After living in the U.S. for a long time, I sometimes come across news that is difficult to understand.

Recently, I saw news that the U.S. Department of State uncovered a birth tourism network and canceled the visas of hundreds of foreign nationals involved.

I had heard the term birth tourism several times, but I learned for the first time that it is called Birth Tourism in English.

LA is a city with a particularly high immigrant population in the U.S., where people from diverse cultures and backgrounds come together to live.

As a result, I encounter many neighbors who have legally entered the U.S., dedicated themselves to their studies, worked hard, and built businesses to settle down.

These individuals invest a significant amount of time and money from the visa application stage through obtaining permanent residency and citizenship, following the proper procedures.

However, some people try to use childbirth as one of the easiest ways to obtain U.S. citizenship.

This involves entering the U.S. on a tourist visa and giving birth here so that the child can receive U.S. citizenship.

Of course, according to the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, a child born on U.S. soil has the right to citizenship.

Therefore, the issue here is not the citizenship system itself, but the act of improperly using a tourist visa while concealing the true purpose of childbirth.

To be honest, many people around me often ask, "If I apply for a visa while pregnant, won't the U.S. government notice?"

However, visa officers actually review much more specific and extensive information than one might think.

They analyze everything from interview content to detailed stay plans, financial status, past travel records, hospital appointments, and duration of stay.

While a visa may not be denied solely for being pregnant, if childbirth is deemed the primary purpose of the visit, the visa may be denied.

The U.S. government has officially started to restrict the issuance of tourist visas for the purpose of birth tourism since 2020.

The organizations that were uncovered this time have gone beyond simply assisting with travel.

It has been revealed that they operated a very systematic business model, including connections with local hospitals, providing accommodations, training for visa interview answers, and guidance on document manipulation.

From the U.S. government's perspective, this can only be classified as clear 'visa fraud.'

It has been reported that key brokers in this operation have been subjected to 'permanent entry bans.'

The U.S. treats immigration system deception as a serious crime. If a record of immigration fraud is left, it can lead to lifelong severe disadvantages in future visa issuance or entry examinations.

Some people lightly think, "What's the big deal about having a baby?" However, the U.S. government's perspective is entirely different.

A U.S. visa is not a right that one is entitled to, but a 'permission' granted by the government. Tourist visas exist literally for tourism, visiting relatives, and business meetings, not as a means to circumvent citizenship acquisition.

For example, if someone holds a student visa but does not attend school, that is obviously a problem. Similarly, if someone enters the U.S. on a tourist visa but the actual purpose is childbirth, that too can be problematic. The key issue is not the 'act of childbirth' itself, but whether the purpose of the visa issuance aligns with the actual actions taken.

Living in LA, I see that there are broad opportunities for those who follow legal procedures, but attempts to exploit loopholes in the system are met with firmness. I believe this recent cancellation of birth tourism visas reflects this principle-centered trend.

If you wish to enter the U.S., going through legal procedures based on legitimate reasons is the safest and wisest approach.

As the government has announced that it will strengthen visa examinations in the future, it seems that the act of abusing visas for the purpose of birth tourism will soon come to an end.