Applicants for immigrant visas to the U.S. could be rejected if they have certain medical conditions under a new State Department directive, the agency confirmed.
The policy would allow officers to deny visas to immigrants deemed more likely to rely on public benefits should they have medical issues.
Sent to State Department employees through an internal cable, the guidance instructed officers to consider both an applicant’s health and overall financial picture when determining whether to issue a visa.
“Certain medical conditions — including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health conditions — can require hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of care,” the cable states.
“Does the applicant have adequate financial resources to cover the costs of such care over his entire expected lifespan without seeking public cash assistance or long-term institutionalization at government expense?”
“Does the applicant have adequate financial resources to cover the costs of such care over his entire expected lifespan without seeking public cash assistance or long-term institutionalization at government expense?”
The directive appears to resurrect the “public charge” rule from the first Trump administration that sought to deny green cards to any immigrant who received at least one designated public benefit — including Medicaid, nutrition asistance, welfare or public housing vouchers — for more than 12 months within any three-year period.
Source: thehill.com
