Problems with Working Holiday Visa to New Zealand

[chris newth]

Hi,
Has anyone had any problems applying for a visa to NZ? Here's the problem we're having:

My 20 year old daughter (Type 1 Diabetic) applied for a working holiday visa to NZ and was told she had to have chest X-rays & a full medical at a doctors in London (at huge cost!). She has done that and is now awaiting a decision from the New Zealand embassy as to whether her visa will be approved (which will take 4 weeks or more). As her flight is in 3 weeks, we have asked if she can enter as a tourist until the decision is made. The response is that she should not fly into New Zealand under any circumstances. To us this seems ridiculous, illogical & discriminatory. Are New Zealand banning type 1 diabetics from visiting??? Can anyone shed any light on this or have you had a similar experience??? This is very upsetting & rather confusing.
Many thanks.

 

[AndBreathe]

The NZ government website describing visa criteria highlights the potential to require a chest x-ray, so I could find it stretch to jump to T1 discrimination purely on that basis.

It's all obviously a bit tight for her flights. Can her flights be changed?

Often the time frames quoted for service level expectations are much longer than a typical experience, but I have no idea how NZ are on there things.

Fingers crossed it all works out.

 

[chris newth]

Hi, Thanks for the reply. I totally understand why there needs to be medical checks for a working holiday visa, but I can't understand why she can't visit as a tourist whilst the working visa is being processed. Unfortunately flights can't be changed. Like you said, fingers crossed that it will work out and that common sense will prevail!!

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi, Thanks for the reply. I totally understand why there needs to be medical checks for a working holiday visa, but I can't understand why she can't visit as a tourist whilst the working visa is being processed. Unfortunately flights can't be changed. Like you said, fingers crossed that it will work out and that common sense will prevail!!

Unfortunately people do tend to travel as tourists then decide to work whilst there, hence why your daughter has been told no.

 

[KARNAK]

Hi, Thanks for the reply. I totally understand why there needs to be medical checks for a working holiday visa, but I can't understand why she can't visit as a tourist whilst the working visa is being processed. Unfortunately flights can't be changed. Like you said, fingers crossed that it will work out
and that common sense will prevail!!

Unfortunately you have already supplied them with the info they need to make a decision. They are more concerned you will be a burden on the state and irrespective of how well you control you`re e.g. diabetes does you`re insurance give you carte blanc to cover you in case of a problem. you need to prove this to the embassy before you travel. Good luck.

 

[chris newth]

Thanks for the reply. As you said, now its been flagged up, they have to investigate it. Annoying though, as she could have entered NZ with no problems as a visitor (6-9 months automatic visa). Its only because she's applied for a working visa that there is now a problem and, as you said, now NZ immigration are aware of her diabetes, even entering as a visitor will cause problems. Grrrrr

 

[AndBreathe]

Thanks for the reply. As you said, now its been flagged up, they have to investigate it. Annoying though, as she could have entered NZ with no problems as a visitor (6-9 months automatic visa). Its only because she's applied for a working visa that there is now a problem and, as you said, now NZ immigration are aware of her diabetes, even entering as a visitor will cause problems. Grrrrr

To be honest, when I looked at the NZ Visa site, for UK Working Visas, the potential for evidencing good health is right up front, including the chest x-ray. Surely anyone with a pre-existing medical condition would expect to fall into the "it's going to be required" pot? I made no statement about health or medical conditions to get to that screen. The "declarations I made were my passport is UK issued, I am in UK now and I wouldn't be including another person on the visa application.

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new...onality-GBR&country=residence-GBR&applying=no



I really do hope your daughter's decision comes through promptly and she can get her big adventure under away.