When the U.S. Can Keep You Out
Learn why you may be denied entry to the United States and how to avoid being turned away.
For the protection of the United States, people with histories of criminal or terrorist activities, drug abuse, infectious medical problems, or certain other characteristics or behavior will never be allowed a visa, green card, or U.S. entry. In immigration law terms, these characteristics are known as the grounds of inadmissibility. Following is a summary list of the major categories of inadmissibility.
| Major Grounds of Inadmissibility |
| Classes of Inadmissibility |
Waivers Available? |
| People with communicable diseases like tuberculosis and AIDS |
Yes |
| People with physical or mental disorders |
Yes |
| Drug abusers or addicts |
No |
| Drug traffickers |
No |
| People without proper vaccinations |
Yes |
| People with convictions for crimes involving moral turpitude |
Yes |
| Prostitutes |
Yes |
| People with multiple criminal convictions |
Yes |
| Spies |
No |
| Terrorists |
No |
| Nazis |
No |
| People likely to become dependent on welfare |
No |
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Everyone who applies to enter or stay in the United States, no matter how long the person plans to be there or whether the person already has a green card, is checked to see whether he or she is inadmissible.
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