The United States Mission in Nigeria has issued a stern warning to Nigerians, especially pregnant women, regarding attempts to travel to the US with the sole purpose of giving birth in order to obtain American citizenship for their children.
In an official statement posted on its verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, the Mission emphasized that birth tourism is against US immigration policy and could result in a visa denial.
Read Also: Visa-free countries Nigerians can visit in the Americas
“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.
The US Mission clarified that consular officers are under strict instructions to refuse visa applications if they determine that an applicant’s main reason for travel is to deliver a baby in the US.
“Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent,” the notice further added.
The warning comes as part of ongoing efforts by US authorities to curb visa misuse and uphold immigration laws. Birth tourism has long been a controversial issue, with several countries tightening their regulations to prevent exploitation of citizenship laws.
