On Monday, July 28, 2025, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria issued a warning via its official X handle (@USinNigeria) to Nigerians against traveling to the United States primarily to give birth to secure U.S. citizenship for their children, a practice known as “birth tourism.” The statement clarified that such intent violates U.S. immigration policy, stating, “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 intent.” This follows increased scrutiny of visa applications, with consular officers trained to detect patterns indicating birth tourism, such as late-term pregnancy travel or lack of ties to Nigeria, as noted in a July 2025 U.S. Embassy Lagos press briefing.
The warning aligns with the U.S. Department of State’s revised visa reciprocity policy for Nigerians, effective January 2025, limiting most non-immigrant, non-diplomatic visas to single-entry with a three-month validity period, down from multi-entry, two-year visas, due to Nigeria’s non-compliance with identity verification protocols, per a State Department report. The U.S. emphasized that these measures protect immigration system integrity, with 38,000 Nigerian visa denials in 2024 for reasons including suspected fraud or ineligibility, per consular data. X posts from @Naija_Activist and @SaharaReporters on July 28, 2025, highlighted public frustration, citing high visa fees (₦260,000 for B1/B2 visas) and denials as barriers for genuine travelers, while urging Nigeria to address reciprocal immigration issues.
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