The United States (US) Mission in Nigeria has disclosed that a visa applicant would be denied a visa to travel to the US for the purpose of birth tourism, which is when individuals travel to the US to give birth in order for their child to secure an American citizenship.
This development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday on the official X handle of the US Mission in Nigeria.
The statement reads as follows: “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. Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent.”
Furthermore, a picture attached to the statement noted that, “We will deny your visa if we believe your primary purpose of travel is to give birth in the United States to get US citizenship for your child.
‘’This is not permitted. 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 practice of birth tourism has come under scrutiny since the reelection of US president Donald Trump, who has stated on several occasions that babies born to undocumented immigrant parents should not be granted American citizenship.