Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility

Communicable Disease—INA § 212(a)(1)(A)

An individual is inadmissible if they are determined to have “a communicable disease of public health significance.” Currently, the following are considered diseases to be communicable: active tuberculosis, infectious leprosy, chancroid, gonorrhea, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, and the infectious stage of syphilis.

Lack of Vaccination—INA § 212(a)(1)(A)(ii)

Intending immigrants must present evidence that they were vaccinated against mumps, measles, rubella, polio, tetanus and diptheria toxoids, pertussis, influenza type B, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rotavirus, meningococcal, varicella, pneumococcal and any other recommended vaccinations.

Physical or Mental Disorders—INA § 212(a)(1)(A)(iii)

An individual who has a behavior that poses a threat to the property, safety, or welfare to themselves or others is inadmissible. If the individual no longer has the condition, her or she is not inadmissible unless there is a likeliness that the behavior will reoccur or the condition is likely to lead to other harmful behavior.

Drug Abusers or Addicts—INA § 212(a)(1)(A)(iv)

An individual who is determined to be a “drug abuser” or “addict” is inadmissible. Regulations define drug abuse as the “non-medical use of a substance listed in § 202 of the Controlled Substances Act.”