The United States government has announced it will refuse visas to parents  who use them to travel to the U.S. with the primary purpose of giving birth.

A US Embassy consular update stated: “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.”

The update added that many parents with tourist visas travel to the United States to give birth and then use government assistance to pay for their medical care.

“These costs are passed on to the American taxpayer, and those parents may not be eligible to renew their visas in the future,” it added.

By Adama Makasuba