US Visa, Green Card Rules Toughen for Diabetes, Obesity, Heart Disease

The Trump administration, under the new directives, can deny US visas and permanent residency to foreign nationals battling health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or obesity. The guidelines, sent by the State Department to American embassies worldwide, apply to all visa applicants, Washington-based KFF Health News has reported. According to the cable sent by the State Department, visa officers will flag applicants whose medical conditions include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic disorders, neurological conditions, mental health issues, and obesity. They may require "hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of care", according to the report. The guidance said that such people could become a "public charge" - a potential

drain on US resources, because of their health issues or age issues. The State Department also advises visa officers to take additional health conditions like asthma, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure into account when determining whether an immigrant might become a public charge and, so, can be denied entry into the US. Since Donald Trump assumed office, he has passed a number of immigration-related orders to restrict the inflow of migrants, which included moves like hiking annual H-1B visa fees and stricter scrutiny for Green Card holders who sought US citizenship. Experts say these moves will hit Indians the hardest. Around 10 per cent of the world’s population, of which around 90 million are Indians. Heart-related ailments, including heart attacks and strokes, are also common, being the globe's leading killer.

The health of family members of applicants is also under scrutiny

According to the report, US embassies and consulates will also take into account the health conditions of an applicant's family members, like elderly parents or young children. "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 State Department cable read. Immigrants need to pass a medical exam to be conducted by a US embassy-approved doctor, which includes screening for communicable diseases, mental health history, substance use, and required vaccinations. At present, all the health and medical examinations that are conducted for immigrants are carried out by doctors approved by the US embassies.