Sickle Cell in Australia

[Spiderella]

Hello everyone!

Ok, this is probably a question that you haven't come across. I'm a nurse planning to migrate to NSW next year. I already have my nursing license from the Nurses and Midwife Board. With 4 years on ICU experience I thought that I was a good catch.

I contacted the agency that I wanted to get sponsored through and I was sent an application form and medical form. I filled everything truthfully and was contacted today saying that I'm ineligible for a work visa because I have sickle cell. The Agency lady stated that she contacted HSA and they said that they couldn't guarantee that I would receive a visa. So she suggests that I apply for permanent residency and contact her after I have landed in Sydney and then she could find a job for me.:angryfire

On the DIMIA website, the only diseases precluded from being granted a visa was TB, HIV and Hep C. So what the hell is she talking about?

I was just wondering if there was something that I was missing....something that you wonderful nurses are aware of. Do you not have sickle cell over there at all? Is the government fully aware that it is not contagious? So what's the fuss?

Please help. I'm so upset.

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

I am so sorry to read about the rejection. I am sure it has nothing to do with you personally or lack of information (not being contagious), but rather that you would be coming here with a visa, and as you may already know things are getting tighter. Maybe the gov't thinks it'll have medical expenses or so on. Please don't take it personally. Good luck to you. :)

[sunnyjohn]

She's trying to migrate to New South Wales, Australia not the US.

IMHO, you should speak directly with an Australian immigration official. Get the info from the horses' mouth. Your agency person may be misinformed.

[Spiderella]

Thanks for your comments. I'll probably end up calling HSA myself. That sounds like great advice.

[Grace Oz]

I suggest you contact the Department of immigration personally as opposed to via the internet. Good luck. Let's know how you go.

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

I agree with the other posters - contact department of immigration directly. There could be a problem as we do have limitations on visas for people with chronic illnesses.

Because of the free hospital system we have been burnt badly in the past with people immigrating just for the medical care.

We also have a reasonably low incidence of sickle cell here in this country - a few chinese immigrants with it but it is not a well known or recognised disorder here due to the small African population - but that is changing.