The United States Mission in Nigeria has issued a stern warning to Nigerian women intending to travel to the U.S. primarily to give birth to secure American citizenship for their children — a practice commonly referred to as “birth tourism.”
In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, July 28, the Mission stated:
“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.”
The warning comes amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. visa applications and a broader crackdown on birth tourism. Under U.S. immigration law, using a non-immigrant visa for childbirth purposes constitutes misrepresentation of travel intent, which is grounds for visa denial or revocation.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of State has revised its visa reciprocity policy for Nigerian citizens, limiting most non-immigrant, non-diplomatic visas to single entry with a three-month validity.
The U.S. emphasized that these measures are part of efforts to uphold the integrity and security of its immigration system, aligning with global standards.
