The United States Mission in Nigeria has issued a cautionary advisory to Nigerians, especially pregnant women, against engaging in birth tourism—the practice of travelling to the US primarily to give birth and obtain American citizenship for their children.
In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, the Mission emphasised that using a visa for this purpose violates US immigration laws.
“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 statement read.
The Mission further warned that consular officers are instructed to deny visa applications if they suspect such intent.
“Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent,” it added.
This development underscores the US government’s strict stance against using visa privileges and aims to curb practices that exploit the immigration system.
