US embassy warns foreign visitors against misuse of public benefits

Foreign nationals who travel to the United States on visitor visas and receive publicly funded medical care or other public benefits could become ineligible for future entry into the country, the US Embassy in Dhaka has warned.

In a warning posted on its Facebook page on Saturday (November 7), the embassy said using government assistance to cover medical expenses while staying in the United States could be considered a violation of visa conditions. Misusing such benefits or becoming dependent on public assistance could put an individual's eligibility for future travel to the United States at risk.

According to the embassy, foreign visitors must have sufficient financial resources to cover all their expenses, including travel and medical costs. Misuse of publicly funded benefits supported by US taxpayers could result in visa revocation and ineligibility for future visas.

Guidelines issued by the US Department of State said that foreign nationals travelling to the United States for medical treatment may be required to demonstrate their ability to pay for anticipated medical expenses, accommodation and travel costs. Applicants may be asked to provide medical reports, a treatment plan and cost estimates from a US hospital, as well as documents proving their financial capacity.

However, foreign nationals with sufficient financial resources remain eligible to seek medical treatment in the United States. Applications for such visas are assessed individually by the relevant consular officers.