Obese visitors could be squeezed out of the queue for US visas by a new directive to embassies and consulates, designed for ‘putting the interests of the American people first’
US President Donald Trump’s administration has issued a new directive that could block clinically obese foreigners from getting US visas. The new directive to US embassies and consulates from the State Department tells officials to consider denying visas for people with chronic health issues such as being overweight.
The new directive lists conditions including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancers, and some neurological and mental-health disorders, KFF Health News reported. These conditions can reportedly involve care totalling hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The directive further urge officials to check: “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?”
“Self-sufficiency has been a long-standing principle of US immigration policy,” the directive reportedly continues. “The public-charge ground of inadmissibility has been a part of our immigration law for more than 100 years.”
Tommy Pigott, principal deputy spokesperson, confirmed the directive with Fox News Digital on November 11. “It’s no secret the Trump administration is putting the interests of the American people first,” he said.
“This includes enforcing policies that ensure our immigration system is not a burden on the American taxpayer.” A US Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said: “Lawful travellers have nothing to fear from these measures, which are designed to protect our nation’s security.”
But the statement also warned: “However, those intending to enter the US with fraudulent purposes or malicious intent are offered the following advice: Don’t even try.
“If statutes or visa terms are violated, travellers may be subject to detention and removal. A visa is a privilege, not a right, and only those who respect our laws and follow the proper procedures will be welcomed.”
Applicants must prove they have coverage. Officers must conduct a “comprehensive and thorough vetting” of each case and to assess “the totality of the applicant’s circumstances” before issuing any visa.
Those without insurance and unable to show they can cover potential medical costs, such as those associated with a chronic condition, could face rejection. Charles Wheeler, a senior attorney for the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, told KFF Health News that the guidelines will likely only to be applied to visitors seeking permanent residency.
But he raised concerns over the guidance for visa officers to check whether an applicant’s health problems could cause them to seek government assistance. “That’s troubling because they’re not medically trained,” he said.
“They have no experience in this area, and they shouldn’t be making projections based on their own personal knowledge or bias.” Non-citizen immigrants are significantly more likely to be uninsured compared to US citizens, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).
bout one in five lawfully present immigrant adults were uninsured in 2023, according to KFF.
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