TRUMP TELLS TALL TALES

‘US doesn’t have workers with ‘certain talents’

- Simple Vishwakarma

lhe United States has introduced new guidance that could allow visa officers to deny visas or green cards to foreign nationals with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

The move is framed as an expansion of the century-old “public charge” rule, which comes even as President Donald Trump defended the H-1B visa programme, saying the US continues to rely on foreign talent for specialised industries. The mixed signals have sparked unease among students and skilled workers, particularly from India.

Health-based visa screening expanded

A directive issued to US embassies and consulates around the world instructs visa officers to flag applicants whose medical conditions might require care costing “hundreds of thousands of dollars” over a lifetime. The list includes cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic conditions, neurological disorders, and a range of mental health issues. Obesity has also been noted due to comorbidities like hypertension, sleep apnoea, and asthma.

Traditional health checks required for US visas historically focused on communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis. New guidance reflects a shift toward identifying long-term medical risk and financial burden criteria that may be considered in admissibility, even in non-immigrant categories.

What this means for students