US visa new rule targets applicants with chronic Illnesses like obesity, diabetes
In a move that has drawn widespread attention, the Trump administration has introduced new visa guidelines that could bar foreign nationals with chronic health conditions, including diabetes, obesity, or heart disease from entering or residing in the United States.
According to a CBS News report, which cited documents reviewed by KFF Health News, the State Department has circulated a directive to U.S. embassies and consular offices around the world. The guidance reportedly instructs visa officers to evaluate applicants’ medical histories more closely, weighing chronic illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease as potential indicators of future dependence on public healthcare programs.
The directive underscores the administration’s push to link immigration eligibility to an applicant’s financial and health profile, effectively allowing consular officials to determine whether an individual might pose a long-term burden on the U.S. healthcare system.
The updated guidance expands the long-standing “public charge” rule, outlining that visa applicants could now be deemed ineligible if their health conditions or age suggest a possible future reliance on government-funded medical services. While medical examinations have always been part of the U.S. immigration process, experts note that this latest directive significantly broadens the interpretation of who qualifies as a potential “public charge.”
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Under the new framework, consular officers are being granted broader discretion to deny applications not only on the basis of current health but also on projected medical costs or anticipated healthcare needs.
“You must consider an applicant’s health,” the cable says. “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.”
The directive further singles out obesity as a potential risk factor, noting that it can contribute to other health complications such as asthma, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, conditions that may result in higher long-term medical costs. By linking obesity to future healthcare expenditures, the policy effectively broadens the range of medical issues that could count against a visa applicant.
The report adds that visa officers are now required to assess whether applicants have the financial means to cover potential medical expenses without relying on any assistance. “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 institutionalization at government expense?” they ask.
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The updated guidance also extends scrutiny to applicants’ family members, directing visa officers to evaluate the health conditions of dependents such as children or elderly parents. Officials are instructed to consider whether caring for these relatives could limit an applicant’s ability to maintain stable employment or meet financial obligations while in the United States.
Alongside the expanded health-based screening for immigrant visa applicants, the Trump administration has also moved to tighten oversight of temporary visa programs.
A senior State Department official confirmed on Wednesday that since President Trump took office on January 20, the administration has revoked roughly 80,000 non-immigrant visas. Many of these cancellations, officials said, were linked to applicants or visa holders accused or convicted of offenses such as driving under the influence, assault, or theft.
The large-scale revocations reflect the administration’s broader effort to enforce stricter immigration controls and reinforce its stance on public safety.
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