US EditionImmigrants with health conditions may be denied visas under new Trump administration guidance
New visa rules require officers to assess chronic illnesses and potential public benefit reliance, expanding medical grounds for visa denial under Trump administration.
- On Thursday, the State Department sent a cable directing embassy and consular officials to assess applicants' health when deciding visa eligibility, expanding criteria beyond communicable diseases to include chronic conditions.
- The directive frames health concerns as potential 'public charge' risks and tells visa officers to evaluate if applicants can cover lifetime medical costs without relying on U.S. government benefits.
- Guidance names chronic diseases and cites care costs for cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and cancers; Sophia Genovese warned, 'Taking into consideration one's diabetic history or heart health history — that's quite expansive.'
- Legal experts warned adjudicators lack medical training for these projections, saying visa officers face fairness concerns and the guidance conflicts with the Foreign Affairs Manual's 'what if' rejection rules.
- Applicants continue to undergo embassy-approved medical exams, but family health now factors into consular decisions, with officers considering dependents' disabilities or family members' medical needs.
50 Articles
50 Articles
The U.S. administration continues to restrict visa application procedures even further. From now on, the overall health status of applicants could be taken into account. Washington could thus reject applications if the person suffers from certain health problems, according to a directive sent to U.S. consulates and embassies and consulted by the KFF website, which specializes in health.
‘Must Consider Applicant’s Health’: Trump Administration Directs Visa Officers to Deny Entry to Immigrants With Medical Conditions Like Diabetes, Obesity
The Trump administration has issued new guidance directing US visa officers to reject foreigners seeking to live in the United States if they have certain medical conditions, including diabetes or obesity, CBS News reported. ‘Must Consider Applicant’s Health’: Trump Administration Directs Visa Officers to Deny Entry to Immigrants With Medical Conditions Like Diabetes, Obesity.
US can now deny visas for foreigners with diabetes & other chronic illnesses in latest directive
The United States can now deny visas and green cards for foreign nationals seeking to immigrate to the country based on pre-existing chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
Visa Rule Targets Immigrants Who Need Costly Medical Care
The State Department has confirmed a new directive allowing consular officers to deny immigrant visas to applicants with medical conditions that could lead to significant public expenses. The Hill reported that the policy instructs officers to weigh whether an applicant’s health might make them more likely to depend on government-funded care or long-term assistance once in the United States. Outlined in an internal cable sent to department perso…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 34% of the sources lean Left, 33% of the sources are Center, 33% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
