KAMPALA, Uganda – The United States has issued a new directive targeting birth tourism, specifically warning Ugandan nationals against using U.S. visas to give birth on American soil for the purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for their children.
In a public notice posted by the U.S. Mission in Uganda, the U.S. government made it clear that traveling on a visa with the primary intent of giving birth in the country is not permitted and will result in visa denial.
“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,” the statement read.
U.S. consular officers have now been instructed to deny visa applications if they suspect an applicant intends to travel to the U.S. solely for childbirth.
The embassy noted that a growing number of Ugandan parents on tourist visas have given birth in the U.S., often relying on public healthcare services intended for American citizens.
“Many Ugandan parents with tourist visas travel to the United States for the purpose of giving birth, and they use government assistance to pay for their medical care. These costs are passed on to the American taxpayer,” the statement added.
Attention U.S. visa holders: 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
Officials further warned that such actions may jeopardize future visa renewals for those found to have misused their current visas.
The announcement comes amid a broader U.S. crackdown on birth tourism, a practice where foreign nationals travel to America specifically to secure citizenship for their children under the 14th Amendment.
Although birthright citizenship remains legal under U.S. law, authorities argue that exploiting tourist visas for this purpose is an abuse of the immigration system and places undue burden on taxpayer-funded services.
The U.S. Mission did not provide data on how many Ugandans may be affected by the new policy, but the move is expected to tighten visa scrutiny for pregnant applicants and increase the rejection rate for suspected cases of birth tourism.
Visa applicants are now urged to be transparent about their travel intentions and to expect more stringent vetting at both the embassy and ports of entry.
