New Delhi, Dec 12 (V7N) – The United States Embassy in India has issued a strict warning against the practice of traveling to the U.S. to give birth and secure citizenship for children under the 14th Amendment. According to the embassy, visa applications will be directly denied if the primary intent of travel is to obtain U.S. citizenship for a child.

In a post on social media platform X, the embassy clarified that consular officers have the authority to reject any visitor visa if they suspect that the main purpose of the trip is “birth tourism.” Such travel is not permitted under U.S. immigration law.

The tightened measures extend beyond tourist visas. Applicants for H-1B and H-4 visas will now undergo enhanced online presence and social media screening similar to the checks already applied to student and exchange visitor visas (F, M, and J categories). These rules will come into effect on December 15, the embassy stated.

Recently, numerous Indian applicants received emails notifying them of rescheduled visa interview appointments. The embassy emphasized that all applications are reviewed thoroughly to ensure that the applicant does not pose a security risk to the United States and that their activities comply with visa conditions.

The Trump administration had previously mandated social media screening for all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, creating uncertainty for thousands of foreign workers and their families. The embassy’s statement reiterates that each visa request is carefully evaluated to confirm credibility and adherence to U.S. law.

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