HIV Travelers

U.S. ban on visitors with HIV could end soon.

By: WKRG Staff | WKRG
Published: July 16, 2008

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WASHINGTON (AP) - A Senate bill would do away with a two-decade
ban on people with HIV visiting or immigrating to the United
States.
The measure is backed by Massachusetts Democrat John Kerry and
Oregon Republican Gordon Smith. It's attached to legislation that
would provide 50 billion dollars over the next five years to fight
AIDS and other diseases in Africa and other poor areas.
Senate approval could come this week.
Kerry notes that China recently changed its restriction and says
"there's no excuse for a law that stigmatizes a particular
disease."
Currently, foreign citizens can apply for a difficult-to-obtain
special waiver for short-term visits to the U.S. But an
HIV-positive person has little chance of obtaining permanent
residency.
In some cases because of the ban, experts on HIV and AIDS who
are themselves infected have been unable to attend conferences in
the U.S.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)