US Embassy Warns Indian Travellers, If Applicant Plans To Give Birth During Stay, US To Reject Tourist Visa
New Delhi : The US Embassy in India has issued a warning to tourist-visa applicants, signalling a tougher line against what Washington calls birth tourism. US consular officers will deny tourist visa applications if they believe the primary purpose of travel is to give birth in the United States to obtain US citizenship for the child. This is not permitted, the embassy wrote on X. The State Department, in April, posted the message that using a US tourist visa to secure citizenship for a newborn not only abuses the system but can result in American taxpayers covering medical costs.
The embassy’s warning comes at a moment when the US is widening its social-media checks. A new State Department rule will now require all H-1B workers and applicants — along with their H-4 dependents — to make their online accounts accessible for visa vetting, whether they’re renewing a visa or applying for one. The move, which kicks in on December 15, has stirred real anxiety among Indian immigrants, who make up more than 70 per cent of all H-1B approvals and nearly 90 per cent of H-4 EAD holders.
Many have mortgages, careers and children’s schooling tied to a clean, uninterrupted visa record, making the expanded scrutiny feel especially fraught. The US Embassy in India has also rescheduled a large number of H-1B and H-4 interviews, with some pushed as far as mid-2026. If you have received an email advising that your visa appointment has been rescheduled, Mission India looks forward to assisting you on your new appointment date,” the embassy said.
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