 'obese' are actually not necessarily, as can be fit and healthy.

Good luck with your process with your NZ application!

soontobethin

Bloody ridiculous is what I say!!!!
My BMI is currently 36ish, I am physically fit, I run 3 miles each day, use high impact DVD's 3 times a week and eat sensibly. I have never suffered any co- morbidities and the high BMI is the only significant finding on my medical report. Bloody ludicrous!
Thanks for the positive thoughts, will keep you all informed how it goes
Lynda x