The United States is making plans to prevent pregnant women from obtaining visas for what’s known as “birth tourism”. The goal of these measures is to reduce the number of foreigners using visas to automatically secure US citizenship for their children by giving birth on American soil. “Birth tourism” is essentially when a pregnant woman decides to travel to another country with the express intent of giving birth there and gaining citizenship for the child.
The New Measures
The US authorities are intending to clamp down on B1/B2 visitor visas being issued to people seeking to enter the country specifically for birth tourism. Going forward, pregnant women will need to provide more solid reasons for their travel, such as a medical necessity beyond just giving birth in the US.
Reasons for the Crackdown
This crackdown on birth tourism is not just for public safety and national security purposes, but also for the preservation of the integrity of the US immigration system. Officials have expressed concerns that the birth tourism industry threatens to overburden valuable hospital resources and national infrastructure. At present, US law does not prohibit foreign women from coming to the US to give birth. However, they do need to demonstrate that they have the means to cover the cost of any medical procedures related to their trip. This is being referred to as “a glaring immigration loophole” by the US officials.
About B1/B2 Tourist Visa
The B1/B2 Tourist Visa is a temporary, non-immigrant visa that allows the holder to visit the US for business or tourism purposes.
Facts about US Citizenship Acquisition
| Methods of Acquisition | Description |
|---|---|
| At birth | Born in the US or certain territories, or having parent(s) who were citizens at time of birth (if born abroad) and meeting other conditions. |
| After birth | “Derived” or “acquired” citizenship through parents or apply for naturalization |
Indian Citizenship Acquisition and Determination
Indian citizenship can be acquired in five ways: birth, descent, registration, naturalisation, and incorporation of territory, all of which are outlined in the Citizenship Act of 1955.
