The Trump administration has issued a new directive tightening U.S. visa rules, particularly for applicants with chronic health conditions. According to an ABC News report published on Saturday (November 8), a confidential instruction sent by the U.S. State Department on Thursday (November 6) advised embassies and consular officials to consider health and age as key factors in assessing visa applications. The rule allows officials to deny permanent residency to individuals suffering from diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer, or other long-term illnesses that could make them financially dependent on government assistance in the future. The directive also includes evaluating the health of applicants’ family members and their potential ability to work while caring for dependents. Conditions such as obesity, viewed as contributing to ailments like asthma and hypertension, are categorized as high-risk due to costly treatments. Officers must now assess whether applicants can afford their medical expenses. Immigration experts have criticized the rule as another reflection of the Trump administration’s restrictive immigration stance. They warn that giving visa officers authority to make medical-based decisions without proper expertise could lead to biased and inconsistent outcomes.