Die USA verschärfen die Visumskontrollen: Krankheiten können zu einer Ablehnung führen

11.11.2025

The US is tightening visa checks: illnesses may become grounds for refusal

The Trump administration has introduced new restrictions for foreigners applying for visas to the USA. Now diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular and neurological diseases can be grounds for denial of entry. The guidance, distributed by the State Department, instructs visa officers to assess whether an applicant can afford costly treatment without seeking public assistance, as well as consider the health status of dependents, including children and elderly relatives. Experts note that these changes expand the powers of officers and turn the process into a complex «forecast of future expenses», which was not previously part of standard practice.

According to lawyers and immigration advocates, the new instructions may cause widespread denials for those seeking permanent residency. While checks for infectious diseases and vaccinations have always been mandatory, expanding the list of chronic and metabolic diseases makes the process nearly unpredictable. Lawyers warn that visa department staff do not have the medical qualifications to predict future treatment costs, which could lead to subjective and conflicting decisions. For immigrants, this means that even common diseases can become a barrier to legal entry into the USA.