New guidelines of US Visa instructs officers to assess applicants’ long-term health costs and financial capacity, sparking concerns among immigration advocates.
The United States has introduced new visa screening guidelines that could see applicants denied entry based on medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Under the policy, it will be evaluated whether applicants can afford potential medical treatment during their stay in the country. The rules will be applicable to all visa categories but it is likely to impact more to applicants seeking permanent residency.
The guidelines also extend scrutiny to family members, including children, elderly dependents and dependents with disabilities or chronic illnesses which could prevent the main applicant from maintaining employment.
The move has drawn criticism from immigrant rights advocates, who warn that it may unfairly penalize individuals with chronic conditions and reinforce biases in the visa process.
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