(TAN): The United States is imposing new visa restrictions in a bid to prevent pregnant foreigners from coming to the country on tourist visa to give birth, a practice the administration has termed as ‘birth tourism’, reports said.
“The [State] Department is aware that many foreign nationals have sought B nonimmigrant visas for the purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for a child by giving birth in the United States. Foreign governments or entities, including entities of concern to the United States, may seek to benefit from birth tourism for purposes that would threaten the security of the United States. This rule would help close a potential vulnerability to national security that would be posed by any foreign government or entity that sought to exploit birth tourism to enhance access to the United States,” the Trump administration was quoted by The Points Guy as saying.
The new rules, that were announced earlier this week, will take effect from today, as per reports.
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According to reports, tourist visas, also called B visas, can be denied to pregnant women if consular officials in foreign embassies have reasons to believe they are planning to visit the United States primarily to give birth and thereby secure American citizenship for their child. Under the U.S. Constitution, almost everyone born on the United States’ soil are granted citizenship, reports said.
It will reportedly be up to the applicant to convince officials that she intends to visit the country for a primary reason other than to give birth.
Earlier, women were reportedly not asked to specify on visa forms or asked during interviews if they were pregnant. But under the new regulations, officers have been directed to ask women about pregnancy only if they suspect that an individual plans to be in the United States through the birth of her child, as per reports. However, applicants will reportedly not be put through pregnancy tests. Officers can ask questions about pregnancy depending on visual signs, reports said.
“This rule change is necessary to enhance public safety, national security, and the integrity of our immigration system. The birth tourism industry threatens to overburden valuable hospital resources and is rife with criminal activity, as reflected in Federal prosecutions.,” the White House was quoted by Fox News as saying.
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While the new rule adds limitations to women looking to enter the United States under a category B nonimmigrant visa, it does not apply to the 39 nations whose citizens can stay in the United States for up to 90 days without a visa, according to reports. Only countries whose citizens require a visa to enter the United States will be affected by the new rule, reports said.
As per reports, the new rule also emphasises that foreign travellers seeking medical treatment in the United States must prove that they have the financial ability to bear all costs of their treatment.
The B-2 visa category allows foreign tourists to visit the United States for reasons including tourism, meeting friends or family, or receiving medical treatment.
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