New Zealand: Expat’s ‘fat’ wife refused visa
A British man, Richie Trezise, who moved to New Zealand has been told by officials that his wife is too fat to join him according to a report from the Daily Telegraph. His wife, Rowan, 33, a photographer, has been battling for months to shed the pounds so they can be reunited and live Down Under but has so far been unable to overcome New Zealand’s weight regulations.
Mr Trezise, who moved to Auckland in September after shedding two inches from his waist on a crash diet, said that if his wife was not allowed to come out by Christmas they would abandon the idea of emigrating.
His employer-backed skills visa was initially rejected by immigration officials when they discovered that his body mass index, or BMI, was 42, making him morbidly obese under New Zealand regulations.
BMI measures a person’s weight in relation to their height. Anything over 25 is regarded as overweight, and 30 or above is obese.
Mr Trezise, a submarine cable specialist and a former soldier, said: “My doctor laughed at me. He said he’d never seen anything more ridiculous in his whole life. He said not every overweight person is unhealthy or unfit.
“The idea was that we were going to change our lifestyle totally and get outdoors and on mountain bikes and all sorts of activities.”
The couple, who both lived in Barry, Wales, were all set for a new life after Mr Trezise was headhunted by New Zealand’s Telecom.
New Zealand is critically short of skilled workers, and many large firms are intensively recruiting in Britain.
Mr Trezise was recruited to supervise the Southern Cross Cable, which links New Zealand with Australia and the west coast of the United States. He is one of only four highly qualified specialist technicians working on the improvement of the cable.
The New Zealand Immigration Service said it did not know how many people were denied entry to the country because of high BMI readings.
However, comments posted on the Emigrate New Zealand website reveal that many people have been turned down after medical tests revealed that they were obese.
Mr Trezise has private health care in New Zealand and his employer, Telecom, has a gym membership scheme.
Comments
mrs deans - a comment on: May 22, 2008, 5:26 am
After reading your piece on “ex-pat wife refused visa”. Because she was too fat. I feel i have to comment. I am also in the same situation. My husband has been in NZ working as a HOD in technology (teaching) I applied for my visa after being told by their Doctors that my BMI was o.k so long as I continued to reduce my weight. So I applied for a visa and was refused on health issues.
1. They said I had un-controlled B.P
2. High BMI
I had to go to a private cardiologist to have 24hr B.P test and an echo cardiogram.
Results no evidence of un-controlled B.P, No heart disease Low cholesterol in fact a picture of health.
According to the NZIS I had a BMI of 41.5. So for 2 wks I exercised even more and lowered it to 37.6 . Total cost £750.00.
I sumitted the report from my cardiologist, G.P, personal trainer and information as to my life style. Non drinking, non smoking, 900calories a day !
Was this good enough ? NO I’m due to fly on the 28th May, i moved the flight from the 28th April..Cost £250 !
and now it looks like I will miss this flight and lose our fare.
The doctors are now requesting that I provide evidence of my weight loss and BMI reduction even though my Gp has included this information in his report. I managed to get my personal trainer to give me details but the nzis official says this may not be acceptable they want it from my GP, but my G.p does not think the BMI measurement is relevant to the true health of an individual and therefore has never kept records.
In the midst of all this confusion I have 2 children at home because a month ago they were supposed to leave.
this just makes me think WHY go to NEW ZEALAND ?
The stress to me my husband and the children has been totally unbelievable. We are distressed.
Oh yes and the contents of my home podiatry clinic etc is now in NEW Zealand.
Was it worth the time and expense…NO
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