The admissibility of an EB-5 applicant with a health problem is determined during the required medical examination. As part of the immigrant visa process, EB-5 applicants must be interviewed by the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country. Before the interview, they must have a medical examination done by an embassy-approved doctor, also commonly known as a panel physician.
The purpose of the medical examination is to screen applicants for any medical conditions that are relevant to U.S. immigration law. To prepare for the medical examination, EB-5 visa applicants should be prepared to share their medical history. If they have been diagnosed with a chronic illness and are currently taking medication or receiving treatment for it, they should be prepared to share the name of the diagnosis and the name and dosage of their medication. For previous diagnoses that were not treated, an applicant should have a written explanation, signed by their physician, that they can give to the panel physician. The same is required of diagnoses for which an applicant did receive treatment, if said diagnoses are relevant to U.S. immigration law.
Once the medical examination has been completed, the panel physician may either send the examination results directly to the consulate or give them to the applicant in a sealed envelope. If the applicant receives a sealed envelope, they should not open it and should, instead, bring it with them to their interview.
Having an existing medical condition does not immediately disqualify an applicant from immigration. However, an applicant’s medical history is considered as part of the immigrant visa process. It would be in the best interest of an EB-5 applicant to get in touch with an EB-5 investment industry expert, such as an immigration attorney, who can guide them through the process.
