Foreign nationals seeking to live in the US may now face visa denials if they have chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity, or heart disease, under new health-based screening rules from the Donald Trump administration, according to a CBS News report.
The State Department guidance, circulated to United States (US) embassies and consulates, instructs visa officers to evaluate applicants’ health as a potential burden on public resources. It allows officials to classify applicants as ‘public charges’ if their medical status suggests they could rely on government-funded care.
Health-based visa criteria expanded
While health checks have long been part of visa processing, experts say the latest directive widens the scope considerably, giving greater discretion to consular officers to reject applications based on anticipated medical costs or long-term care risks.
“You must consider an applicant’s health,” the cable reportedly reads. “Certain medical conditions — including cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, cancers, diabetes, metabolic and neurological disorders, and mental health conditions — can require hundreds of thousands of dollars in care.”
The new US visa health rules further list obesity as a contributing factor that may lead to asthma, hypertension, and other chronic complications that increase treatment expenses.
Visa officers have also been instructed to determine whether applicants can afford treatment independently of any assistance. The document asks:
“Does the applicant have sufficient financial resources to cover such care for their entire lifespan without seeking public assistance or long-term institutionalization at government expense?”
Dependents also under review
The guidance extends the evaluation to dependents, including children and elderly relatives, requiring officers to consider whether their medical or caregiving needs could affect the principal applicant’s ability to remain employed or self-sufficient.
The policy forms part of the administration’s broader effort to tighten immigration norms, alongside measures such as reduced refugee admissions, increased deportations, and expanded travel bans.
In August 2025, the White House proposed a rule to limit the duration of student and exchange visitor visas, ending the traditional “duration of status” policy. Under the proposed change, students would be allowed to stay only for the length of their academic program (up to four years) and would need formal extensions through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Additionally, a September 2025 proclamation now requires certain new H-1B visa applications to include a one-time $100,000 fee, on top of existing processing charges.
The administration has also reinstated and expanded travel bans, affecting both immigrant and non-immigrant visas. A June 9, 2025, proclamation blocks visas for nationals of 12 countries and places partial restrictions on seven others, citing national security and public safety concerns.
