US Tightens Birth Tourism Visa Rules

The United States has announced new visa restrictions targeting people who knowingly engage in or facilitate commercial “birth tourism”. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the policy covers owners and operators of birth-tourism networks, visa “fixers” who coach applicants to commit fraud, foreign medical providers who knowingly facilitate such arrangements and others involved in supporting the practice. The move is aimed at preventing the misuse of the US immigration and visa system for obtaining citizenship through birth.

The new policy does not amount to a blanket ban on pregnant travellers entering the US. However, travelling primarily to give birth so that a child can obtain US citizenship is already not a permissible purpose for a visitor visa, according to the US State Department. Indian travellers therefore need to clearly state their genuine purpose of travel and provide accurate information during the visa process. Providing false information or using agents who encourage visa fraud can lead to serious immigration consequences.