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‘Birth tourism' violates US Immigration law & will not be permitted- US Embassy

The United States Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, has issued a renewed advisory to Caribbean nationals regarding the misuse of non-immigrant visas, particularly in relation to 'birth tourism'. Photo: US Embassy
A view of Road Town, Tortola. Many in the Virgin Islands, locals and expatriates, are known to prefer to have their babies born in the US, including due to healthcare concerns. Photo: VINO/File
A view of Road Town, Tortola. Many in the Virgin Islands, locals and expatriates, are known to prefer to have their babies born in the US, including due to healthcare concerns. Photo: VINO/File
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados- The United States Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, has issued a renewed advisory to Caribbean nationals regarding the misuse of non-immigrant visas, particularly in relation to “birth tourism.”

The Embassy emphasises that using a B-1/B-2 visitor visa to enter the United States primarily for the purpose of giving birth—thereby securing US citizenship for the child—is a violation of US immigration law and will not be permitted.

Many in the Virgin Islands, locals and expatriates, are known to prefer to have their babies born in the US, including due to healthcare concerns.

According to the US Embassy in Barbados, the advisory reiterates long-standing policy reinforced by a regulation implemented by the US Department of State on January 24, 2020, which directs consular officers to deny tourist visa applications when there is reason to believe the primary purpose of travel is to give birth in the United States to obtain US citizenship for the child.

Birth tourism a ‘misuse of the visa category’

It said that while travel to the United States for tourism and legitimate medical care is permitted under the B-1/B-2 visa, the US government considers birth tourism a misuse of the visa category. Individuals suspected of engaging in this practice may be denied entry, have their visas revoked, or face future ineligibility for US visas.

Birth tourism has raised national security and immigration concerns in the United States for several years. It is estimated that tens of thousands of babies are born each year to mothers who enter the country on tourist visas.

The US government said it remains committed to preserving the integrity of its immigration system and preventing the exploitation of the Fourteenth Amendment, which grants birthright citizenship to those born on US soil.

The advisory serves as a reminder that visa applicants must disclose the true purpose of their travel and comply with all US immigration rules. It said misrepresentation may lead to serious consequences, including permanent ineligibility for US visas.

The Embassy encourages all Caribbean nationals to review visa guidelines carefully and to ensure their travel intentions are consistent with the visa category for which they are applying.

27 Responses to “‘Birth tourism' violates US Immigration law & will not be permitted- US Embassy”

  • Interested (06/06/2025, 12:35) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
    They have spoken Who have ears to hear, let them hear
    • @Interested (07/06/2025, 22:42) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Can we also stop persons who are not citizens from having babies in the VI too? We seem to follow the US lead on many matters.
    • Arrion (09/06/2025, 10:42) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      It has not been written into the Constitution yet.
  • BRAD BOYNES (06/06/2025, 14:48) Like (10) Dislike (5) Reply
    Many in the Virgin Islands, locals and expatriates, are known to prefer to have their babies born in the US, including due to healthcare concerns.
    This will never stop. The US done let it got out of hand. The BVI and other Caribbean nations/countries the same dam thing.
    • Correct (06/06/2025, 18:35) Like (6) Dislike (12) Reply
      A lot of doctors here are also the reasons people have still birth, miscarriages, undiagnosed issues etc. USA is one of the safest and experienced place to get a child.
  • Boom! (06/06/2025, 15:22) Like (11) Dislike (6) Reply
    That door just got shut.
    • @Boom (08/06/2025, 13:43) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      I GLAD. Now, Please Mr Premier. It’s about time our door gets slam shut too. Please follow suit. You know we like to follow the US. This one is needed 10 times over. Let’s get our doors airtight. We are on a run away train.
  • Greg (06/06/2025, 16:04) Like (28) Dislike (3) Reply
    That's how it is now, but our parents had us in the U.S.V.I. and then came back over on the boat to the B.V.I.. We were deemed U.S. citizens immediately at birth, but still had Belonger status in the B.V.I. The newbies won't have it so easy now. We were born in the best of times.
    • guess what (06/06/2025, 21:21) Like (0) Dislike (14) Reply
      They're looking at those cases too.
      • Greg (07/06/2025, 22:01) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
        @ guess what. Don't be so full of yourself. My parents were born in the BVI. My siblings and I, and many others were born in the US and deemed Belongers. We were raised here, went to school here, and are in our 70's and 80's now. We have lived here, worked here, voted here our entire lives, own land, and raised families. We have children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who were born right here in the BVI. Look into what cases? You want to sound knowledgeable, but you are not. We elders will be long gone to heaven before the ink can dry.
    • LookSee (08/06/2025, 19:46) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      We were privileged to have been allotted that right granted,Thanks to the in̈ate character of the BVIslanders, this privileged was never a regret mor a hesitation for the USA .
      unlike the current low hanging fruits now making their way from yonder via the BVI to the US and its territories
      BVIslanders will be treated as part and parcel of the disgraced ..a typical " ThankYou" from the invasive and parasitic new comers,..that is in keeping with the BVI crime and it's overloaded prison and judicial system, decreased quality of education with students toting guns and illicit drugs.



      ,
  • Orange man not playing. (06/06/2025, 16:26) Like (4) Dislike (14) Reply
    Ya’ll think trump playing games. Immigration officers will be sending people back very quickly.
    • @Orange man not playing (06/06/2025, 17:59) Like (43) Dislike (33) Reply
      Let them continue with this practice because DJT will soon start demanding pregnancy test for women between a certain age travelling to the US on B1/B2 Tourist Visas or ICE might be waiting to deport you upon delivery of baby. Both mother and child packed back on ICE flight and Visa revoked for the Mother whilst baby refused automatic US Citizenship. The Mother might even be jailed whilst baby is placed in foster care, if the Mother has no relatives who has US legal status and is willing to take charge of the child. Alu know DJT is ignorant and crazy. He does whatever his mind tells him. He doesn't give a damn about anybody but himself, family and some of his ctoonies. Look how him and first buddy, Elon Musk fall out now trading war of words on the platform X. Some people will be lucky if that nincompoop doesn't use the chance to have them sent to CECOT. Will all this worth it? Nope, it will not. So be forewarned and drop you lil picknie down Peebles. Don't even try that sh*t at Roy Schneider. They already have the spare room to keep you when ICE ready to collect you and your bundle of joy. Stay your behind in Tola. Btw, its not only BVIslanders/Belongers and Caribbean people rushing to the US to give birth, lots of the expats from the Asia and Europe has taken up the practice as well. The Filipinos rushing there in droves to drop their bundle and we know they breed like rabbits.
      • c (06/06/2025, 20:05) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
        The mother leaves with the baby but the baby can return when 18 since the baby was born on US soil
        • @c (07/06/2025, 13:55) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
          Perhaps, that might have been so, however Trump has opened Pandora's box and the laws may get changed to reflect the times, especially when they find out the child's mother or parents were undocumented. Why would the US continue to let us suck their benefits dry especially if they has been no contributions by way of taxes on our part.
          A lot of folks love freebies. That is now being closed and justly so. Some of us are too lazy, just shoving babies out for food stamps, Medicare, etc.
          Let's see if they can try this birthright shit in Europe, Canada or UK. All of these countries are working tirelessly to enact laws to prevent folks from sucking their Treasury dry whilst the folks that work hard and pay taxes are forced to live like animals. Time's up. Alu better proceed with caution.
          • @@c (07/06/2025, 19:19) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
            You talking a lot of puppitude. From my observation, the laziest bunch are those Americans Trump born and raised. All the others, Caribbean, Asian, etc. buss their @$$:$ in America, some working 2 and 3 jobs. This is why they excel the way they do. Who leave here and go up there for food stamp? Strupes! It’s the hard working people of the Caribbean and other nation that pay for the food stamps his lazy Americans using for free food.
      • @ @orange man not playing (07/06/2025, 12:50) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
        Ok. Orange donkey. Like some filipino hut you bad. At least if they breed like rabbits its one man and one woman having lets say 5 children with each other. Ayo down here, one man have 5 baby mama and one woman have about 5 baby daddy and some ah ayo aint even know ayo child fada. Dah is facts and ayo accept and normalize it.
  • @least (06/06/2025, 17:46) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    If your children was born in the USVI, Puerto Rico or the US, they stand a better chance.
  • Eldread (06/06/2025, 18:32) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Even natalio Wheatley parents birth him in USA territory, so our premiere is a American, I have no problem with what trump is saying here, be proud of the lands you are birth on.
  • BuzzBvi (06/06/2025, 20:32) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    We going to get a lot more Born Here VI babies and less of those American made VIslanders folks complaining about up in Anegada taking over the place.
    Maybe a good thing bringing back made and produced in the VI. Well maybe not even made in the VI but produced in the VI.
    VI probably does need to move away from the made somewhere, produced in the USA but vote in the VI model of VIslander that is starting to upset some folks.
    I am sure it makes sense to the people who have lived here, work here, play here, are invested here, pay tax here, and have no say, but are living under Governments voted in by people who born in the US, live somewhere else, use their paid for education somewhere else, farmers and fishers grants spent somewhere else, taxes paid somewhere else, money spent somewhere else, skills used somewhere eilse, focus is somewhere else .... it gets you thinking.
    • BuzzExpat (07/06/2025, 19:21) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
      I agree with TRUMP 100%. Now VI need to follow suit and start sending people home.
      • BuzzBvi (08/06/2025, 09:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        VI going be, 100% TRUMP, in trouble when all the American born VIslanders suddenly get thrown out of the US and land up here. Everyone including VIslanders going to want to leave! You won't need to use xenophobic racist ideas to send anyone anywhere.
  • Cindy (07/06/2025, 07:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    trump on ayo body
  • Perhaps a blessing (07/06/2025, 09:12) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Being born in the USVIs gets you a US Passport. It comes with the annual obligation of filing Internal Revenue Service Form 1040 reporting all worldwide income upon becoming an adult. I believe you don’t have to pay anything unless you earn more than $90 k, and even then you get credit for local taxes paid. And you are required to report bank accounts outside the US that have more than $ 10 k. But you do have to file form 1040 every year. Failure to do so is what got Al Capone in jail. Not reporting foreign accounts (and IRS looks for them) also comes with severe penalties including confiscation. So maybe not having a US passport has some benefits.
  • smh (08/06/2025, 00:15) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    It’s about damn time. There are plenty of anchor babies born in the U.S. Virgin Islands who return to the Virgin Islands where they were conceived and raised, but show absolutely no loyalty to this place.
  • ausar (08/06/2025, 11:47) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The whole situation is sad all around!

    Many leave this territory to come to the US Virgin Virgin Islands, so that a healthy child can be born. We've all heard the stories from so many, about the mishaps, the lack of neonatal / premie care and so forth over there!

    Why aren't there any initiatives by this administration, to encourage students to study neonatal gynecology in America, and/ or the Kingdom, and come back and render their skills, in the perfectory of safe births in these lands?

    The priorities in leadership are in the wrong place!

    There is much talk about national pride. But if there are citizens being born with no assurances of survival, who, will be around in the future, to talk about, and benefit from, these "pride" initiatives?

    The disconnect, all around on this issue, is so sad!


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