New guidelines from the current administration say that people who are overweight might be denied entry into the United States, and this is being tied to the idea that the government wants to cut the financial load on taxpayers. The reports said that anyone applying for a visa could face more questions about their health and it might affect their chances if they are considered obese or dealing with other health problems.
Some reports said that these rules also include concerns like cancer, diabetes, and mental health issues. The reasoning that keeps coming up is that the government wants to make sure new arrivals do not end up placing a big cost on the healthcare system, and they are approaching it in a much more direct way now.
A memo was sent to embassies that explained how officers should look at each applicant’s health when they decide if they qualify. It listed cardiovascular problems, breathing troubles, and obesity as some of the conditions that might lead to a denial, and the point behind it is that these conditions could add up to very high medical costs after someone is here.
The memo also said that officers should ask if the person can pay their own healthcare bills without needing help from the government or long-term care programs. This part is expected to affect everyone who is applying, although people who are trying to stay in the country permanently may find it harder because legal experts said it creates tough hurdles.
One lawyer who works with an immigration organization said: “these guidelines contradict the older rules” and he explained that the officers are not doctors and cannot really judge someone’s future medical needs just by looking at basic information.
He said this opens the door to decisions that depend too much on guesses that are not backed by any medical training.
The updated rules also said that officers should think about the health of the applicant’s family members too, so the process could become even more complicated for some people. These changes raise a lot of questions about how fair or realistic it is to use someone’s health as a large part of an immigration decision, especially when it affects people from every part of the world.
