New Delhi — Updated Dec 12, 2025
The United States will refuse tourist visa applications when consular officers determine the primary purpose of travel is to give birth in the U.S. to secure citizenship for the child, a U.S. Embassy spokesperson in New Delhi said. The embassy described such travel arrangements as not permitted and subject to visa refusal.
The clarification is part of a broader recalibration of the U.S. visa screening process. The embassy confirmed a substantial expansion of online presence reviews that will cover additional visa categories.
Beginning Dec. 15, the State Department will extend its online presence vetting to all H-1B specialty-occupation worker applicants and their H-4 dependents. The review is already applied to F (student), M (vocational student) and J (exchange visitor) visa applicants.
A State Department spokesperson said the department conducts thorough vetting of all visa applicants, including online presence reviews for student and exchange visitor categories, and that the expansion will bring specialty-occupation temporary worker applicants and their dependents into that same process.
Officials said each application will be given the time and scrutiny needed to confirm the applicant poses no security risk and intends to engage only in activities permitted by the visa. They warned that routine appointment schedules may be adjusted to accommodate resource constraints and that affected applicants will be notified directly of any changes.
