US Revokes 900 Visas Targeting Birth Tourism and Fraud

The figure, disclosed by State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, marks a significant increase from the 600 visas the department said it had revoked when the task force was announced. Pigott said the task force targets networks that advertise services to pregnant foreign nationals and coach applicants on how to misrepresent their travel intentions to U.S. consular officers.

Pigott described birth tourism as a global phenomenon in which networks profit by essentially selling U.S. citizenship. He accused some operators of disguising themselves as healthcare providers while facilitating the practice, and said they coach applicants to defraud U.S. officials and leave American taxpayers to cover medical expenses.

The enforcement push builds on a 2020 rule that allowed consular officers to deny B-1/B-2 visitor visas when they believe an applicant's primary purpose is to give birth in the United States. The latest action extends beyond individual visa decisions to dismantle the networks that organize such travel.

The State Department has not released a breakdown of the revoked visas by nationality or specific grounds. The announcement does not bar pregnant foreign nationals from traveling to the United States, but it underscores the importance of accurately stating the purpose of a visa application and providing truthful information during the consular process.

For Indian nationals and Indian Americans, the development highlights the need to be transparent about travel plans. Applicants who misrepresent their intentions can face visa revocation and other immigration consequences.