US announces visa denial for Nigerians, other foreigners on ‘birth tourism’

The United States Government announces its Mission in Nigeria will deny travellers’ visas, ‘if we believe your primary purpose of travel is to give birth in the United States to get US citizenship for your child’ as regards the American country’s 14th Amendment

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The United States (US) Government has announced President Donald Trump administration’s decision to deny visas to foreign nationals whose primary intent for travel to the American country is to give birth on US soil, to secure citizenship for their children.

ConsumerConnect reports in view of the practice commonly referred to as “birth tourism”, the US Mission in Nigeria Monday, July 28, 2025, announced that Consular Officers have been instructed to deny visa applications, if there is reason to believe that the applicant’s main reason for visiting the US is to “deliver a baby and obtain US citizenship” for the newborn.

The US Mission, in a statement, said: “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 development is also reflected in a message on an image posted alongside the statement on verified X account of the US Mission in the country.

It stated: “We will deny your visa if we believe your primary purpose of travel is to give birth in the United States to get U.S. citizenship for your child. This is not accepted.”

Hitherto, the US has granted automatic citizenship to any child born on its soil under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, a policy that has drawn global interest and, in some cases, exploitation.

It is, however, noted that birth tourism has become a controversial issue, with authorities cracking down on companies and individuals who arrange such trips, often for large fees.