3 hrs ago
US Targets Birth-Tourism Networks With New Visa Restrictions
The United States is targeting businesses that help people travel there mainly to give birth so their children can receive US citizenship.
These businesses may arrange travel, medical care and visa applications.
Officials say some networks coach applicants to hide their real plans from visa officers.
The new restrictions can affect business owners, visa fixers and medical providers who knowingly help.
A pregnant person is not automatically denied a visitor visa.
The main question is why the person is traveling.
Giving birth so a child receives citizenship is not considered a permitted primary purpose for a visitor visa.
More than 600 visas have already been revoked in related enforcement efforts.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced visa restrictions on people involved in commercial birth-tourism networks on 23 September.
The policy targets network owners, operators, managers, visa “fixers” and foreign medical providers who knowingly facilitate birth tourism.
Birth tourism involves traveling to the United States primarily to give birth so a child receives birthright citizenship.
The State Department said more than 600 visas have already been revoked amid efforts to identify misrepresented travel purposes.
The policy does not automatically bar pregnant travelers whose trips have a permissible primary purpose, such as tourism, visiting family or medical treatment.
- Who
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the policy, which targets commercial birth-tourism networks, visa fixers and cooperating foreign medical providers.
- What
- The United States imposed visa restrictions on people who knowingly arrange or facilitate commercial birth tourism and related fraud.
- Where
- The policy concerns travel to the United States, including arrangements made by foreign intermediaries and medical providers.
- When
- The policy was announced on 23 September; the Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force was created earlier in August, and additional online-presence checks were scheduled to begin on 1 October.
- Why
- US officials say commercial networks help travelers conceal birth-tourism plans, potentially involving visa fraud and misuse of the US Medicaid system.
Key facts
- Announced by
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- Announcement date
- 23 September
- Targeted groups
- Birth-tourism network owners, operators and managers; visa fixers; and foreign medical providers who knowingly facilitate the practice
- Legal authority
- Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
- Visas revoked
- More than 600, according to the State Department
- Visitor visa rule
- A B-2 visa may cover tourism, visiting family or friends, and medical treatment, but not birth tourism as the primary purpose
- Related task force
- The Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force was established in August to identify activity, review visa holders and target commercial networks
Sources
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