The US Embassy in India has announced stricter checks on visas for pregnant Indian women.
If the embassy believes a woman’s main reason for visiting the US is to give birth and secure US citizenship for the child, the visa will be denied.
This practice, often called birth tourism, is not allowed.
The US says many pregnant women enter the country each year on tourist visas with this intention.
A similar rule was introduced during the Trump administration.
What the Embassy Says About Birth Tourism
According to the US Embassy, “Tourist visa applications will be denied if the primary purpose of travel is to give birth in the US.”
This step is aimed at stopping birth tourism and ensuring visas are granted only for legitimate travel purposes.
Understanding Birthright Citizenship in the US
In the US, a child born on American soil automatically becomes a US citizen under the 14th Amendment.
This applies regardless of the parents’ immigration status.
The child can get a US passport and all rights of citizenship, but this does not grant citizenship to the parents.
Exceptions to Birthright Citizenship
There are some exceptions.
For example, children of foreign diplomats born in the US while on official duty do not receive US citizenship.
Otherwise, most children born in the US are automatically citizens.
