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The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has instructed American consulates worldwide to factor in applicants’ chronic illnesses when evaluating visa requests. According to a directive signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, consular officers must now explicitly assess the health status of visa seekers.
The Washington Post reports that the list of conditions that may warrant a denial includes cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer, diabetes, metabolic and neurological disorders, as well as mental health conditions. The document notes that treatment for such illnesses can require medical expenditures amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The guidance also specifies that officers should consider applicants’ obesity due to its links to sleep apnea, hypertension, and clinical depression. Additional criteria include whether the applicant is at or beyond retirement age and how many dependents they support.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated that for nearly a century, State Department policy has allowed denials when an applicant poses a potential “financial burden on taxpayers.” She added that the Trump administration is “finally implementing this policy in full.”
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Putin Invites Serdar Berdimuhamedov to CIS Leaders’ Meeting in St. Petersburg
Today in Ashgabat, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov held talks with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, who is on an official visit to the Turkmen capital. The discussions focused on the current state and future prospects of bilateral relations.
Vladimir Putin emphasized that Turkmenistan’s policy of permanent neutrality plays a constructive role on the international stage and contributes to strengthening ties between Russia and Turkmenistan. He noted that considerable progress has been made across various areas of cooperation and expressed confidence that there is significant potential for further development.
The Russian leader also highlighted the increasingly diversified nature of economic cooperation between the two countries, pointing out that Moscow and Ashgabat maintain effective interaction across international platforms.
During the meeting, President Putin officially invited Serdar Berdimuhamedov to take part in the informal summit of heads of state of the Commonwealth of Independent States, scheduled to take place in St. Petersburg on December 21–22.
In addition, Vladimir Putin is expected to hold meetings in Ashgabat with the Presidents of Türkiye, Iran, and Iraq, as well as with the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Earlier, the Russian President delivered a speech at the International Forum of Peace and Trust held in the Turkmen capital.
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