Hello Ma’am, and Hello Everyone. Thank God I found this forum about Hepatitis B and its relation to immigration visas. If I may, I’d like to ask about the results of the tests I underwent and if they will be sufficient for INZ (Immigration New Zealand). My husband is currently working in New Zealand, and we had the opportunity to apply for a sponsorship visa. However, I have chronic Hepatitis B. I have undergone several tests such as Liver Function Test, Liver FibroScan, HBeAg, AFP, and HBV DNA test. All my test results have already been submitted to the Immigration Panel Physician
Hi Anna,
I am a Hepatitis Nurse in NZ and work for the Hepatitis Foundation, I am happy to answer any questions about Hep B related to immigration medicals for entry to NZ.
You can contact me by email; lynnaire.matthews@hfnz.nz
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Lynnaire Matthews NZRCN
HFNZ
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Good day, ma’am. Thank you for answering my inquiry. I would like to send you the results of my medical lab tests because I don’t fully understand them. I’m also not sure if I will pass INZ and be approved for a Partnership Visa. So I really need help.
Hi everyone, thank you for all that you do for the community. I have some inquiries to make regarding immigration to the US as a grad student.
What do I need to know pertaining to traveling with some of my medications for HBV? Or requirements at the port of entry?.
Also, how do I go about adjusting and spilling to the student health center or grad school about it and what am I to expect in these scenarios. I want to gather information so as to brace up for the changes thats likely to Come with this immigration. I’ll really appreciate all information and suggestions I can get from this community @Bansah1 @ThomasTu @Caraline and others please.
Hi @ TheVet,
With the medication, I will declare them at customs and immigration at your starting airport and get a note from your doctor stating why you have them and the reasons. This letter should be official on a letterhead with contact information.
I am a graduate student, and I only remember them asking on a form if I was vaccinated against a number of diseases including HBV if I remember correctly. I checked No and explained why. Nobody asked me anything after that. I don’t know about international students. But if asked about your health, sure you can share that. If you are not asked then do not say anything about it. Try and see if you can have your diagnosis results and other treatment documents with you. You don’t have to bring your entire medical record, just 2 or 3 pages including your diagnosis, treatment plan, and progress notes from your doctor.
I have never been in this situation so I am unable to provide anything concrete, but I hope recommendations might be helpful. Thanks, Bansah1
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Hello @TheVet
I agree with @Bansah1 about not telling others unless asked. And the crossing borders recommendations.
I find I usually get lots of questions that even I cannot answer. Which makes things awkward and a kind of insecurity whether the virus is safe to them.
All the best and thanks for sharing.
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Hi @TheVet,
Thank you for the kind words. I think the US immigration situation is fluid and changing. Our colleagues at the Hepatitis B Foundation would probably have the best overview of the situation on the ground, so please reach out to them @chari.cohen @beatrice.zovich @CFreeland @rgish
Thomas
Hi @Bansah1 @ThomasTu and everyone, I trust you all have been fine.
As an international graduate student with Hep B going to the US, when registering for an assistantship, and one is asked if he /she has a disability “a condition that substantially limits one or more of ones major life activities “. What is advisable to be ticked?
Considering the Hep B Is under proper care, medication and no obvious limitations to any area of the persons life activities.
Please advise accordingly. Thank you. I’ll appreciate from persons who have experienced this .
Holistically, if you don’t have any limitations or anything that can be considered a disability ( physically, mentally, psychologically etc) then you can check no. HBV diagnosis is not a disability in itself, but some patients do develop some limitations from the disease.
Analyze yourself and see if there’s anything that causes any limitations to your life. If that’s not the case then you check, “No”. I hope this helps. Bansah1
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Thank you @Bansah1 , I appreciate your response. That’s exactly what I did and it was the right call.
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@chari.cohen @rgish @CFreeland @beatrice.ary good day to you all.
I want to make enquiries on traveling with TDF for hepatitis B to the United States. What do I need to know beforehand and what experience am I likely to encounter at the port of entry. I have heard that I need just a prescription note, and ive also heard that a prescription note and a medical note is what I need, ive also heard people say I shouldn’t go with the medications and instead DHL it after. I honestly need your expertise on this situation please .
I’ll appreciate it
@TheVet could you Google travelling to us with medication?
There should be a website that explains what medication you can bring into the country and how much.
I do remember reading somewhere take a months supply, prescription and letter from doctor. Really you should look up yourself. I would be sad if you got in trouble and I was wrong.
I would definitely recommend taking the medication with you, instead of sending it separately by courier. It will likely be fine if you have a copy of the prescription and a doctor’s note. The only instance I can think of where it wouldn’t be fine is if you’re taking a large quantity of medication with you (e.g. more than 90 days supply). In that case, they might pull you aside and question you more. It helps that TDF is not a drug that is used for recreational purposes, so you can explain to them that it’s for personal use only. Also, keep all of your medications in the original container that you got when you picked it up from the pharmacy.
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I’ve had absolutely no problems with transporting my medications with me and I travel quite a bit for work. I’ve indeed taken more than 2 months worth with me at a time.
However, the US has changed quite a bit over the last months, so this may be different now.
TT
Question about HBV and Vietnam Work Permit
Dear all,
I hope you are doing well.
I am a chronic HBV patient currently on Tenofovir treatment. I was originally diagnosed in 2014 and began treatment in 2024. I am 25 years old.
My doctor has been monitoring my progress and provided a note stating that I have “achieved normalization of liver enzymes and significant reduction in viral load.” Because of this, my follow-up schedule has been extended from every 3 months to every 6 months.
Currently, my viral load has decreased from 1.2E+8 to 1.34E+2. My doctor reassured me that HBV under stable treatment should not prevent me from obtaining a work permit in Vietnam.
However, I noticed that the medical examination for work permits in Vietnam includes an HBV test, which makes me a bit worried. I am applying for a position as an R&D staff in an animal nutrition company in Vietnam, and I would like to know:
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Has anyone with a similar condition and doctor’s note faced any issues during the Vietnam work permit process?
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Is there anything specific I should prepare in advance regarding the medical examination?
Any advice or shared experiences would mean a lot to me.
Thank you very much for your support.
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Hi @Ly_Siv_Eing,
Welcome to the forum and thank you for sharing your experiences. I’m actually unsure about the work permit process in Vietnam - I think @UyenV or @lien.tran could help here. Perhaps there are others from Vietnam who could also comment (@Alicehanoi @apatient).
Thomas
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Dear @Rasheedat_Lateef,
Are you on medication? Is it easy to get HBV medication in UAE?
Hi Anna,
Have you got the result for your application? I’m also living with chronic Hep B and studying in New Zealand. I have been granted a study visa in New Zealand, but I’m not sure about a work visa. Please let me know.
Noah,
Hello Noah,
My visa was approved two months ago and I am already here in NZ.
Anna❤️
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Thank you so much for your prompt response, Anna.
It’s so great to hear that you’re here in New Zealand with us 
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