US FederalWhat makes a person inadmissible to the United States?
A person is inadmissible to the United States if they fall into one of several statutory categories—including health-related grounds, criminal history, security concerns, public charge risk, immigration violations, or lack of required documentation—under 8 U.S.C. § 1182.
What the Law Says
U.S. federal law lists specific reasons a foreign national may be denied entry or admission to the United States. These are codified in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), specifically 8 U.S.C. § 1182, which defines 'inadmissible aliens.' The statute organizes these grounds into broad categories — from health and crime to fraud, security, and economic concerns.
Section 1182 identifies over ten distinct classes of inadmissible aliens. For example, individuals with certain communicable diseases, those convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude, or those who have engaged in terrorist activity are barred from admission.
The law also includes 'public charge' grounds: any alien likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence — through cash assistance or long-term institutionalization at government expense — is inadmissible.
Immigration violations trigger automatic bars: entering without inspection, overstaying a visa by more than 180 days (resulting in a 3-year bar), or accruing one year or more of unlawful presence (resulting in a 10-year bar) all render a person inadmissible.
Other grounds include falsifying documents, practicing polygamy, being a drug abuser or addict, lacking proper documentation (e.g., passport or visa), and failing to meet labor certification requirements for certain employment-based visas.
Statutory TextAliens who are inadmissible under the following paragraphs are ineligible to receive visas and ineligible to be admitted to the United States...
— 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a) — Inadmissible aliens
Statutory TextAny alien who... is likely at any time to become a public charge is inadmissible.
— 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(4)(A) — Public charge
Statutory TextAny alien who is convicted of, or who admits having committed, or who admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements of... a crime involving moral turpitude... is inadmissible.
— 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2)(A)(i)(I) — Criminal grounds
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.