Outstanding medical bills in the US - Will I be held at the border?

Outstanding medical bills in the US - Will I be held at the border? - From above composition of stack of USA dollar bills placed near medical protective masks produced in China illustrating concept of medical expenses and deficit during COVID 19

So my question is definitely a duplicate, but the answers on similar questions to mine are 3-5 years old.

I just wanted to be sure that because how much time has passed, maybe the US has changed its policies and I just don't want to get caught up in that if that's the case.

If anybody can verify one of the answers I read in a similar question "Immigration officials do not have access to your debt information, they only have access to immigration info provided on visa forms or entry forms or court actions against you (and this later is only for serious offences, not minor things like parking tickets)."

Not that I'm trying to avoid paying, I just want to make sure I can still travel to the US even though the payments are ongoing through insurance.

Also, for what it's worth, I just received a 1-year P1 visa to the US.



Best Answer

First, until there has been a court judgment against you, the collection of the debt is a private matter between you and lender and the State cannot enforce it. Not every debt is paid in full in the USA - some debts are forgiven or written off, and some are invalidated by courts.

And indeed immigration officials do not have access to your private debt information. And even if they had, it is not part of CBP duties to enforce private debt collection.




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Outstanding medical bills in the US - Will I be held at the border? - Anonymous people walking in snowy city during coronavirus pandemic



Does unpaid medical bill affect immigration?

Will this stop me from getting legal immigration status? NO. Medical assistance is not considered in the public charge test that affects some people when they apply for their Green Card. You and your family members can use all forms of medical assistance without fear.

Does unpaid medical bill affect citizenship?

No, they will not. You can always claim those are in disputes for being excessive and unreasonable.

Are visa sponsors liable for unpaid medical bills by visitors in the USA?

Are visa sponsors liable for unpaid medical bills by visitors in the USA? The I-134 Affidavit of Support is a contract between the sponsor and the US government stating that the sponsor will be responsible for the visitor/beneficiary while the visitor is in the US.



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