By Emmanuel Nduka
The United States government has announced that it will begin denying visas to individuals whose primary reason for traveling to the country is to give birth and obtain American citizenship for their children, a practice widely known as “birth tourism”.
In a statement released on Monday, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria said consular officers have been directed to refuse visa applications if there is credible reason to believe that the applicant’s main intent is to deliver a baby on U.S. soil.
“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,” the Mission stated. “Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent,” it added.
A graphic accompanying the announcement, shared on the Mission’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, further emphasized the stance: “We will deny your visa if we believe your primary purpose of travel is to give birth in the United States to get U.S. citizenship for your child. This is not accepted”.
Under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, any child born on American soil automatically receives U.S. citizenship. While the law has long existed, it has also drawn criticism over perceived misuse, leading to calls for tighter immigration controls.
The practice of birth tourism has sparked controversy in recent years, with U.S. authorities cracking down on individuals and businesses that arrange such trips, often charging clients substantial fees.
The new policy is part of a broader effort to curb immigration loopholes and enforce visa integrity, the American government said.
