Overview
- An internal notice sent by Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructs embassies and consulates to consider applicants’ medical status and financial resources when adjudicating visas.
- The document lists obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, metabolic disorders, and some mental and neurological conditions as potential grounds for refusal, and it directs review of dependents’ special care needs.
- U.S. officials say the approach protects taxpayers, with the notice warning some conditions can require care costing several hundred thousand dollars and a State Department spokesperson stressing prioritization of the American public.
- Coverage differs on scope, with some reports saying the guidance targets immigrant visas only and others stating it also applies to temporary categories such as H-1B workers.
- Although formal implementation has not been announced, several consulates are reportedly applying the guidance on a trial basis as part of a broader tightening that includes visa revocations, steep H-1B fee increases, and investor-focused programs.