Under Trump, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Cancer, Become Grounds For Visa Denial

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC-The Trump administration’s State Department has issued new guidance empowering U.S. visa officers to deny applications from foreign nationals based on a wide range of chronic medical conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers.

The directive, which was sent to American embassies and consulates, justifies the expanded scrutiny by arguing that individuals with such conditions could become a “public charge” and potentially drain US health resources.

The new policy moves beyond previous screening protocols, which primarily focused on communicable diseases, vaccination history, and mental health. Visa officers are now explicitly instructed to consider multiple conditions, such as respiratory, metabolic, and neurological diseases.

The administration directs officers to assess the applicant’s entire expected lifespan, asking: “Does the applicant have adequate financial resources to cover the costs of such care… without seeking public cash assistance or long-term institutionalization at government expense?” The scope of the review also extends to family members, requiring officers to evaluate if chronic conditions or disabilities among dependents might prevent the applicant from maintaining employment.