The United States government has warned that using a tourist visa with the intention of giving birth in the country is not permitted and could result in visa denial.
The move is part of the U.S. government’s broader effort to curb birth tourism, a practice where foreign nationals travel to the United States on temporary visas with the primary intention of giving birth, so their child automatically acquires U.S. citizenship.
This was disclosed in a statement on the official social media accounts of the US Mission in Nigeria on Monday, July 28.
“Using your visa to travel for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States so that your child will have U.S. citizenship is not permitted. Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent,” the statement read in part.
The U.S. emphasized that visa applicants must be honest about their travel purpose and cautioned that misrepresentation of intent may carry long-term immigration consequences.
According to the U.S. Department of State, consular officers have been directed to deny visa applications where there is credible evidence that the applicant’s main reason for travel is to give birth on American soil to secure citizenship for their child.
