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People with HIV risk US deportation
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Gay men living with HIV still remain barred from the USA.
HIV charity the Terence Higgins Trust (THT) has warned that gay men living with HIV are banned from travelling to the USA unless they have specifically applied for a visa to do so.
Despite the recent introduction of an online visa waiver system (ESTA), they still need to attend an interview at the American Embassy in London before they can travel legally to the United States.
The THT has recently received calls from people with HIV who have tried to enter the country using the online system,, but have been refused entry at the USA border by immigration officials.
People with HIV are permanently excluded from the United States except in exceptional circumstances. New legislation last year means that the HIV entry ban is no longer law, but an administrative decision of the Department for Health and Human Services.
Lisa Power, Head of Policy at the THT, said: “While we are pleased that the US Government intend to revisit their entry regulations, it has not happened yet. People with HIV shouldn't jump the gun by assuming it's already okay to travel to the US without a special visa.
“Everyone entering the US is still required to state that they have no transmissible conditions, alongside not being a terrorist, a Nazi or a criminal. People who don’t get the special visa but then disclose their status on entry run the risk of being forcibly deported and banned from entering the US again, so please be aware of the rules before you fly.”
For more information contact THT Direct on 0845 1221 200 from 10am to 10pm weekdays and from 12pm to 6pm weekends, or email info@tht.org.uk
Visit the THT here
