Foreign nationals seeking to immigrate to the United States could soon face Visa denials due to illnesses such as diabetes or obesity.
This is according to a recent government directive issued by the Trump administration which bars immigration of foreign nationals with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, or obesity, among others.
The guidelines were issued by the State Department, which says that people with issues could become a “public charge” and potentially drain the US resources.
While screening for communicable diseases, checking vaccination history, infectious diseases and mental health conditions have always been part of the visa application process; the new guidelines add new medical conditions to be considered.
“You must consider an applicant’s health. Certain medical conditions, including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health conditions, can require hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of care,” read the cable as reported by ABC News.
The guidelines further direct Visa officers to assess applicants’ capability to take care of their medical expenses.
According to a senior attorney for the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, a nonprofit legal aid group, Charles Wheeler, although the guidelines are for all visas, it will likely be used only for permanent residency cases.
“Does the applicant have adequate financial resources to cover the costs of such care over his entire expected lifespan without seeking public cash assistance or long-term institutionalisation at government expense?” the cable says.
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