Chef Trapped in Immigration Battle Over Weight

A chef in New Zealand says the country won’t let him become a resident because of his weight.

The immigration battle brews

Albertus Buitenhuis, who is originally from South Africa, says he’s worked in New Zealand for six years, but was denied residency by the country’s immigration office because of weight-related medical problems.

“I am a chef, not a politician and I do not want to be the poster child for immigration issues — but I have become that I feel,” he told CNN. “I just want to work and live here.”

Buitenhuis and his wife are now stuck in the cross-hairs of an immigration battle. The two have had to stop working now that they’re considered illegal aliens.

“We’ve been kicked out of our home. We’re in the process of losing our phones, we’re going to be cut off. We’re living with my sister,” he said. “It hurts your pride, it’s humiliating.”

New Zealand’s immigration policy

To earn residency, Buitenhuis did have to take several medical exams. The immigration office says a person’s status cannot be denied because of obesity alone. In Buitenhuis’ cases, the agency cited a list of medical problems including a knee injury and high likelihood of diabetes and hypertension.

According to CNN, New Zealand made headlines for a similar case in 2009, when a woman claimed she was denied residency because of her weight.

Experts say it’s not uncommon for countries to screen applicants based on medical conditions, especially countries with public health care system, which New Zealand has.

The next step

The couple has filed an appeal and hopes to have the decision overturned.

“We committed no crime and did nothing wrong other than my husband being a foodie,” wrote Marthie Buitenhuis, his wife. “We also feel that this situation is treated very lightly while it should be abundantly clear to the officials involved with our case that the situation is urgent.”