KEYIR NEWS - The United States Embassy in Addis Ababa has issued a public advisory reiterating that traveling to the United States primarily for the purpose of giving birth in order to obtain U.S. citizenship for a child—commonly referred to as birth tourism—is not permitted under U.S. immigration law.
In an official statement, the Embassy emphasized that using a U.S. visa with the primary intent of securing citizenship for a child born on U.S. soil constitutes visa fraud and may lead to denial of entry, visa revocation, or permanent ineligibility for future travel to the United States.
“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 Embassy stated.
While the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment does grant birthright citizenship to most individuals born within the United States, intentional misrepresentation of the reasons for travel at the time of visa application or upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry is a serious violation of immigration rules.
The advisory comes amid rising global scrutiny of birth tourism, a practice that has drawn increasing attention from U.S. immigration authorities. Since 2020, U.S. consular officers have been explicitly directed to deny B-1/B-2 visitor visas to applicants suspected of planning travel primarily to give birth.
The Embassy urged visa applicants and current visa holders to adhere strictly to the stated purposes of their travel and reminded them that false statements during the application process or at the border can have severe consequences.
Visa holders are expected to disclose truthful travel intentions, use the visa in accordance with its classification (e.g., tourism, business, medical treatment), avoid using temporary visas for long-term residency or unauthorized purposes.
The Embassy further encouraged those with medical needs requiring travel to the United States to apply for the appropriate visa category and provide clear, documented evidence of purpose, funding, and arrangements.
This announcement serves as a reminder of the importance the U.S. government places on maintaining the integrity of its immigration system and the legal consequences of visa fraud.
For further information, the U.S. Embassy directs the public to consult official resources at:
By ZELALEM GIRMA | KEYIR STAFF WRITER