• New guidelines may deny US visas for chronic health conditions, including diabetes and obesity.
• Visa officers directed to consider applicants' health as a factor in eligibility.
• The guidance is seen as part of a broader crackdown on immigration.
• Concerns raised about lack of medical training for visa officers making health assessments.
• Potential impact on international students regarding eligibility for F-1 visas remains uncertain.

Under new guidance from the Trump administration, foreigners seeking US visas may be denied entry based on pre-existing health conditions. This directive specifically highlights chronic issues such as diabetes and obesity as thresholds for disqualification, marking a significant expansion in the criteria that visa officers must consider, according to latimes and abcnews.

The recent cable issued by the State Department directs visa officers to evaluate various health conditions that could potentially require extensive healthcare. The guidelines state that conditions such as "cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health conditions" should now substantially factor into the visa application process, as outlined by indiatimes and indiatimes.

This directive is part of a larger strategy to restrict immigration by linking visa eligibility to an applicant's health status, effectively classifying many chronic conditions as potential indicators of whether an individual might become a "public charge." This characterization suggests that applicants with such conditions could become a financial burden on the U.S. healthcare system, a view criticized by legal advocates, according to indiatimes and indiatimes.

The guidance raises concerns among immigration advocates about the potential for discrimination, as visa officers, lacking medical training, are now tasked with making significant health evaluations. There are fears that such empowered discretion could lead to subjective judgments about the long-term health of applicants without adequate medical knowledge, reports abcnews and indiatimes.

A particular point of concern is the impact of these new rules on F-1 student visa applicants. Although the guidelines technically pertain to all visa applicants, including students, they are expected to primarily affect those seeking permanent residency. The ambiguity surrounding health assessments raises questions about how students will navigate visa applications under increased scrutiny of their health conditions, especially in light of the new financial implications, according to indiatimes and latimes.