The United States government has indicated it would no longer grant visas to foreign nationals whose primary intent for travel is to give birth on US soil to secure citizenship for their children.
Under the policy referred to as “birth tourism”, any child born on US soil is entitled to automatic citizenship inline with the 14th Amendment to the constitution.
However, the US Mission in Nigeria in a statement on Monday, directed consular officers to deny visa applications if there is reason to believe that the applicant’s main reason for visiting the country is to deliver a baby and obtain US citizenship for the newborn, citing abuse of the policy.
“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 statement reads. “Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent.”
The US Mission added in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that “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.”
