Obese or diabetic? Getting US visa may become harder

A close-up view of a U.S. visa. Courtesy of Pixabay

SEATTLE — If you’re obese or diabetic, moving to the United States could soon become much harder.

Under the new Trump administration guidance, immigrants with chronic conditions such as diabetes or obesity may be denied U.S. immigrant visas as officials expand medical screening to include non-contagious illnesses. The policy, sent to U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, instructs visa officers to assess whether applicants with long-term or costly health issues might become a “public burden,” tightening health-based grounds for immigration.

The directive coincided with President Donald Trump’s announcement Thursday to cut consumer costs for popular weight-loss drugs. On the same day he pledged to make medications like Ozempic and Wegovy more affordable for Americans, the administration issued new instructions that could make it harder for obese foreigners or those with diabetes to qualify for immigrant visas.

According to a U.S. State Department cable, consular officers are now required to consider a wide range of chronic conditions including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancers, metabolic and neurological disorders, and mental health issues. Officers are instructed to weigh potential medical expenses and decide whether applicants can cover treatment costs without U.S. government 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?" the cable reads.

The guidance also directs visa officers to consider the health of family members, including children or older parents.

"Do any of the dependents have disabilities, chronic medical conditions, or other special needs and require care such that the applicant cannot maintain employment?" the cable asks.

Previously, visa screenings focused mainly on contagious diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis and measles, along with vaccination records. The new guidance expands that list to include chronic conditions that could limit an applicant’s ability to work or require ongoing care. Critics warn this shift gives consular officers wide discretion to make subjective health judgments and could unfairly affect older or lower-income applicants.

Immigration advocates say the rule revives the “public charge” policy used during Trump’s first term, when immigrants seen as likely to rely on public aid could be denied green cards or visas.