On Aug. 12, 2026, the U.S. Department of State announced the creation of a Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force as part of a broader effort to prevent the misuse of nonimmigrant visas by individuals traveling to the United States primarily to give birth and obtain U.S. citizenship for their children.
According to the Department of State, the task force works with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies to analyze information, review visa holders’ travel activity, identify suspected birth-tourism arrangements, and disrupt networks that facilitate the practice. The Department of State reported that this initiative has already resulted in the revocation of more than 600 visas worldwide.
Link to Increased Scrutiny of Travelers and Facilitators Increased Scrutiny of Travelers and Facilitators
The Department of State describes birth tourism as a global, for-profit industry supported by facilitators who may advertise services such as visa coaching, hospital arrangements, and travel packages marketed as opportunities to give birth in the United States. Some facilitators reportedly present themselves as doulas, midwives, or wellness advocates while helping prospective travelers conceal the true purpose of their trips.
The Department of State also alleges that certain facilitators and travelers use falsified medical records, provide misleading explanations of their intended travel, or employ strategies designed to avoid paying medical bills. The task force is intended not only to identify individual travelers, but also to connect information across government agencies and dismantle networks that profit from such conduct.
Link to Visa Revocation and Misrepresentation Consequences Visa Revocation and Misrepresentation Consequences
The announcement emphasizes that the secretary of state has broad discretionary authority to revoke visas when information indicates a possible ground of ineligibility. Visa revocation, however, is not the only potential consequence. A foreign national who willfully misrepresents a material fact concerning the purpose of a visa application or admission to the United States may face a permanent bar to visa eligibility or admission.
The Department of State provided several examples of conduct that led to visa revocation. In one case, a couple allegedly cited conference attendance and vacation shopping as the purposes of separate trips during which two children were born in the United States. In another, a foreign government official reportedly requested a visa for a one-week official trip but remained for three months and gave birth before departing. The department also described a traveler who stated she intended to vacation in Orlando, Fla., but instead traveled to Los Angeles and gave birth five days after arriving. These examples illustrate that consular officers may compare an applicant’s stated travel plans with prior travel history, the length and timing of a visit, medical circumstances, and information provided in earlier visa applications. Inconsistencies may lead to visa revocation and adversely affect future applications for visas or admission.
Link to Considerations for International Travelers Considerations for International Travelers
The creation of the Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force may signal heightened government coordination and enforcement in this area. Pregnancy – or travel to the U.S. for legitimate medical care – is not, by itself, prohibited, but applicants must provide complete and truthful information throughout the immigration process – from visa applications and consular interviews to inspection at a U.S. port of entry. Applicants seeking medical treatment in the U.S. may be required to explain the purpose of their travel and demonstrate appropriate arrangements for treatment and payment. Travelers should not rely on facilitators who encourage them to conceal a pregnancy, provide a false itinerary, misstate the purpose of travel, or submit inaccurate documents.
The task force underscores the Department of State’s increased focus on identifying birth tourism, revoking visas, and holding travelers and facilitators accountable for misuse of the visa system. Foreign nationals should consider confirming that all information they plan to provide in visa applications and during travel is accurate and truthful.