What Conditions Are Grounds of Inadmissibility?

Only three categories of medical conditions are grounds of inadmissibility under U.S. immigration law:

• 1. Communicable diseases of public health significance (active tuberculosis, syphilis, gonorrhea, Hansen's disease, etc.)
• 2. Physical or mental disorders with associated harmful behavior
• 3. Substance use disorders (drug or alcohol abuse or addiction)

Conditions That Are NOT Grounds of Inadmissibility

The following conditions — all common in seniors — are NOT grounds of inadmissibility and do not prevent green card approval:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Type 2 diabetes
• Coronary artery disease, heart failure, or other cardiac conditions
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma
• Arthritis (osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis)
• Osteoporosis
• Cancer (including active cancer under treatment)
• Chronic kidney disease
• Hypothyroidism or other thyroid conditions
• Parkinson's disease
• Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia (without harmful behavior)
• Stroke or TIA history
• Obesity

Class B Findings for Chronic Conditions

The civil surgeon may document significant chronic conditions as Class B findings on Form I-693. A Class B finding indicates a condition that represents a significant departure from normal health but is not a ground of inadmissibility.

Class B findings are informational — they tell USCIS about your health status but do not prevent approval of your green card application. USCIS may use Class B information for public health tracking purposes.

What to Bring to the Appointment

To help the civil surgeon accurately document your health status, bring:

• A complete list of your current medications (name, dose, frequency)
• A list of your chronic conditions and treating physicians
• Recent laboratory results (blood sugar, cholesterol, kidney function, etc.) if available
• Any specialist reports relevant to your conditions
• Your vaccination records

When a Chronic Condition Might Raise Concerns

A chronic condition may raise concerns if it is associated with behavior that could be harmful to others. For example, a severe psychiatric condition with a history of violent behavior may be evaluated more carefully. However, most chronic physical conditions in seniors do not raise these concerns. The civil surgeon will make an individualized assessment based on your specific situation.