The United States Mission in Nigeria has issued a firm advisory to Nigerian citizens: traveling to the U.S. with the primary goal of giving birth – commonly known as “birth tourism” – will result in visa denial.
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), the U.S. Mission emphasized that using a visa to enter the country solely to secure citizenship for a child born on American soil violates immigration policy. “If consular officers suspect that childbirth is your main reason for travel, your visa application will be rejected,” the statement read.
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. #VisaWiseTravelSmart… pic.twitter.com/9qaPSmpJLL
— U.S. Mission Nigeria (@USinNigeria) July 28, 2025
This announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of visa applications and a broader crackdown on birth tourism, a practice that exploits the U.S. Constitution’s birthright citizenship clause.
In a related move, the U.S. Department of State has revised its visa reciprocity policy for Nigeria. Most non-immigrant, non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian nationals are now limited to single-entry with a validity of just three months.
The U.S. government reiterated that these changes are part of a global effort to uphold the integrity of its immigration system, aligning with international security and technical standards.
