Hepatitis B and Immigration/visa issues

General Discussion
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I believe you’ll be fine but can I know why you started with TAF and TDF. My Viral load is 9022IU/ml and have 8.1kpa in my fibroscan result. My doctor wrote TAF for me but I bought TDF, is TAF more effective aside being prescribed for people with kidney problems. I’m not sure I had kidney problems because I did kidney function test last year and my result is normal. I’m just worried if there’s a particular reason he wrote TAF for me instead of TDF. Thanks

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Hi @Max1 ,

Welcome to the community! It’s great that you are a GI and that antivirals have worked for you. Hopefully we have some members from Germany and maybe someone that works there in the medical field. If not, maybe one of our experts can refer you to some information.

I just wanted to say, “Hi” and welcome you. I hope you get the answers you are seeking.

-Paul

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76

Dear @anonymous36,

That’s so great to hear and I’m glad that this wasn’t an impediment to your visa extension.

I am not sure but it might be good if some of our German collegues could give insight here (@LenaAllweiss, @Tassilo, @Greg).

My understanding is that both are very effective and indeed TDF is prescribed as a first line therapy here in Australia (with the option of changing to TAF if there are any side-effects or worries about kidney issues).

Cheers,
Thomas

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Hi @Max1 ,
working as a doctor in Germany, I would advise you to keep your health information confidential during the interview.
Before actually starting to work, you should make an appointment with the “Betriebsarzt” (Occupational Health) - to my knowledge, this is mandatory anyways. You should discuss your HBV infection with the Betriebsarzt, they will then have to decide what restrictions (if any) apply for the work you can do. They cannot, however, directly give your health information to your employer, unless you specifically allow them to (which most people don’t, so you won’t have to worry about seeming unusual). They can only give your employer information about whether you are fit to do all of the tasks that may come up during your work, or not. If they determine that there are any restrictions, you should discuss those with the Betriebsarzt first.
Like this, you will not have to disclose all of the details to your employer.

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79

Thanks @S.N for this info, Hope this helps others as well (e.g., @Isaprank above)

TT

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I am grateful for a forum like this it makes me feel I’m not alone. I joined last year when i got my diagnosis. I was 33yrs old when i discovered i was hep b positive. It was during my health assessment to migrate to Australia as a permanent residence. I immediately met with a specialist is Nigeria that placed me on entacavir and gave me a medical report for my VISA process. I had very high viral load of over 40m with normal liver function. I faced discrimination from the IOM nurse whom i thought would know better. I was very devastated and my world shifted immediately.
But the good news is that i got my VISA after a request for another viral load test which shows a massive improvement in 3months. I am still using my medication and im booked for medical check in August.
My problem now is that. I want to study nursing in Australia. I want to know if they will allow me study nursing. I haven’t faced any form of discrimination here so far. But with my ambition. I want to know the possible things i will experience.

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81

Hi @Gracee,

I’m really glad that you found this community last year. I don’t know much about visas and working in other countries having Hep B. I did find a couple of threads that may give you some info. There are many members in this community that live in Australia and some of them work in the medical profession. Also, Thomas can probably give you some info also. Till then, check out these threads and see if maybe there are some answers in them.

Good luck with your ventures in Australia!

-Paul

https://www.hepbcommunity.org/t/hepatitis-b-and-immigration-visa-issues/1679

https://www.hepbcommunity.org/t/introduction-thread-people-affected-by-hep-b/23/401

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Hi @gracee,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting your question. There are some people in this thread who have gone through exactly what you have. I have also posted some resources

People in this thread (@Dane, @Ugyen, @eemnace0904 , @Happysang), could you please help @Gracee out with some of your experiences?

Thanks,
Thomas

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Hi Gracee,
I am so happy for you, congratulations on getting your visa.
I was in the same situation as you. I got diagnosed in February this year during my health assessment for Australia.( I was applying to study master of nursing)
I was in shock too, but thanks to this group!
I also was discriminated by one of the IOM nurses :relieved:
I came to realize that my mum and maternal granny were hep B positive and this was a vertical transmission.
My case was deferred and forwaded to a medical officer of the commonwealth (MOC) to give an opinion)
I was asked for LFTs which came normal and viral load which was 162iu/ml.
I received a health clearance in April and now awaiting my visa.
They just need the LFTs and viral load should be less than 200 iu/ml, and the anticipated cost( if on any medications) should not exceed 40000aud during your stay in Australia.( If on PR they calculate using 10yr)

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Hi dear

I am happy for you. You will get you VISA soon. I went through thesame process. Got mine after a month of health Declaration.

Thanks

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Hey everyone and thomas.

I’am very excited to share my happiness to hep. B community that i got my partnership based work visa. When i got to know that i’am hepatitis b positive i was devastated and very scared that i may passed it to my husband and i’ll never have chance to settle with him in abroad. But my husband supports me in every situation and said we should try once for visa. If it refused then we will do somthing else. Then because he wants to try every possible thing which should lead me towards him…we tried and on 25th may 2023 i got my work visa…and i’m so happy…

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Hi @Surbhitiwari,

Congratulations on your visa. I’m glad for you and your husband. Good luck on your future.

-Paul

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Indeed, great to hear, @Surbhitiwari. Congratulations!

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Hi there,

I got tested positive for Hep B few days ago and here in Australia for Holiday only.Am scared as someone from the health department contacted me for surveillance purposes with so many questions.What will happen to those information.Will it affect my visitor’s visa at all.Am scared if they would alert border security and my visa terminated.Please kindly advise.

Thank you

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Hi @ndj,

Thanks for sharing your story. That sounds so stressful! I am not sure that a holiday visa would be affected by a diagnosis with Hepatitis B, as you would not be working. From the Australian immigration website (Threats to public health):

Evidence of HIV or hepatitis

We generally don’t consider HIV or hepatitis to be a threat to public health.

But if you have HIV or hepatitis and you apply for a temporary visa, we might consider your condition to be a threat to public health if you intend to work as (or study to become) a doctor, nurse, dentist or paramedic in Australia.

Perhaps others might be able to share some comment on how the information from the questions are used (@MarkDouglas or @jennifer.maclachlan)

Cheers,
Thomas

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Hi @ThomasTu and @ndj,

Thanks for sharing your story @ndj.
I agree with Thomas that this should not have any impact on your tourist visa, as hepatitis B status isn’t a condition if you aren’t intending to stay long-term.

I’m not sure where you were tested, but in Victoria and some other regions, the health department follows up all new cases of hepatitis B to gather information, including whether the person is receiving appropriate information and follow up care.
In VIC it’s triggered automatically via the lab test result, and occurs for everyone who tests positive for hepatitis B, even if you are only traveling to Australia for a holiday. The information is only for the use of the health department for analysis, and isn’t related to the immigration department.
This may have been the reason for the call you received.

I am sorry that this experience caused you stress though, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your time here!

All the best,
Jennifer

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Hello everyone,
I got my visa to Australia after being diagnosed with hepatitis B during my medicals. I thought it would be nice to share it here and give hope to someone. I am going to study masters in nursing
The process was scary especially after diagnosis,but thanks to this group, i got alot of information here.
After diagnosis, i was requested to do LFTs and viral load. LFTs were normal and VL was 162.
I was then asked to sign a health undertaking, and soon after I got the visa grant.
I pray that we all get to achieve our dreams, and may hepatitis B never be the reason we get denied of opportunities.

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Thank you so much for your expertise in the matter @jennifer.maclachlan. I’m sure this will help allay some stress.

Fantastic news @Happysang! I wish you all the best in your studies and thank you for bringing hope to others with your update!

Thomas

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Hello I am in the same boat. About to apply for provisional PR visa but scared of my hbv status. I m following you.

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Hi Lovely,
I’m still waiting for the visa outcome, however, i got S56 message demanding for another police clearance certificate but no request for health certificate.
I will update you once the visa is out.

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