The United States Mission in Nigeria has issued a strong warning to Nigerians attempting to travel to the US with the intention of giving birth, a move commonly known as “birth tourism.”
In a statement posted Monday, July 28, via its official X handle, the US Mission emphasised that travelling for the main purpose of childbirth, in order to obtain American citizenship for a child, is against US immigration rules.
“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.
It further added, “Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent.”
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This latest advisory comes as the US government intensifies scrutiny of visa applications and ramps up enforcement against birth tourism practices.
Previously, the United States Department of State had revised its visa reciprocity policy for Nigeria.
Under the new rule, most non-immigrant, non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian nationals are now limited to a single entry and valid for only three months.
The US government reaffirmed that its visa and immigration decisions are guided by global security and technical standards, aimed at protecting the integrity of its immigration system.
This development is expected to impact how Nigerians plan travel to the US, especially for maternal-related visits, as consular officers are now more likely to scrutinise intent during the visa process.