Trump Expands Visa Checks to Chronic Conditions

The Trump administration has issued new guidance to U.S. consular officers worldwide, directing them to consider applicants' chronic medical conditions and financial resources when evaluating visa requests under the public charge rule. The policy, outlined in a State Department cable, expands health screenings to include noncommunicable diseases and could lead to denials for those deemed likely to rely on public benefits for medical care.

The directive instructs officers to assess whether applicants or their dependents have conditions such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory ailments, cancers, metabolic disorders, neurological issues or mental health conditions. These illnesses, the cable states, can require hundreds of thousands of dollars in care over a lifetime. Officers must determine if applicants possess adequate financial means to cover such costs privately, without seeking public cash assistance or government-funded institutionalization. The guidance also requires evaluating the health needs of family members, including children and elderly parents, and whether those needs might impair the applicant's ability to maintain employment.