ABUJA, NIGERIA – The United States Mission in Nigeria has issued a stern warning that visa applicants found to be travelling primarily to give birth in the U.S. to secure citizenship for their child will be denied entry. This move appears to be part of a broader effort by the U.S. government to discourage the practice often referred to as “birth tourism.”
The warning was disseminated via a post on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria on Monday. It explicitly states that consular officers will deny visa applications if they suspect the applicant’s main intention for travel is to give birth in the United States to secure U.S. citizenship for their child.
“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 post read, adding, “Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent.” The message was accompanied by an image reiterating the policy.
This public awareness campaign underscores the U.S. government’s stance on the misuse of visas and its commitment to enforcing immigration regulations. Under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, individuals born on American soil are granted U.S. citizenship, a provision that has led to the phenomenon of “birth tourism.”
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