Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:07pm on 07 Nov 2025,Friday International
The Trump administration issued new guidelines allowing US visa officers to deny visas and permanent residency to foreign nationals with health conditions including diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer, and mental health issues. The State Department directive, sent to embassies worldwide, instructs officers to flag applicants whose conditions may require "hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of care," deeming them potential "public charges." Officers must assess whether applicants can independently cover medical expenses without government assistance and consider dependents' health conditions affecting employment. While medical exams already screen for communicable diseases, the new guidance extends scrutiny to chronic illnesses. Immigration attorney Charles Wheeler criticized officers making medical projections without proper training, calling it "troubling." (PC: Mint & India Today)
