The U.S.'s 'birth tourism' move

The U.S. Department of State, in a statement on September 23, expanded visa restrictions targeting commercial birth‑tourism organizations.

The regulation targets the following individuals:

Owners, managers, and operators of companies that organize birth tourism. Intermediaries who direct applicants to provide false information in visa applications. Foreign healthcare providers who knowingly support these trips and medical services. Other individuals who facilitate birth tourism or profit from it. It was noted that some family members could also be considered under the restrictions.

Will pregnant women be unable to travel to the U.S.?

The new regulation does not completely prohibit pregnant individuals from traveling to the U.S.

However, under current U.S. visa rules, traveling to the country to give birth for the purpose of obtaining American citizenship is not considered an acceptable travel purpose for a visitor visa.

In January 2020, the U.S. had granted consular officers the authority to deny B‑type visitor visas if there was evidence that the applicant's primary purpose was to give birth in this manner.

The new policy, however, targets not only travelers but also the networks that organize birth tourism commercially and profit from those activities.