US bans birth tourism for Armenian women

The US Embassy in Armenia’s capital Yerevan has issued a public warning advising Armenian women not to attempt to travel to the US on tourist visas with the primary intent of giving birth in the country.

“Birth tourism is not permitted on a U.S. visitor visa. Using your visa to travel for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States so that your child will have U.S. citizenship is not permitted. Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent,” Caliber.Az reports, citing the message of the US Embassy in Yerevan on Facebook.

The embassy reminded applicants that so-called “birth tourism” — the practice of entering the US on a nonimmigrant visa specifically to give birth so the child acquires US citizenship — is a violation of US immigration policy. Officials emphasized that consular officers are trained to detect potential cases of birth tourism and will deny visas if they suspect the applicant’s true intent is to deliver a child in the US.

By Naila Huseynova