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Wurmwood
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
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 Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 6:17 am Post subject: Disqualifying Conditions |
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Hey, all. What can anyone tell me about what sort of medical conditions can disqualify a person from getting a visa? I've been surprised to learn about some of the conditions had by some of the teachers I've met. I thought you had to be in near-perfect health. I met a teacher with MS. It seems like I've met a diabetic or two. I think I met a guy with A.D.D. I even read recently (and I don't remember where, but this seems far-fetched) that people with HIV can now teach in Korea. Except for that last one, it kinda seems like they'll accept anyone who's not on the verge of death and doesn't have anything communicable. What are the standards as far as medical conditions go?
I'm asking because a few months ago, I had a bout of liver inflammation. The doctors don't know what caused it. Hepatitis was ruled out. I'm fine now; it seems to have been a fluke, but I'm worried now that if I tell them about this on my medical questionnaire for next year, they'll decide I'm not fit to teach. What do you think? Will this disqualify me from future jobs? |
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Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 6:59 pm Post subject: Re: Disqualifying Conditions |
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| Wurmwood wrote: |
| What do you think? Will this disqualify me from future jobs? |
Yes if you disclose yor condition and/or fail the liver enzyme test.  |
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crisdean
Joined: 04 Feb 2010
Location: Seoul Special City
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| Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: Disqualifying Conditions |
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| Wurmwood wrote: |
| I'm asking because a few months ago, I had a bout of liver inflammation. The doctors don't know what caused it. Hepatitis was ruled out. I'm fine now; it seems to have been a fluke, but I'm worried now that if I tell them about this on my medical questionnaire for next year, they'll decide I'm not fit to teach. What do you think? Will this disqualify me from future jobs? |
Well what were your ALT/AST levels during the imflammation, and what are they now?
If they are currently within the norm and are likely to stay in the normal range then you should have any problems passing the medical once you get here. Now if you disclose that you had a liver problem they may or may not chance bring you over and have you fail the medical examination. Whether you decide to include the information on your health check is a question of ethics that you'll have to decide yourself. I would advocate honesty, though it may hurt your chances. |
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NM14456
Joined: 21 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 11:28 pm Post subject: Re: Disqualifying Conditions |
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| crisdean wrote: |
| Wurmwood wrote: |
| I'm asking because a few months ago, I had a bout of liver inflammation. The doctors don't know what caused it. Hepatitis was ruled out. I'm fine now; it seems to have been a fluke, but I'm worried now that if I tell them about this on my medical questionnaire for next year, they'll decide I'm not fit to teach. What do you think? Will this disqualify me from future jobs? |
Well what were your ALT/AST levels during the imflammation, and what are they now?
If they are currently within the norm and are likely to stay in the normal range then you should have any problems passing the medical once you get here. Now if you disclose that you had a liver problem they may or may not chance bring you over and have you fail the medical examination. Whether you decide to include the information on your health check is a question of ethics that you'll have to decide yourself. I would advocate honesty, though it may hurt your chances. |
I have to say, after having routine liver tests over more many years as part of checkups etc. I'd take something of the opposite viewpoint.
The liver can show variations in readings that might even be described as way off yet mean nothing other than your liver's getting rid of something at the time of the test. There's also a condition called Gilbert's syndrome which basically means that your bilirubin is off. This indicates that, well, your bilirubin is off and not much more without extensive testing. To confirm Gilberts you need genetic tests.
A heavy weak of drinking could also throw off your liver readings and not mean anything else. While it may seem more honest to report this - in and of itself it means nothing. High liver levels can and do come and go signifying nothing. |
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dbtm
Joined: 24 Sep 2010
Location: ottawa
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| Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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| When does the medical check happen? In your country of origin or when you land in Korea? How long after landing? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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| dbtm wrote: |
| When does the medical check happen? In your country of origin or when you land in Korea? How long after landing? |
It happens IN Korea at a government approved hospital and within 80 days of arrival (you need to have your ARC within 90 days and the medical is part of the process.)
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Wurmwood
Joined: 13 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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Hey, guys. Thanks for the feedback.
I remembered recently that I've been told before that my enzyme levels were above normal. They've told me that after having my medical examination to get my visa, but they still let me work here. I've looked up information about fatty liver treatment and changed my diet accordingly, along with exercising more and quitting drinking.
Maybe I'm being paranoid (as usual), but my concern about not telling them about this is that they might run my name through some sort of national medical database and find out I lied to them. Would they do that? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Wurmwood wrote: |
| Would they do that? |
Nope.
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Vox_Populi
Joined: 04 May 2009
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 12:00 am Post subject: Re: Disqualifying Conditions |
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| Wurmwood wrote: |
Hey, all. What can anyone tell me about what sort of medical conditions can disqualify a person from getting a visa? I've been surprised to learn about some of the conditions had by some of the teachers I've met. I thought you had to be in near-perfect health. I met a teacher with MS. It seems like I've met a diabetic or two. I think I met a guy with A.D.D. I even read recently (and I don't remember where, but this seems far-fetched) that people with HIV can now teach in Korea. Except for that last one, it kinda seems like they'll accept anyone who's not on the verge of death and doesn't have anything communicable. What are the standards as far as medical conditions go?
I'm asking because a few months ago, I had a bout of liver inflammation. The doctors don't know what caused it. Hepatitis was ruled out. I'm fine now; it seems to have been a fluke, but I'm worried now that if I tell them about this on my medical questionnaire for next year, they'll decide I'm not fit to teach. What do you think? Will this disqualify me from future jobs? |
I'm a diabetic (Type II) and have fatty liver which causes my blood tests to show slightly elevated liver enzymes (nothing dramatic, but enough to fail the test). Anyway, the answer is no, this is not a problem. The government doesn't really care as long as you don't have something communicable. When you have your immigration physical, they'll do blood work and will notify you of the problems they've encountered on the test. The only major issue I can see is that your employer will be alerted so you may want to aim heavily toward an after school program or adult hagwon so that you'll have ample time for doctor visits in your off hours. You can then assure your employer that you won't need to take any work hours off to see the doctor. There are no laws in Korea protecting you from being fired for medical conditions so you have to tread pretty lightly.
I've also heard that persons with HIV are now allowed but I haven't heard a specific case of a person who has HIV coming here and not having a problem so I'm a bit dubious. |
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