The United States Government has issued an advisory banning all foreign nationals who are diabetic, obese, or have chronic heart disease or any other illness from entering the country.
According to the directive sent by the State Department to embassies and consulates worldwide, visa officers are now instructed to consider an applicant’s health and the potential financial burden they might pose to the US healthcare system when determining eligibility.
The directive expands the scope of medical evaluations traditionally focused on communicable diseases like tuberculosis, allowing officials to weigh chronic and non-contagious illnesses such as cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological, and mental health conditions.
“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.
It also highlights obesity as a risk factor, citing its links to asthma, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure, conditions that may result in costly, long-term medical care.
Applicants will now be assessed not only on their health but also on their financial capacity to manage medical treatment independently, without placing a burden on the US healthcare system.
Visa officers were instructed to determine whether candidates have “adequate financial resources to cover the costs of such care over their entire expected lifespan” without seeking public assistance.
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