The United States government has rolled out new immigration guidelines that could deny visas and green cards to foreign nationals living with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other long-term illnesses.
The directive, issued under President Donald Trump’s administration, broadens the definition of a “public charge” — a term in U.S. immigration law referring to individuals likely to become financially dependent on government assistance.
According to a State Department cable circulated to U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, visa officers have been instructed to identify applicants whose medical conditions could result in “hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of care.”
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The document lists cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancers, metabolic and neurological disorders, as well as mental health conditions among the illnesses that could trigger visa denials. It also highlights obesity as a potential red flag, citing its association with costly complications such as asthma, sleep apnea, and hypertension.
Under the new policy, officials are directed to consider whether applicants may pose a financial burden on the state due to their health conditions.
Previously, medical screenings for visa applicants mainly focused on communicable diseases such as tuberculosis. However, this directive marks a significant policy shift, placing chronic illnesses at the center of immigration eligibility assessments.
According to the U.S.-based Murthy Law Firm, the State Department’s move represents an unprecedented linkage between health status and admissibility, effectively tying an applicant’s medical history to their perceived economic value.
It remains unclear whether these new rules will extend to nonimmigrant visa categories such as tourist (B1/B2) or student (F1) visas.