Immigrants with underlying health conditions may be denied U.S. visas: report

The Trump administration is understood to have directed American consular offices across the world to deem those individuals seeking to enter and live in the U.S. ineligible if they have certain medical conditions, saying these people could end up relying on public benefits.

A report by KFF Health News said that foreigners applying for visas to live in the U.S. “might be rejected if they have certain medical conditions”.
The report cited a guidance issued in a cable sent by the State Department to embassy and consular officials.
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,” according to the cable cited by KFF.

The cable also advises visa officers to consider conditions like obesity in making their decisions, noting that the condition can cause asthma, sleep apnoea and high blood pressure.
source:thehindu.com