The US Department of State will implement a new policy that will take effect on Friday to make it more difficult for foreign nationals to travel to give birth on US soil to obtain American citizenship for their children , a practice what is known as “birth tourism.”
The new rules that will be effective January 24 was sent on Wednesday to embassies around the world.
The Trump administration gave visa officers more power to block pregnant women from visiting the United States if it is found that the “primary purpose” of travel is to obtain automatic and permanent American citizenship for their children by giving birth on American soil, according to an amended rules in the Federal Register.
Travellers to the US with this intention will be denied temporary visas Though these rule does not apply to the 39 countries – mostly European counties that are part of the Visa Waiver Program, as confirmed by a State Department official in a briefing call with reporters on Thursday.
Applicants must prove that they are travelling to the US for a medical need and not just because they want to give birth there. Also they need to convince the visa officers that they have adequate money to pay for such medical expenses. Addition to this they must ensure that the treatment they are looking for was not available in their home country.
Almost all children those born in the United States gets automatic citizenship – a law that has been criticised by US President Donald Trump.His administration says the new visa policy is essential to protect US national security and public health.
The tradition of getting a visa to United States on the basis of having other US relatives is known as “chain migration, or family reunification”, a rule that has also been criticised by Mr Trump.
