The U.S. Embassy in Colombo has warned that tourist visa applications will be denied if consular officers determine that the applicant’s primary purpose of travelling to the United States is to give birth there in order to obtain U.S. citizenship for the child.
The U.S. Department of State confirms that “birth tourism” — travelling to the United States primarily to give birth in order to obtain U.S. citizenship for a child — is not a permissible purpose for a visitor visa.
Under U.S. visa rules, consular officers abroad are required to deny a B-category visa application when they have reason to believe the applicant is travelling primarily for this purpose. The policy was formally introduced in January 2020 through an amendment to the regulations governing B nonimmigrant visas.
The Department of State also notes that a visa does not itself guarantee entry into the United States, as admission is ultimately determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the port of entry.
The warning comes amid continued U.S. scrutiny of the use of visitor visas for purposes that fall outside permitted tourism or temporary visits. (Newswire)
