Welcome to the forum, @david.carter. Thank you so much for your expertise!
Cheers,
Thomas
Dear David,
Thank you for taking the time to explain in detailā¦ Really appreciate it.
Yes, i really feel foolish for being honest about my condition, as i donāt work in healthcare or any associated field where i can be a threat to anyone. Iām an Aircraft Mechanic by profession, and it just doesnāt matter about my condition.
Iāll keep this discussion in mind the next time I talk to another employer.
However, thereās just one thing I wanted to knowā¦ Is it possible this employer would have shared my data with the immigration department?.. Wherein if I choose not to disclose my condition with another employer, it can be seen as a violation!
Thanks again for your input
Regards
Ajita
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Hi @Wood_Flair,
I would doubt that a potential employer would make all the effort of sharing that data with a immigration department and Iām not sure what they would say anyway.
Thomas
Hi All, I am new to t he forum.
I am from Pakistan and have lodged 190 visa. I had recently received an S56 request from DoHA for remedicals as my previous medicals had been expired. I have given my blood samples to the prescribed clinic on 04 days ago and my status is still āExamination under processā. I am very nervous regarding the outcomes, whether I will be provided clearance this time or not. I am on medications for 2 years now. my viral load is not detectable but LFTs are a bit raised, roughly at 62. Need guidance from those who have experienced the same.
Dear @Bilal_Butt,
Thanks for sharing your story with us. As mentioned above by @david.carter: many people receive visas regardless of their hepatitis B status and hepatitis B status alone is not a legal barrier to migration or visa granting.
My understanding is that your LFT values and whether or not you are being treated do not have impacts on the visa granting etiher.
Hope you get news soon about your status.
Thomas
Hi Everyone and Dr. Thomas Tu.
Firstly, thank you for providing such a warmful and handful community. I am a registered Nurse in my country and intend to apply WHV to work as an assistant nurse in Australia as a starter. However, I got tested in 2021 and found out that I have positive HbsAg result. This condition is not acceptable to work as Nurse in my country because I am consider as an unfit/unhealthy person for the job. Meanwhile, I have a normal range in Kidney Function Test (AST & ALT) and regularly go to the gym. Iām so devastated with this situation.
Hence, I want to work as a nurse again by applying WHV as Nurse Assistant in Australia. Do you think itās possible for me to get the Visa? Iāve read in the other thread that the person who want to pursue education in medical field is still able to get the visa even though have been diagnosed with Hepatitis B.
But how about the medical worker? Is there any chance for us to get a visa for work?
I looking forward for any information about this from everyone in this community. Thank you in advance
Hi @Wood_Flair - I agree here that this is highly unlikely to have been shared. Regardless, the situation with regards to hepatitis B and immigration to Australia is in a better state that it has been in the past, with some recent changes to the price of medication and the governmentās process for assessing the āhealth requirementā meaning people are far better off than even last year if migrating while living with hepatitis B.
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Hello @Bilal_Butt
As @ThomasTu has said - you should be reassured that hepatitis B status alone is not a barrier to migration to Australia.
For some people, particularly those with other health conditions, there can be some additional processes regarding what is called the āhealth requirementā. However, recent changes to the law and costs of medication mean that it is unlikely that a person living with hepatitis B that is well managed (including on treatment) will fail these requirements on the basis of cost of treatment any longer.
David
[The information above is provided as general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Use this as a guide only, and seek legal advice if necessary. You can contact HALC (www.halc.org.au) who can provide information or advice for people living with hepatitis B who live in NSW, or those who are planning on migrating to NSW in some circumstances.]
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Recently i did check my viral load after 4 years. The last i did was in 2020 when the viral load was 600+. This time itās increased to 906.
Though itās less than 2000, my doctor has advised to start the antiviral Tenovir 25.
Iām not sure if itās required to start right away.
I intend to start it but wish to consult with a hepatologist before i do that.
Would like to hear your view point.
Regards
Rinu
Hi @Wood_Flair,
Thanks for the question. If the doctor is only recommending treatment due to the viral load of 906, I agree with you here to consult with a hematologist. The viral load should not be the only test used in making this recommendation. Besides, the viral load is low and I do not think treatment should be warranted at this point, unless there are results of other abnormal liver tests. I will seek a second opinion and get more tests done to make this decision. I hope this helps, Bansah1.
Hello @feren
Welcome to the community here.
While I am not able to provide you with legal advice about your specific case, hepatitis B status alone is not a barrier to visa applications or grants of a visa in Australia.
As you wish to work in a healthcare field, there are some specific requirements that apply to people living with hepatitis B who work in healthcare or who study a healthcare course. You should seek some specific advice regarding these and your own situation.
In general terms, www.halc.org.au (who provides legal information and support for people living with either viral hepatitis or HIV) indicates that:
āIf you are a healthcare worker living with [a blood borne virus], you can usually
continue to work without any restrictions, and it is not necessary
to disclose your status to your employer. However, if you are a
nurse, dentist, or doctor who performs exposure prone procedures
(EPPs), there are certain guidelines that you must follow.ā
In broad terms, people living with hepatitis B can generally work in the healthcare setting as a clinician. The key question will be about whether and how you perform what are called āexposure prone proceduresā or EPPs. EPPs are procedures performed in confined body cavities where there is poor visibility and the risk of cutting yourself with a sharp tool or on a tooth or sharp piece of bone. You can read the guidelines for NSW here for example: https://www1.health.nsw.gov.au/pds/ActivePDSDocuments/PD2019_026.pdf A good fact sheet is provided here for healthcare students, and it outlines things related specifically to study and also to performing EPPs as a healthcare worker too in plain english: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/03/cdna-national-guidelines-information-for-healthcare-students-who-perform-exposure-prone-procedures-cdna-guidelines-information-for-healthcare-students-who-perform-exposure-prone-procedures.pdf
[The information above is provided as general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Use this as a guide only, and seek legal advice if necessary. You can contact HALC (www.halc.org.au) who can provide information or advice for people living with hepatitis B who live in NSW, or those who are planning on migrating to NSW in some circumstances.]
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Hi @Wood_Flair ,
I have been in the same sort of situation once. What I would like you to know is that Viral Load in not the only count for starting medication. There is a certain score that suggests whether a patient requires to be treated or not. The score is based on your AST levels, Platelets count and viral load. I remember my doctor did that for me.
Please be informed that once you start the medication, it is likely that you would need to continue it for a year or two.
So consult a proper Gastroenterologist for your case.
Hi @feren,
I did research on this, since Iām on the same boat, but my profession and desired visa class is different.
My knowledge is limited regarding your case, but as much as I know, a person with Hep B condition might not be able to work in healthcare unless they get a health waiver as per ministerial directions for specific visa class. You may find more information on Australian Home Affairs website.
Regards,
Thank you @Bilal_Butt - to clarify this is not quite the case.
@Wood_Flair and others who may be interested in study or work in the healthcare professions do not require a ministerial waiver for this aspect of their migration or work. A waiver is related to the health requirements - and used primarily regarding the āsignificant costā threshold. As outlined elsewhere, this is less of an issue now for most people living with hepatitis B due to lowering costs of medication and a higher cost threshold. There are some visa requirements that relate to study in some (but not all) health professions, and this is where hepatitis B status may be relevant for a visa application
However, the main challenge for those who wish to study or work in healthcare relates to Exposure Prone Procedures - there are guidelines used to guide assessment of whether a person can work performing EPPs and under what conditions/managment approach. These are separate to the ministerial waiver of the health requirements.
For more, see my comment below in this thread posted on September 3.
[The information above is provided as general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Use this as a guide only, and seek legal advice if necessary. You can contact HALC (www.halc.org.au) who can provide information or advice for people living with hepatitis B who live in NSW, or those who are planning on migrating to NSW in some circumstances.]
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Hi Thomas,
This is the first time ever I am writing on this or any such forum.
I work as Sales Head for a Multinational organisation here in India. I was diagnosed with Hep B two years back and on tenefovir for around 6 months. I have very less viral load and things are going fine. I am man who is full of hope and believe in miracles. With the limited research I did I also believe that 2030 should be a year of good news for all of us.
While i am an aspirational guy, I am applying for jobs in the UAE or USA. My larger interest is Dubai. While I am cognizant of the fact that there are 6 categories for which visa can be denied in the UAE but USA there is not even any categorisation.
Also, I have one of my pears in the UAE with similar sales role who are fit but they said if company sends you to UAE there is no medical test that happens even for medical insurance.
Also, if company is sending you to USA with H1B2 visa or even L1 visa, no HepB test happens.
Would like to understand yours and professionals view on the same.
Also, if i get visa in the USA or Dubai without disclosing the condition, how do you buy tenefovir in these regions as I am doubtful my prescriptions would work here.
Awaiting revert.
Thanks
Dear @Ambitious,
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and itās great to hear that you have such a positive view on things.
I myself am not very clear on the immigration and visa process for the US or UAE, so Iām afraid that I canāt give you any specific advice. It is best to go to a migration agent for these particular questions. The hepatitis B foundation has some resources here: Immigration and International Issues Ā» Hepatitis B Foundation
@Suwang88 @chari.cohen would you have any better resources or advice to add from your perspective?
Cheers,
Thomas
The good news is that are not requirements for HBV testing or restrictions for immigration to the US regarding HBV!
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I donāt know who needs to see this but Iād say, you can work in the UAE even if you are hepatitis B positive. I was paranoid before undergoing the test but after the test, I was cleared although the health practitioner told me I have nothing to worry about as I am hepatitis B positive but I should know that I canāt donate blood to anyone and thatās it(Iām not on any medication). I worked in the UAE even though I am a carrier although not in the health sector. I hope the same goes for Australia as I have applied provisional visa and just undergo a re-medical
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@Bilal_Butt please if you donāt mind, Iād like to ask if youāve eventually gotten the grant? Iām in the same situation as I just went for a re-medical. Thank you.
Yes @Rasheedat_Lateef, I received my grant back in Nov 24.
I also received s56 for remedical and then 2nd S56 for Health Undertaking.
Iām in Sydney now
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