The Trump administration has quietly expanded the health criteria that U.S. consular officers may use to deny visas, adding common chronic conditions like obesity, cancer, and diabetes to the list of potential grounds for refusal. This could translate to even temporary travelers being denied entry at US ports of entry.
The directive broadens medical screening beyond the long-standing focus on contagious diseases. Visa officers are now told to consider whether applicants have chronic health conditions that could lead to high long-term medical costs and potentially make them a “public charge” in the United States.
According to the reporting, the cable instructs consular officers to factor in conditions such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cancers, diabetes, metabolic disorders, neurological disease, and certain mental health conditions when deciding whether an applicant might impose significant costs on U.S. health systems. Obesity is specifically highlighted as a risk factor, with references to complications like sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and depression.
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