US Embassy in New Delhi ne Indian travellers ko ek strong warning jari kiya hai — agar kisi tourist visa applicant ko lagta hai ki uska primary purpose US jaakar bachcha citizenship ke liye janam dena hai, to visa turant deny kar diya jayega. Washington is practice ko “birth tourism” ke naam se describe karta hai, aur authorities bol rahe hain ki iske liye visitor visas ka istemal allowed nahi hai.
Embassy ne X (pehle Twitter) par post mein likha, “U.S. 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 U.S. citizenship for the child.” Post me ye bhi clear mention tha: “This is not permitted.”
Ye policy 2020 ke ek rule par based hai jisme consular officers ko authority di gayi thi ke agar applicant ka main intent birth tourism lagta hai, to visitor visa reject kiya ja sakta hai. Background me US ka 14th Amendment birthright citizenship ko ensure karta hai — matlab US soil par paida hua baccha automatic citizen ban jata hai — aur isi loophole ke misuse ko rokna US administration ka key objective hai.
Iss warning ke saath embassy ne work visa applicants ke liye bhi zyada strict verification announce kiya hai. December 15 se, H-1B workers aur unke H-4 dependents ko apne social-media accounts ko online vetting ke liye accessible rakhna hoga, jisse background checks aur detailed ho jayenge.
Visa applicant community me is announcement par mixed reaction aaya. Kuch logon ka kehna hai ki ye step system ke misuse ko rokne ke liye zaroori hai, jabki dusre log fear aur confusion feel kar rahe hain, specially unke liye jinke career, schooling aur long-term stability US travel permissions par dependent hai.
US Embassy ne ye bhi clarify kiya hai ki kuch H-1B aur H-4 visa interview appointments mid-2026 tak reschedule ho chuki hain. Applicants ko sirf updated appointment dates par hi appear hona chahiye; purani dates par pohonchne par entry deny ho sakti hai.
Experts ka maanna hai ki ye crackdown birth tourism ke misuse ko reduce karega, aur US authorities traveller intentions ko aur closely monitor karenge. Lekin critics warn kar rahe hain ki stricter scrutiny se genuine travellers ko bhi additional hurdles face karne pad sakte hain.
