State Department Announces New Visa Restriction Policy on Birth Tourism
Published Oct 12, 2026
The U.S. Department of State has announced a new policy restricting visas for individuals who engage in or facilitate birth tourism, referring to travel to the United States for the purpose of giving birth so a child obtains U.S. citizenship. The source available does not specify which visa categories are affected, the effective date, or detailed eligibility criteria.
Key points
- The State Department announced a new visa restriction policy targeting birth tourism.
- Birth tourism refers to travel to the United States specifically for childbirth to secure U.S. citizenship for the child.
- The policy targets both individuals who engage in birth tourism and those who facilitate it.
- Details such as affected visa classes, implementation date, and specific criteria are not specified in the available source.
Who is affected
Pregnant travelers applying for visitor visas and those who facilitate such travel may be affected.
What to do
Affected individuals should monitor further official announcements and consular guidance from the Department of State for details.
Full text
The complete official text was archived on this site on 2026-10-12. It stays available here even if the source link changes or is removed.
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Protecting the Sanctity of U.S. Citizenship: A New Visa Restriction Policy for Those Who Engage in or Facilitate Birth Tourism
Press Statement
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
September 23, 2026
Foreign commercial birth tourism networks have exploited the U.S. immigration system to sell U.S. citizenship for profit. These networks advertise and coach foreign nationals to lie on U.S. visa applications and collect tens of thousands of dollars to arrange births on American soil for the sole purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship.
Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This policy targets individuals who knowingly engage in, have engaged in, or facilitate birth tourism to the United States, including owners, operators, and managers of commercial birth tourism facilitation networks, visa “fixers” who coach applicants to commit fraud, foreign medical providers who knowingly abet and facilitate such travel and the fraudulent use of our Medicaid system, and other individuals who support, abet, and enable commercial birth tourism.
The Trump Administration is using every tool at our disposal to defend the integrity of U.S. citizenship, protect American public benefits and U.S. taxpayers from exploitation, and safeguard our national security. By restricting visa issuance of those who both engage in and profit from this fraud, we are sending a clear message: The United States will not allow foreigners to exploit our immigration system and violate the sanctity of U.S. citizenship.
This visa restriction policy is pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Certain family members may also be covered by these restrictions.
Tags
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Immigration
Office of the Spokesman
The Secretary of State
Section 212(a)(3)(c) Visa Restrictions
U.S. Visas and Green Cards
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Original title: Protecting the Sanctity of U.S. Citizenship: A New Visa Restriction Policy for Those Who Engage in or Facilitate Birth Tourism
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This summary was produced with AI from the official announcement. Only the official source is authoritative.