2011-Jun 03: Scanned signatures for medical and X-Ray certificates and from immigration advisers [Outdated for eMed users]

Visa Pak 19 — Information about being consistent when accepting scanned signatures for medical and X-Ray certificates and from immigration advisers [Outdated for eMed users].

Visa Paks

3 June 2011

NOTE: BELOW INFORMATION CONTAINS [OUTDATED INFORMATION for any office using eMed]

Scanned signatures for medical and X-Ray certificates and from immigration advisers
[Outdated for any office using eMed]

Feedback from branches has made Service Support and Operations Support aware that branches are inconsistent in how/if they accept scanned radiologist signatures with Medical and X-Ray forms.

This follows a change to the way some X-Ray facilities operate, where some facilities have moved their radiologists to a separate site from the site where X-Rays are captured.

A process has been developed in consultation with Legal Services to allow scanned radiologist signatures to be presented with an applicant’s Medical and X-Ray form.

1. In order for a scanned signature from a radiologist to be acceptable for the purposes of lodgement the following process must be complied with:
i. at the X-Ray facility the original X-Ray form is scanned and sent to the offsite radiologist,
ii. the radiologist provides their signature (and date) and
iii. the radiologist sends the application form back to the applicant with a supplementary email or note from the radiologist (or one of the personnel at the site of capture for the X-Ray) confirming that the radiologist has signed and dated the relevant page of the form.

2. The applicant then provides the following to the relevant INZ branch:
i. the original form - signed and dated; and
ii. the scanned copy of the relevant page of the form (or the entire scanned form, including the relevant section) with the radiologist's signature and date; and
iii. the supplementary email or note.

An original signature is still preferred, but in circumstances where this is not feasible this guidance may be followed.

Please ensure your branch practice complies with these instructions, and accepts Medical and X-Ray certificates submitted according to the guidance above.