Obesity ‘could be grounds for visa refusal

According to reports, the Department of State (DOS) has issued a memo on “public charge,” where an applicant “must demonstrate that they are not likely to become a public charge at any time after admission to the United States.”

- MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL, ESQ

The purpose or intent is to ensure that people coming to the US will be self-sufficient and not rely on taxpayers for care or support.

Being a public charge means that the alien is “likely at any time to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, as demonstrated by either the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance or long-term institutionalized care at government expense.”

This memo also instructs consuls to take into account certain medical conditions that could lead to serious health problems in the future.