The United States has introduced new visa denial criteria and additional immigration fees, with a stronger focus on applicants’ health conditions and the potential financial burden they may place on the government.
Under updated guidance, consular officers are now required to evaluate whether an applicant’s medical issues—such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, asthma, or other chronic illnesses—could lead to costly, long-term treatment, reports NDTV and news agencies.
Applicants deemed likely to become a “public charge” may face visa refusal under these expanded rules.
Officers must determine whether an applicant’s existing medical conditions may require extensive care in the future, potentially leading to substantial public expenses.
While medical screenings for communicable diseases have long been part of the process, the new rules extend the assessment to include the economic impact of chronic or long-term illnesses.
Chronic diseases — including diabetes, asthma, hypertension, and similar ailments — may now influence visa outcomes if they are expected to result in high healthcare costs.
These changes signal a significant shift toward linking visa eligibility to potential future economic impact, adding new layers of evaluation for both applicants and sponsoring employers.
