President Clinton. A law passed in 1996, bang in the middle of his two terms, says the US will
refuse to admit "any alien who is determined (in accordance with
regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services)
to have a communicable disease of public health significance, which shall
include infection with the etiologic agent for Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome". Charming, isn't it? It isn't just an obscure regulation;
you will be given a form on the plane asking if you have a communicable
disease. If you tick yes, they won't let you in (unless you are coming
to America on business, to visit family, to receive pre-paid medical treatment
or to attend an Aids conference). You can legally tick no if you are unaware
that HIV is such a disease under US immigration law. But if you are aware
of that, you are committing immigration fraud. Tell you what, pretend
you never read this paragraph.
Oh god, what about my pills?
If you aren't taking the pills yet, it's not such a problem. People carrying
medication worry that they are more likely to be caught out. Some people
prefer to mail their drugs in advance. Obviously you need a contact to
send them to, and it can be risky if your pills need to be refrigerated.
The other solution, when visiting the US or anywhere else with a similar
policy
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(Canada and Australia are scarcely more welcoming, and the rules of many developing countries are downright scary), is to carry a note from your doctor saying that you are in good health provided you take these drugs, without mentioning HIV. If you can't get your doctor to do it, mock up a letterhead and write the damn
thing yourself!
