According to information published on Globo Group’s G1 website on Tuesday (11th), new guidelines from the US government may make it difficult to issue visas to foreign nationals with certain medical conditions such as obesity or diabetes.
The State Department’s statement requires embassy and consulate officials to conduct extensive and detailed analyzes of visa applicants’ health status, with the goal of ensuring that immigrants do not have to use government benefits at any time after entering the United States.
Officials said the change would apply to visas for foreigners wishing to stay in the country and exclude short-term stay visas such as tourist visas.
Currently, immigrants wishing to enter the United States are already required to provide some medical information. They will be evaluated to identify communicable diseases and must report any history of drug or alcohol use, mental health conditions or episodes of violence.
The new guidelines introduce more specific requirements. The statement said consular officials must consider several details, including age, health, marital status, financial situation, education, skills and past use of government social security.
Medical conditions that may disqualify a visa applicant include: obesity; high blood pressure; cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurological diseases; depression; anxiety; mental health conditions that can require “hundreds of thousands of dollars of care.”
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