The United States Embassy in Kampala has issued a warning to Ugandan nationals holding or applying for U.S. visas, cautioning against using them for the primary purpose of giving birth in the U.S. to secure American citizenship for their children.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Embassy emphasised that entering the U.S. on a tourist visa with the sole intention of giving birth is a misuse of the visa and is strictly prohibited. Consular officers have now been instructed to deny visa applications where such intent is suspected.
“Many Ugandan parents with tourist visas travel to the United States for the purpose of giving birth and often rely on public assistance to cover medical expenses,” the statement noted. “This practice places a financial burden on the American taxpayer and may result in the parent being deemed ineligible for future visa renewals.”
The advisory comes as part of a broader crackdown on visa fraud and misuse. The Embassy reiterated its position from an earlier March warning, which highlighted the serious consequences of submitting falsified documents during the visa application process. At the time, the Embassy stressed that any attempt to deceive consular officials would be treated as fraud and could lead to a permanent ban from entering the United States.
“If you submit fake documents with your U.S. visa application, you are committing fraud and risking your future,” the March statement warned.
The Embassy urged all visa applicants to be transparent and truthful throughout the application process and to use U.S. visas solely for their intended purpose.
