No US visa for fat, diabetic people under new rules

ISLAMABAD: The US State Department has issued a new directive to its embassies worldwide, asserting that individuals afflicted with obesity, diabetes, and other mental health conditions will be denied US visas.

Under the new policy, visa applicants could be rejected based on their health condition, especially if they were viewed as likely to become a “public charge.”

The memo points out that those with health problems, including diabetes and obesity, among other ailments, may be denied visas under the “public charge” rule.

This rule is derived from concerns about the applicant’s dependency on government resources due to their medical needs. Persons with conditions such as cancer and heart-related disease are also likely to encounter problems in receiving visas.

The Trump administration fears that such people are likely to be a fiscal burden on the US government since most of their medical treatments are costly.

The policy, however, still states that if applicants can show they will be able to pay for medical expenses themselves, then their applications for a visa may still be considered.

Currently, over 100 million people are struggling with obesity in the US alone, and over 38 million people are diagnosed with diabetes.

This is a new policy within the framework of ongoing efforts to manage immigration by restricting entry to those who are less likely to rely on public assistance.