20 October 2022
P Thakkar
[FYI request #20822 email]
Ref: DOIA 2223 - 0738
Dear Mr Thakkar
Thank you for your email of 10 October 2022, requesting under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), the following information:
‘The Medical Certificate and Chest X-ray Certificate that may be required with a temporary entry visa
application include: General Medical Certificate (INZ 1007) Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1096) Are the
applicants entitled to request their test results? What are INZ instructions to panel physicians on this
matter? If they are entitled, when can they request for their results? Panel physicians based offshore
initially declined to provide results and upon showing the email from eMedical advised that they will
release the results after an outcome of the visa application’
Our Response
New Zealand Immigration Panel Clinics are required to have the applicant sign and submit a
declaration (attached at Appendix A) as part of an eMedical examination that states:
‘if I want to access my personal information held in the eMedical system I will be able to request a copy
of, and correction to my personal information:
•
from the panel clinic that examined me, once I have been notified by the clinic that my health
examination has been completed; and
•
from INZ once the panel clinic has transferred my completed health examination to INZ. The
INZ website at www.immigration.govt.nz/contact contains INZ’s contact information’
The New Zealand Immigration Panel Member Instruction
s INZ 1216 (also attached at Appendix A) state
at page 25 that the panel member must ensure that the applicant has read and understood the
declaration and the applicant must sign the declaration in the presence of the panel member. There is
an expectation that the clinic understands this information. Page 18 of the document also states that
INZ applicants will be advised on the automated email to contact the clinic where their exam was
completed if they require a copy of, or further information about their results.
Clinics can use the ‘Print Health Case’ function to generate a copy to print or save as a PDF and email. If
an applicant has any queries in relation to their visa application, panel members should advise applicants
to contact INZ. Applicants are able to submit a complaint via INZ’s online feedback form and we will raise
the issue with the clinic in question. This can be done at the link below:-
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
I hope that you find this information informative and helpful. If you wish to discuss any aspect of your
request or this response, please conta
ct [email address]. Yours sincerely,
Stephen Dunstan
General Manager, Enablement
Immigration New Zealand