US Warns Nigerians Against Giving Birth in America for Citizenship

The United States Mission in Nigeria has issued a stern warning to Nigerians seeking to travel to the U.S. primarily to give birth so their children can automatically acquire American citizenship. The Mission emphasized that such practices, commonly referred to as "birth tourism," violate U.S. immigration laws and would result in visa denial for applicants caught with that intent.

In a statement released via its official channels, the U.S. Mission clarified that any individual applying for a visa must be honest about their reasons for traveling. It stated that while being pregnant does not automatically disqualify someone from obtaining a visa or entering the U.S., the purpose of travel must be legitimate and clearly stated. Visa applicants who fail to provide truthful information or who are found to have concealed their intentions risk being denied not only the current visa but future ones as well.

The U.S. further warned that travelers discovered to have traveled under false pretenses would face consequences including deportation and long-term bans from entering the country. Officials stressed that applying for a visa solely to give birth, without any other valid reason for travel, does not meet the criteria for a tourist visa and constitutes visa fraud.

The Mission advised Nigerian citizens to abide by immigration guidelines and cautioned against using misleading travel purposes, as any attempt to exploit U.S. policies for citizenship benefits will be met with firm consequences.

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