US Tightens Visa Rules, Applicants with Obesity, Diabetes, or Mental Illness May Face Rejection

The US government has enforced new visa restrictions targeting foreign applicants suffering from chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and mental illness.

According to a new directive issued by the US Department of State to embassies worldwide, visas will not be granted to individuals likely to depend on public funds after entering or settling in the United States.

The circular clarifies that under the “Public Charge Rule,” applicants with high-cost medical conditions may be denied entry if they pose a potential financial burden on the US healthcare system.

However, applicants who can demonstrate the financial ability to bear their medical expenses independently may have their cases reconsidered.

Experts view the move as an extension of the Trump-era “Public Charge” policy, designed to prioritize healthy and financially stable immigrants.
Currently, over 100 million Americans suffer from obesity and nearly 38 million from diabetes — two of the costliest health conditions in the US healthcare system.