Nigerians will be denied visas for childbirth-related
Nigerians may face visa denials for childbirth-related purposes.The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has formally warned Nigerian citizens that visa requests will be rejected if consular officers suspect that the main reason for travel is to give birth in the United States, a practice known as “birth tourism.”
In a message posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the Mission stressed that visiting the U.S. to obtain citizenship for a child through birth breaches American immigration policies.
“Traveling on your visa primarily to give birth in the United States to ensure your child receives U.S. citizenship is not allowed,” the announcement stated. “Consular officers will reject your visa application if they believe this is your intent.”
This statement comes in response to heightened scrutiny of visa applications and stricter enforcement of regulations regarding travel for childbirth. The U.S. asserts that such activities compromise the integrity of its immigration system.
Birthright citizenship, which is protected under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, continues to be a contentious topic in immigration discussions, especially concerning foreigners who specifically travel to take advantage of it.
The Mission reiterated that all visa determinations are made in accordance with international security and procedural standards, emphasizing that “Maintaining the integrity of our immigration system is a top priority.”
As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce visa misuse, the U.S. Department of State has previously updated its visa reciprocity policy for Nigeria, limiting most non-diplomatic, non-immigrant visas to single-entry permits that are valid for three months.
U.S. officials encouraged Nigerians to be honest about their travel intentions and to refrain from trying to exploit visa regulations.
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