Copyright ptcnews
PTC News Desk: Trump administration has issued fresh directives strengthening visa rules for foreign nationals with chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart disease or obesity that could possibly mean denial of visas and permanent residency. According to the guidelines issued by the State Department, visa officers have been instructed to flag applicants whose medical conditions including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic disorders, neurological conditions, mental health issues, and obesity, 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 — potential drain on US resources — because of their health issues or age.The guidance applies to most visa applicants but is expected to be implemented mainly for those seeking permanent residency in the United States, senior attorney Charles Wheeler told KFF Health News. Wheeler, who is affiliated with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network—a nonprofit providing legal aid—said that visa officers have also been instructed to evaluate whether applicants can afford their medical expenses without relying on U.S. government assistance.According to KFF Health News, the cable asks: “Does the applicant have sufficient financial means to cover medical costs throughout their lifetime without seeking public cash assistance or long-term institutional care at government expense?”Wheeler explained that the guidance urges visa officers to form “their own judgments about what could cause a medical emergency or future medical costs.” He called this approach concerning, noting that visa officers “are not medically trained, have no expertise in this field, and should not be making such projections based on personal assumptions or biases.”
