GEORGETOWN, Guyana — The United States Embassy in Guyana has issued an important notice to visitor visa applicants who previously received medical treatment in the United States, including women who travelled to the U.S. and gave birth there.
In a public advisory directed at persons reapplying for visitor visas, the Embassy said applicants who previously received medical care in the United States must be prepared to provide evidence showing that all medical bills associated with their treatment were paid in full.
The Embassy also said applicants must demonstrate that they did not use U.S. public insurance programmes, such as Medicaid, to pay for their medical care.
“Did you receive medical treatment in the United States in the past, including for the birth of a child?” the Embassy asked in its notice.
According to the advisory, when reapplying for a visitor visa, such applicants must submit evidence that their medical bills were fully paid and that U.S. public insurance was not used to cover the cost of treatment.
The Embassy urged prospective applicants to gather the relevant documentation before beginning or completing the visa process, saying this could help ensure a smoother application.
The announcement is particularly significant for Guyanese who have previously travelled to the United States while pregnant or who received other forms of medical treatment during earlier visits.
The notice suggests that applicants should expect their previous use of U.S. medical services to come under scrutiny when seeking another visitor visa. Receipts, hospital statements, payment confirmations or other documentation establishing that outstanding medical expenses were settled could therefore become important supporting documents.
The Embassy’s advisory does not state that receiving medical treatment in the United States automatically disqualifies someone from obtaining another visitor visa. Rather, its focus is on whether the applicant paid for the care and whether U.S. taxpayer-funded public insurance was used.
The notice specifically highlights childbirth, an issue that has received increased attention in U.S. immigration and consular policy surrounding so-called “birth tourism.”
For Guyanese planning to reapply for a U.S. visitor visa after previously receiving medical care there, the Embassy’s message is clear: keep the records and be prepared to prove who paid the bill.
