Compiled and edited by Martin Flynn
Many people have tried to get around the rules by making a false declaration
on the entry form about their health but since the advent of combination
therapy it has been much more difficult to hide medications and disguise
positive status.
US authorities deny there is a problem and say people can obtain a special
waiver to enter the country if they can prove they have insurance to cover
any medical treatment. But most UK insurance companies refuse to supply
such cover to HIV positive people and many people are unwilling to apply
for the waiver, fearing it will disclose their status, and because the
waiver is usually stamped in passports.
Since September 11, the problem has been further exacerbated for visitors
to the US who in the past hid their medications or sent them on in advance.
THT say that the overall effect of the US regulations, "is to criminalise
a large and growing number of travellers to the US each year and in some
cases threaten their health and wellbeing by forcing them to abandon treatment."
One of the absurdities of the US rules is that HIV is actually much more
prevalent in most US holiday destinations than it is in any European city.
"Fear of people being a burden on the public purse is also an unfeasible
excuse given the state of the public health service in the US," THT
add.
In a recent exchange with THT chief executive, Nick Partridge, a senior
figure from the US Embassy claimed that they had received no complaints
about the policy.
To join the new campaign against discriminatory immigration
rules in the USA, access the THT website at www.tht.org.uk
and click on the 'Campaign with Us' button.
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