Under 60 Residency Renewal - Rules for Blood Doners Changed!

[Asia111]

My husband is under 60 and a regular blood doner. For the past 3 years he has been exempt from normal under 60 residency blood tests and x-rays due to his commitment as a regular blood doner.
I am not a blood doner so I am required to complete blood tests.

We are not newbies to this process - we are in our 11th year of residency and as organised as we can be when it comes to residency renewal.

Today my husband made his 3rd donation of blood at Girne hospital, then we headed to the polis station with our paperwork. The polis officer told my husband he would have to return to Girne hospital for an x-ray at a cost of 20tl. When my husband challenged the requirement for an X-ray as a regular blood doner he was told it was a new rule introduced a couple of months ago!

My husband accepted the instruction and we returned to Girne hospital. Firstly we had to queue for 1 hour at the pay centre. When we finally got our turn to pay, we were told that my husband could not pay the 20tl fee until he produced his blood test results from Nicosia from today's blood donation. That would have delayed things for a week not to mention the additional journey to Nicosia as we normally pick up the results on the way to Nicosia immigration. There seemed no logic to the pay office rules as the results of the blood donation would not be for the pay office staff eyes anyway, and should not stop my husband having his x-ray. After waiting so long - then to be given the brush off - I make no apologies for saying I completely lost it! I was ushered to a managers office who reiterated the same as the pay office staff. There was no reasoning behind their barriers to progress and by this stage I was absolutely fuming. I refused to budge until they gave my husband a receipt for 20tl - The staff backed down in the end! The receipt was obtained, x-ray completed and back to the polis station to complete the process just before closing time. We had been on the go since 8.30 am!

To add insult to injury there was a large poster outside the immigration polis office door asking for people to consider donating blood!

In my opinion this new rule offers no incentive for blood doners under 60. Just creates more hassle. If this new rule continues, my husband will probably still give blood, but will donate when it suits him, releasing him from the contraints of donating 3 x per year with the last donation within 30 days of residency. Yes he will have to have a blood test and pay 135tl for the privilege but as a non blood doner myself, it was very noticeable today how much easier it was for me to complete my residency.

[Taximax]

We are (were) both regular blood doners until recently. We have encountered exactly the same problems you did over the last few years and finally just decided to pay the money (non blood doner fees) and not end up having the annual "discussion" at the hospital pay office. Confused though as three weeks ago there was no X-Ray just a TB jab and then they checked me 3 days later.....

Personally speaking it was not worth the hassle to try and get "doner preferences".

Also every recent appeal for blood has been for people under 50 who are not on medication - does anyone have a medical explanation for this.

[Asia111]

Hi Taximax,

Just to clarify it was only my husband that had to have the x-ray, not myself. He goes back for the results in a week.

As an non blood doner I just paid my 135 tl and went to the private clinic/lab where they took a blood sample and did a TB jab. In and out in 5 mins and go back for results in 2 days.

[come_on_aylin]

Typical! This is the first year I've managed to give blood for exemption and my last donation is due next month. They always seem to change the rules just before I need to renew.

So is the new process: Make final donation of blood at Girne, Get the results from Lefkosa, take them to the Girne hospital when you go for an X-ray, take x-ray receipt, blood results and all normal paperwork to Police station then got to Immigration a few weeks later? Or do you need something from the Police in order to get the X-ray?

No doubt it will change again before I go...

[tomsteel]

Why not refer this topic to the BRS, who have appointed the Society to raise the concerns of expats to the TRNC Government Minister responsible?

[come_on_aylin]

I have already emailed them so will post their reply when I receive it.

Just one question for Acacia - in previous years we have picked up our results from Girne hospital, under the blood donor method do we have to pick them up from Lefkosa? That's how I read your post.

[Asia111]

Come on Aylin

The process TODAY for blood doner under age 60 is:

Give 3rd blood donation within 30 days of residency renewal date
Get blood doner card signed
Go to Nicosia blood bank 1 week after donating blood to collect blood test results, regardless of where you donated the blood
Go to polis station with paperwork. They will give your your paperwork back and give you a piece of paper to take to Girne Hospital for x-ray.
Go to pay centre at Grine hospital and pay 20tl for x-ray. Present blood test results.
Go to Girne X-ray section present receipt for 20tl and complete x-ray
Go back to polis station with your paperwork
Collect x-ray results one week after x-ray
2-3 weeks later go to immigration Nicosia with your money, stamps, blood test results from blood donation and x-ray results

TOMORROW may be a different story!!!!!

[Lottidotti]

Age discrimination continues to rear its head in TRNC.What happens at aged 59 that doesn't happen at 60?
Why do you have to have an X-ray when you are a blood donor is beyond me,I would have thought the blood test is more comprehensive than an X-ray.
Perhaps persons over 60 don't get infectious illnesses and everybody under does.

I think I must be on another planet.

[come_on_aylin]

One of the reasons I decided to go down the blood donor route was to avoid an X-ray which of course is hazardous to one's health. What's the point? I've been here for 9 years so if I'm going to catch TB then it's going to be from here - I haven't heard that there is an outbreak here and last time I was TB tested I was immune anyway.

[karmels]

Taximax

I have been told by a good friend who needed blood after a major operation that it is the private hospitals who are asking for blood from the under 60s not on medication.
I was the one who posted this for him to replace 12 units, and got a bit of flack about this age problem.
You can only ask for what is required and stated by the hospital and yes it was a private one.
We managed to replace all 12 units thanks to Prue Lundy who runs the blood donor centre for the BRS.

[come_on_aylin]

The reply I got from the BRS says that the requirement for an X-ray is in the procedures but it looks like they haven't chosen to enforce it until now. The BRS will take it up with the Health Minister at the next meeting which, unfortunately, will be too late for me.

Has anyone else renewed since 16th July? Be interesting to see whether they are being consistent.

Acacia - what is the process on 3rd/final donation of blood? I take it they have to treat it differently from a normal blood donation?

[Asia111]

Come on Aylin

The process is as per the list I posted on 16th July above.

[sparky71]

We went the exactly the same process/hassle when we did our second temporary residency, the staff in the pay office kept telling us blood! blood! which I told them we had given our third donation last week, we went to the managers office and were told the same as you, go to Lefkosa state hospital for the results.
Got the results, back to Girne Hospital the next day with the results and only then did they let us go for the chest x-ray(20TL)
Went back a few days later to collect the sealed envelope and onto Girne police station, told to collect from Lefkosa immigration office in 2 weeks.
In all fairness we had the heated discussion at the pay office in Girne hospital, but if we had known we needed the blood results it would have been relatively easy.

[Lottidotti]

Sparky71,
What happened when you went to the police Station with the sealed chest X-ray result.I thought you just went straight to immigration to get stamp in Passport as all the paperwork had already been checked at Police Station prior to having blood and chest X-ray.

[Lottidotti]

Having read this post it would appear that by the time you have been messed about by having to go and collect blood test from Lefkosa on one day,then having to go back to Lefkosa to collect X-ray results on another day if taking the 'give blood' route there is no saving to be made as it's cost more in petrol.
Not giving blood option seems the best way forward .
That's how I see it anyway.

[sparky71]

Sparky71,
What happened when you went to the police Station with the sealed chest X-ray result.I thought you just went straight to immigration to get stamp in Passport as all the paperwork had already been checked at Police Station prior to having blood and chest X-ray.

As you say all the documents are checked at the police station and you are the told to go to the hospital to get blood test(if required) and chest x-ray.
When you take them back to the police station he staples all your documents/results together and they send them off, you then go to immigration approx 2 weeks later to get your residency stamp in your passport.

[sparky71]

Having read this post it would appear that by the time you have been messed about by having to go and collect blood test from Lefkosa on one day,then having to go back to Lefkosa to collect X-ray results on another day if taking the 'give blood' route there is no saving to be made as it's cost more in petrol.
Not giving blood option seems the best way forward .
That's how I see it anyway.

I agree the system is far from perfect but would think most cars would do the extra trip to Lefkosa hospital for less than a £5.

[tomsteel]

Sorry, again, to be pedantic. However, the passport stamping entry, whatever the age group of the expatriate, is "Tempoary Visitor". Nowhere is the term 'Resident', be it permanent or temporary mentioned. Why do posters continue to use the term 'residency' when the TRNC Government does not? Beggars belief really!

[Lottidotti]

Tomsteel,
I think that most people use the word resident because that's what they are although the government don't call it that.
Getting the temporary visitor stamp in their Passport allows people to 'reside' legally for more than 90 days . I would like to think I reside here as I live and have lived here for a considerable time and have my home here.
At the end of the day it's a play on words you could argue that any person over 60 years who doesn't have a temporary visitor stamp in their Passport is a tourist because there is no way they can prove they reside in the country.

[come_on_aylin]

Acacia

I was asking about the process for giving blood - i.e. I am assuming that they do something different processing the 3rd donation so that you are able to collect results from Lefkosa - a normal blood donation surely wouldn't generate 'results'. I take it if I say it is for residency (sorry Tom Steel) that they will know what I'm on about?

Also do you collect the X-ray results from Girne or Lefkosa? I assumed Girne

[sophie]

There are very few times in ones life when one is grateful for getting old, but having read the above, I am profoundly grateful.

[Owl Lady]

Me also. We also get an "Old age pension" if we are lucky. Age has it's concessions!!

[Lottidotti]

The only time I wish I was over 60 is when it comes to residency,or as tomsteel calls it my 'temporary visitor stamp in my Passport' although residency is easier to say.

[Asia111]

Come on Aylin

I assume that all blood donations are sent to Lefkosa blood bank for testing.

It is only your 3rd blood test results that immigration are interested in. The blood test report refers to the 3rd donation only. If there was a problem with any of your blood donations you probably would have received a telephone call from the blood bank - when you donate blood you fill in a form and provide your tel no and email address for this purpose.

You do not have to take x-ray and blood test results to the polis station. All the polis station is interested in is your other paperwork, production of your blood doner card and a copy of a receipt to confirm you have paid for your x-ray. If you want to collect your test results first and submit them with your paperwork at the same time that is your choice, but not mandatory.

You can collect your x-ray results and blood test results at a later date and take these with you to immigration in Lekosa.

[come_on_aylin]

Thanks

[Asia111]

My husband went to pick up his x-ray results this morning - should have been ready yesterday, but he decided to allow and extra day. Guess what - results not ready!!!!!! Another wasted journey! He was advised to try again tomorrow, but as there are no guarantees, he has decided to wait until the Bayram holiday is well and truly over before he tries again. By the time he collects his results it will be over 2 weeks!

He is fed up to the back teeth. Will not be going down the blood doner route again for residency purposes. The way he feels at the moment it is likely that the TRNC has lost another blood doner also.

FYI - X-ray results are collected from a small manned kiosk on the ground floor - in the same block as the cafe and pay desk.

[Joe Soap]

In view of all the above harassment I am really wondering if it is worth donating blood.
Perhaps the BRS could get the Authorities to change their procedures and attitude otherwise donations are going to stop.

[Asia111]

Following on from my posting of 24th July,

My husband went to the hospital to collect his X-ray results today. He was usher to the pay desk as the results were not at the results collection kiosk.

The staff behind the pay desk dug out a box file off one of the shelves and produced my husbands x-ray results but would not hand them over to him. He was told he had to go to Nicosia and collect his blood doner blood tests and then go back to the pay desk with them. They pay desk will them part with his x-ray results.

This is the 3rd journey to the hospital - one to do the x-ray and 2 failed attempts to collect results. Now instead of collecting blood test results on way to immigration he has to do an extra journey to Nicosia and a 4th journey to the hospital.

CRAZY OR WHAT!

[come_on_aylin]

And they say not to let your residency expire - if you go down the blood donor route it doesn't sound possible to jump through all the hoops in time, seeing as you can't do your final donation until 30 days before expiry.

You couldn't make it up...

Acacia, thank you for keeping us all up-to-date - going to start the process in 2 weeks, no doubt it will have changed again by then.

[come_on_aylin]

Made my 3rd donation on Monday and managed to pick up the results from Lefkosa today (we were passing so thought I'd chance it). The results are not in a sealed envelope as I expected - is that normal?
Will go to the Police station next week for the next part of the adventure...such fun!

[come_on_aylin]

Did part 2 this morning - went to Police Station, got the slip for an x-ray, went to hospital. Due to the refurbishment the Cashiers/Vezne has moved from the ground floor near the cafe (at back of hospital) to one floor up, opposite stairwell, above cafe. There are no signs apart from Saglik raportlar on one of the windows - there are 2 windows and some metal barriers for queuing. Go to right hand window first, hand over slip from police, blood test results and passport. You will then be asked to pay at left hand window when your name is called out. When you pay 20TL you will be given 2 receipts and told to go to X-ray (rontgen) - it is on the same floor towards front of building. Once you have had the x-ray done, go back to Police station hand over all your papers plus receipts for X-ray, one receipt will be returned to you to enable collection of X-ray. I was told X-ray results should be ready by Friday and to take them to Immigration, Lefkosa in 2 weeks time. They weren't able to tell me where to collect the results from but I will try the place where I paid - also note that they held on to my blood test results.

[come_on_aylin]

Just picked up the X-ray results (and blood tests) all sealed in an envelope. Of course you don't pick up the results from the cashiers (the cashiers are still upstairs but now have Vezne on the left hand window) - you go down the stairs and there are 2 windows at the bottom of the stairs with a sign saying Sonuclar (opposite the entrance). Tomorrow it may be different...

[Asia111]

Went to immigration offices in Nicosia for the final stay of the residency process armed with blood test and x-ray results. No problems - it was a breeze! We were in and out within an hour!

It is quite noticeable year on year that there are fewer and fewer expats at immigration.

[sophie]

I agree Acacia, we don't have to do ours until November, but we said the same thing last year. People say "we were in and out in three quarters of an hour" or whatever, the reason it seems to me - there are fewer people applying! I suppose the Russians and Ukranians have to go through the same procedures? We never seem to meet any of them in Immigration though.

[come_on_aylin]

Did our final bit today, got to immigration at 08:50 and out by 09:10 - just had time to buy the stamps (11.50 TL each) before being called (tickets 15 & 16). Hubby did the over 60 thing for 1st time - no problem, they barely looked at the paperwork. Here's hoping they introduce the white card (and we're eligible) before next year.