Australian Visa Policy for Disabilities and Serious Medical Conditions Has Been Improved

Breaking News : The Australian Government facilitates Australian visa policy for disabilities and other serious illnesses

There is good news for people with disabilities or applicants with disabled families, who plan to migrate to Australia. So far Australian government has had strict regulations in granting PR (Permanent Residency) visas to applicants or applicant family members, because it costs a lot of money from the Australian taxpayer pockets. After undergoing a long negotiation process with advocate groups, Australian immigration authorities agreed to relax these regulations and becoming friendlier. This policy was made as an effort to reduce discrimination against groups of people who suffer from certain diseases or intellectual disorders and are in the immigration process. Before this policy was changed, tens or even hundreds of applicants and family members were considered not meeting health requirements and got their visa applications rejected by the immigration office, because the treatment costs were too expensive and that could have an effect on the welfare of the Australian community.   

Some types of diseases and health problems considered by the Australian government are:

• Intellectual impairment
• HIV infection
• Functional impairment
• Renal disease or failure
• Cancer

Price Change Policy

Estimated system of hypothesis costs is also changing from a lifetime to ten years. For example, previously if someone was diagnosed with HIV infection, the estimated cost of care determined by the Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC) was calculated throughout life. With this new change, the Australian government will only count for the next 10 years.

As of July 1, 2019, the maximum measure of treatment costs is $ 49,000 where previously it had been $ 40,000. Although it looks small, all parties welcome this increase. This means that if the estimated costs determined by the Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC) for the next decade are still less than $ 49,000, the immigration authorities may not ask for the Health Requirements Waiver. Moreover, vice versa, if the estimated cost of dependents for the next 10 years exceeds $ 49,000, the applicant must show proof, so that the health requirements are ignored (Health Waiver) and visa would be granted.

Health Waiver

What is the process so that these health requirements would be removed from the applicant’s application?

In visa processing, applicants must fulfill a number of general requirements, including health checks. After attending health checkup with a designated health practitioner or Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC) the results of the checkup indicate health problems that are valued or exceed the maximum treatment cost benchmark of $ 49,000, the Australian Government, through the Immigration Department, would generally provide the opportunity for the applicant to have these health requirements ignored, or what is called “Health waiver”.

This health waiver will be issued by immigration officers for applicants who do not meet health requirements after going through a health checkup with the Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC). In this health waiver request, applicants would be asked to explain why they feel these health requirements need to be ignored, and their visa application has the right to be approved. In general, information that can help prevent these health requirements to be ignored is what kind of contributions can these applicants and their family members give to Australians, both financially and non-financially.  

No need to worry about this change. ONE derland Consulting, led directly by an official Australian agent, Ms. Indah Melindasari, has experience in handling this case. We understand that it will be very difficult to be in a position where you cannot be with your partner or family.

If you are in this situation and want to make sure your visa process to Australia runs smoothly, we recommend you using a professional and trusted migration agent to avoid visa refusals. ONE derland Consulting has quite a lot and varied experience handling difficult cases like this. Please contact us directly via cellphone to [email protected] or by telephone to our various offices in major cities in Australia: Perth (08) 9477 5831, Sydney (02) 9188 2065 & Melbourne (03) 9088 4114.