The administration of US President Donald Trump has issued a guidance that can deny visas to foreigners if they have certain medical conditions, including diabetes or obesity. The rationale is that foreigners could become a quote ‘public charge’ unquote described as a potential drain on US resources because of their health issues. An official directive issued by the State Department to US Embassies and missions worldwide has reportedly directed visa officers to deem applicants ineligible to enter the US if the applicants could begin to rely on public benefits due to health issues or age. While issuing visas the US government has for long screened applicants for communicable diseases like tuberculosis and obtaining vaccine history etcetera. However, the new guidelines now expand the list of medical conditions and give visa officers more power to make decisions about immigration based on an applicant’s health status. The guidance applies to nearly all visa applicants but is most importantly for those seeking permanent residency, or immigrant visas. 
Reports said the guidelines include medical conditions including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health conditions. There is also a mention of conditions like obesity, which it notes can cause asthma, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure, that could cause serious diseases requiring expensive, long-term care. Visa officers can ask to determine whether applicants have the means to pay for their own medical treatment. A form required to be filled out will become a part of the database in case the immigrant needs to be repatriated to their home country. The potential immigrant can also be queried on the health of family members, especially dependants, making it a probable cause for denial of visa. Some experts argue that the guidance allows and facilitates the visa officer the ability to come to a decision on whether an immigrant will become a burden on public resources. But, others say visa officers are not medically trained and therefore should not make such a decision based on their own personal knowledge or bias.