Overweight migrants to be denied US visas as Trump looks to reduce healthcare costs

OVERWEIGHT Nigerians travelling to the US may face difficulties in the future as President Donald trump is considering bring in new visa restrictions that will bar obese people from entering the country as they may burden the health system.

Since assuming office in January 2025, President Trump has announced a series of anti-immigrant measures designed curtail migration to the US. He is now stepping this up with a new initiative which seeks to place visa restrictions on people who are grossly overweight and suffer health problems seeking to enter the US.

According to President Trump, his administration would not approve visas for people who could overburden the US health system because of their weight-related diseases. He added that the restrictions will not affect visa applicants who are slightly overweight but the bigger ones will need to trim down to get approved.

President Trump said: “We will not ban all fat people from entering our great country, only those whose poor health will overburden our health care system. We will expand this rule to cover expats in the near future."

This new initiative comes on the heels of President Trump’s announcement of his fat shot deal with two pharmaceutical companies to lower the cost of popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Zepbound. With these new guidelines, visa application officers will now examine applicants’ medical histories more closely to identify those who might depend on public healthcare if they enter the US.

Consular officers now have broader powers to reject applications based not only on current health issues but also on possible future medical costs. Among other things, the notice also pointed out obesity as a major risk factor, warning that it could contribute to asthma, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, which increase healthcare costs over time

In addition, the directive listed conditions such as heart and lung diseases, cancer, diabetes and mental health disorders as illnesses that could lead to high treatment expenses. Visa officers must also now verify whether applicants have enough financial resources to cover potential medical expenses without depending on government aid.

Furthermore consular officials are also required to evaluate the health of family members, including children and elderly parents, to determine whether care-giving responsibilities might affect an applicant’s ability to remain financially stable in the US. It is not yet clear when this new law will officially come into effect.