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Giving Birth In The US On A Tourist Visa: A Detailed Guide

Each year, the United States become birthplace of 33,000 babies while their mothers visit the country as tourists — on top of hundreds of thousands more born by women on temporary visas and illegal aliens.

This alarming statistic has led to legal changes for giving birth in the U.S. on a tourist visa.

We’ll explain what birth tourism is and cover the legal consequences of having your baby in the U.S. as a tourist. We’ll also share the most recent legislation updates regarding tourist visas for pregnant women.

Contact Spar & Bernstein

Table of Contents

What Is Birth Tourism?

Birth tourism is the practice of traveling to another country, specifically to give birth in that country. Birth tourism often occurs on a temporary visa, such as a tourist visa.

Considered one of the best countries to give birth in, the U.S. is an attractive place for birth tourism. The motivation behind birth tourism in the U.S. includes:

• Perceived stability : Accepted as a stable and prosperous country, the U.S. is an attractive place to give birth and raise a child.
• Citiznship benefits : Giving birth in the U.S. makes your child a U.S. citizen, which gives the child access to education, healthcare and potential career opportunities.
• Family reunification: Giving birth in the U.S. can be used as a pathway for you and your spouse as a U.S. citizen’s parents to obtain legal immigration status in the U.S.

However, birth tourism in the U.S. is viewed as a potential threat to national security , because:

• It can lead to the fraudulent acquirement of U.S. citizenship, bypassing the traditional immigration pathways and security screening procedures
• It can strain healthcare and public services, impacting the well-being and security of citizens and legal residents

As a result, birth tourism has provoked numerous discussions about tightening regulations to ensure that those who enter the U.S. come to the country for legitimate reasons and are not compromising national security.

What Happens If You Give Birth In The US On A Tourist Visa?

Giving birth in the U.S. on a tourist visa can have certain legal consequences for both mother and child.

1. Legal Implications For The Mother

Giving birth in the U.S. on a tourist visa does not automatically grant you the right to stay in the country based on the birth of your child.

Your visa status remains unchanged and you will be typically expected to leave the U.S. before your visa expires. If you do not leave the country after the expiration of your visa, this will be considered as overstaying a visa , which may result in future travel restrictions or challenges when applying for a visa for subsequent visits.

In addition, if your primary purpose for entering the U.S. was to give birth and you did not truthfully represent your intentions to immigration officials, you can be charged with visa fraud due to willful misrepresentation of a material fact (that you were planning to have your baby in the U.S.) or face visa denial for future visa applications, due to credibility concerns.

While giving birth in the U.S. does not directly grant you any type of immigration status, there may be pathways that can help you remain in the U.S. permanently.

These alternatives can include family-sponsored visas, employment-based visas or other immigration categories. Talk to an experienced immigration attorney to understand your options.

2. Legal Implications For The Child

If your child is born on U.S. soil, they will acquire U.S. citizenship through the principle of jus soli (birthright citizenship).

• In addition to citizenship, being born in the U.S. allows your child to:
• Apply for a U.S. passport

Hold dual citizenship, depending on your home country’s laws

Apart from benefits, however, U.S. citizenship also comes with certain obligations. If your child is born in the U.S. and therefore is a U.S. citizen, your child is likely to:

• Have residency obligations, such as potential taxation on global income and the need to enter and exit the U.S. using a U.S. passport
• Face immigration challenges, as they may need to navigate U.S. immigration regulations, even if they choose not to reside in the U.S.

Because each situation is unique, the legal implications can vary based on the specific circumstances. We recommended seeking professional advice from a reputable immigration law firm, like The Law Offices of Spar & Bernstein.

With five decades of immigration experience, our team at The Law Offices of Spar & Bernstein has supported thousands of people in various immigration situations, from getting married on a tourist visa or navigating a visa overstay to removing conditions on a Green Card and facing the challenges of divorce after Green Card .

Schedule a consultation with our caring and tenacious team for professional guidance and advice in your situation. We will explain the legal implications for yourself and your child and share our advice on next steps.

New Rules For Giving Birth On A Tourist Visa In The US

As per the U.S. government, traveling to the U.S. and giving birth with the intention to obtain U.S. citizenship for your child is not an acceptable reason for granting a B nonimmigrant visa.

According to the updated temporary visa regulations , which became effective as of January 22, 2020, the consular officers have the authority to deny a B nonimmigrant visa to individuals they believe intend to travel solely for the purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for their child through birth.

However, the U.S. government recognized that foreign nationals may wish to travel to the U.S. for medical treatment while pregnant , which is different from birth tourism.

If you need to visit the U.S. for medical treatment while pregnant, you must submit your visa application along with:

• A legitimate reason to travel to the U.S. for medical treatment, such as a condition requiring specialized medical expertise, availability of advanced medical technology, chronic disease management, participation in a trial or experimental treatments that are not available in your country, or seeking a second opinion
• A confirmation by a medical practitioner or facility stating that they agreed to provide treatment
• An estimated duration of stay in the U.S.
• A projected cost of treatment
• Proof that you can cover your medical treatment, transportation and living expenses, either on your own or with pre-arranged assistance from other parties

The new rule restricting tourist visas to pregnant women does not affect :

• F-1 academic visa applicants
• M-1 vocational student visa applicants
• H1-B work visa applicants
• Those seeking lawful permanent residence in the U.S.

If you are considering visiting the U.S. on a tourist visa, especially if you are pregnant, talk to legal experts to review the latest updates and get professional recommendations on next steps.

Need Legal Advice? Contact Spar & Bernstein

With a long-standing history and commitment to serving clients with care and compassion, our experienced team at The Law Offices of Spar & Bernstein provides a guiding hand in key areas of immigration, from nonimmigrant visas and marriage-based visas to family immigration and waivers .

Giving birth in the U.S. on a tourist visa can be extremely overwhelming. To help you in this life-changing situation, our knowledgeable and compassionate lawyers will:

• Provide personalized advice based on your specific situation
• Assess your visa status
• Explain your rights and obligations as a foreign national in line with the changing policies and regulations that might affect your situation
• Provide insight into the implications of U.S. citizenship for your child
• Explore various legal options for you and your child, such as addressing potential overstays, adjusting your visa category or seeking pathways for obtaining legal immigration status
• Review your documentation to ensure accuracy and compliance with immigration regulations
• Submit your application for extending your stay or changing your visa category, along with all necessary documents
• Handle the communication with immigration officials on your behalf
• Represent you and advocate on your behalf in case of visa denial, overstay issues or other problems
• Provide peace of mind while you focus on caring for and bonding with your child

With Spar & Bernstein, you can rest assured that you and your child are in good hands.

Schedule a consultation

Giving Birth In The US On A Tourist Visa: Key Takeaways

Giving birth in the U.S. on a tourist visa can have a number of legal implications for both you and your child.

You will likely be denied a visa if your intentions to travel to the U.S. are only related to birth and the potential benefits that offers.

However, you can still be eligible for a visa if your medical condition requires treatment in the U.S. and you are expecting a child.

If you have questions about birth tourism or need to get a visa for medical treatment in the U.S. while pregnant contact our experienced and compassionate immigration lawyers at Spar & Bernstein.

We will help you navigate this complex situation by taking care of all the documents and procedures needed to maintain your legal status and pursue pathways to maintain in the country, if desired.

Work with our immigration attorneys

Bradford H. Bernstein

This article was written and reviewed by Bradford H. Bernstein, a second-generation leader at Law Offices of Spar & Bernstein, P.C., who has helped over 100,000 clients with immigration and personal injury issues. Brad joined the firm in 1993, became a partner in 1997, and assumed leadership in 2000 after Harry Spar retired.

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• ESTA Requirements
• Visa Waiver Program

Traveling to the U.S. while pregnant

Updated: Aug 25, 2023  | Tags: ESTA Requirements , USA Visa Restrictions , USA Immigration

Visa restrictions can make it harder for pregnant women to enter the United States

Some recent U.S. policies have made it difficult for foreign nationals traveling to the United States during pregnancy to gain “birth right citizenship” for their child. According to figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 10,000 babies were born in the United States to foreign nationals in 2017. In January 2020, the U.S. Department of State (Bureau of Consular Affairs) issued new rules allowing embassies and consulates to refuse applications from pregnant women for B1 and B-2 visas if they believe the reason for visiting the U.S. is to give birth in the country for “birth tourism” purposes.

Many airlines already have policies restricting travel later in pregnancy. Most carriers allow traveling up to the 36th week although some may have an earlier cut-off date. The rules vary amongst the carriers and may also depend on domestic or international travel. Women traveling to the United States when pregnant must also meet immigration requirements.

What are U.S. immigration laws on pregnant travelers?

United States immigration laws regard pregnancy in the same way as other medical conditions. This means that if you enter the U.S. on a B-2 visa, you must have private health insurance or sufficient funds to pay for any medical care you might need. Giving birth in the United States can be costly. For example, a straightforward birth without any complications can cost around $10,000 USD.

What are the recent changes to visa regulations affecting pregnant travelers entering the U.S.?

In January 2020, a significant amendment to visa regulations came into force. The new rules restrict the approval of B-2 tourist visas to pregnant women. The aim is to prevent the practice of traveling to the U.S. to give birth so that the child can automatically obtain United States citizenship.

Will the changes affect all pregnant travelers?

The rule changes do not affect anyone in the process of seeking a green card (permanent lawful residence) or temporary non-immigrant visas such as H-1B employment visas, F-1 academic, and M-1 student visas. People traveling to the U.S. on previously obtained visas are also exempt, as are citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program .

Under the new restrictions, a woman applying for a B-2 visa whose due date falls during the period for which their visa is valid will be deemed to be traveling to the United States with the intention of obtaining citizenship for their child. To obtain a visa successfully, a pregnant woman will now need to demonstrate a valid reason for visiting or proof that they will return before the due date. If they have any documentary evidence to support their case, it will be required at their visa interview .

Will the rules make it harder to obtain a U.S. visa for pregnant travelers?

It is still possible for a pregnant woman to be granted a tourist visa for medical treatment in the United States, for example, if specialist care is needed. The applicant will need to show that a U.S. physician has agreed to provide the required treatment and that they have sufficient funds to pay for any procedures or care.

How will pregnant travelers be pre-screened before boarding a flight to the United States?

International airlines are responsible for paying your return travel if you are denied entry into a destination country. Thus, airlines pre-screen passengers to determine if they meet the destination country’s entry requirements. If the airlines fail to complete these checks, they may be fined heavily.

If a woman is visibly pregnant, she might be asked for documentation proving that she will return before the due date or that she has the means to pay for medical care in the U.S. Airlines are concerned about the risks of a woman going into labor during a flight and also about the problems of arranging an urgent return flight for her if entry is denied.

How will pregnant travelers be screened on arrival at a U.S. airport?

On arrival at a U.S. airport , pregnant women are screened by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. CBP may question the pregnant traveler’s ability to pay for medical costs associated with giving birth in the United States. The closer she is to her due date, the more closely the CBP officers will focus on her financial status.

For example, if you are 24 weeks pregnant and are planning to stay in the United States for a couple of weeks, you will probably be allowed to enter, especially if you have visited in the past and respected the conditions of your visa. On the other hand, if you are 32 weeks pregnant and plan to stay for three weeks, the risk of going into labor during that time is higher so CBP will require proof that you have adequate medical insurance or can pay for medical treatment.

CBP pre-screening also takes place in Toronto and some other foreign cities with CBP pre-clearance. This means that U.S. immigration screening has taken place before you board the flight to the U.S.

How will pregnant travelers be screened on arrival at a U.S. land border?

CBP take the same factors into consideration when a pregnant woman enters the U.S. at a land border. They are more likely than the officers at airports to see pregnant travelers who are close to their due date because women in the later stages of pregnancy would probably have been refused permission to fly by their airlines. At land borders, a woman might state that she wants to enter the U.S. just for a day, to visit relatives, or for shopping.

If CBP officers a land border deny entry to a pregnant woman, they have fewer concerns about detaining and then repatriating her, because most travelers arrive by car and can be processed quickly.

What are the potential long-term consequences of entry to the United States being denied because of pregnancy?

Being denied entry to the U.S. during pregnancy can have significant consequences.

• If you are traveling to the United States from a VWP country, you will no longer be able to use the Visa Waiver Program.
• If you are denied entry on a visitor visa, for example, a B-2 visa, and are refused entry, you will probably have to apply for another visa when you next wish to travel to the U.S. This might not be granted and you might be prevented from entering the U.S. for a further 3 years, due to previously being denied entry.
• If you are pregnant and have given birth in the United States before, you will probably be asked if you paid for your medical needs on that occasion. If you did not, you will likely be barred from entering.

Other considerations when traveling to the U.S. while pregrant

Visa and entry requirements: esta or visa.

The first consideration, if you're not a U.S. citizen, is whether you'll need a visa or an Electronic System for Travel Authorization ( ESTA ) under the VWP. You must meet all the standard requirements, but additional scrutiny could be applied given your condition.

Medical Documentation and Emergency Preparedness

Some airlines and immigration authorities might request a doctor's note certifying that you are fit to travel. This note should include your due date and any medical conditions that might require special attention.

Research and make a list of nearby hospitals or healthcare facilities. Store this information on your phone and keep a printed copy as well.

Health Insurance

Make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance that covers prenatal care and emergency delivery in the U.S., which can be expensive.

Vaccinations and Medications

Consult your healthcare provider about any vaccinations you might need and the safety of taking antimalarial or other prophylactic medication.

Travel Timing

The second trimester is usually considered the safest time for pregnant women to travel. Morning sickness is typically less severe, and the risk of miscarriage or premature labor is lower.

In-Flight Comfort and Safety

• Opt for an aisle seat for easier mobility.
• Wear loose, breathable clothing.
• Use seat belts below your bump, not across it.
• Take short walks and do ankle exercises to encourage blood circulation and reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
• Pack Snacks - The in-flight meal service might not align with your eating schedule, so pack healthy snacks like fruits, nuts, or granola bars.
• Stay Hydrated - Air travel can be dehydrating, which is especially concerning for pregnant women. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids, avoiding caffeine and alcohol.

If you are planning to travel to the U.S. in the later weeks of pregnancy, it is essential to ensure that you can either pay for any medical care yourself or that you have sufficient health insurance to pay all associated costs. The consequences of not following CBP’s guidance or U.S. immigration law when traveling while pregnant can have lasting consequences on a travelers ability to enter the United States.

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Having a baby in the United States as a tourist

• Having a baby in the…

Many couples enter the United States with the intention that their baby be born on American soil and thus be able to obtain immigration benefits.

If this is your family’s idea… keep reading to find out the positives and negatives of that strategy.

Traveling with a Tourist Visa while pregnant

Those who enter with a tourist visa B1 / B2, laser visa or without a visa (under the Visa Waiver Program) should take into account the pros and cons of their child being born in the United States.

The government has called this plan “baby tourism” that parents often want to carry out.

Starting in January 2020, immigration officers can deny tourist visas to pregnant women suspected of entering the United States with the sole purpose of giving birth in this country.

During the appointment, women must demonstrate different types of tests or evidence of the reasons why they want to travel.

Every baby born in the United States is automatically an American citizen , except for the children of diplomats who are in the United States exercising that function. In this type of specific exception, children acquire the nationality of their parents.

Once the children are born , the birth certificate is processed and with this document, they can obtain an American passport . Children born on American soil will continue to be American citizens for life , unless they carry out some action that as a punishment results in the loss of their nationality, regardless of whether, soon after being born, they emigrate to another country.

When the child is born in the United States, parents often think that children can petition for them at any time, but this is not the case. American citizens can petition for their parents only after they turn 21 years of age.

I invite you to read our article about how to extend your tourist visa if you have not read it! Here

It is not easy for a tourist to obtain health insurance in the United States or purchase insurance that covers all medical expenses. Therefore, parents must bear some of the medical expenses that the mother and baby may need.

What happens to medical expenses in the United States?

So that you can have an idea about the medical expenses that you may have, we leave you the data obtained from the “ International Federation of Health Plan ” where they highlight that a natural delivery (without complications), can cost around $ 11,000 dollars . While for a cesarean section , the approximate cost is $ 52,000 . Costs can vary depending on which state in the United States you give birth into, if multiple births exist, premature babies, or complications.

In the event that the parents do not have the money to pay the medical expenses, a social worker is present to have Medicaid cover those expenses. Medicaid is government insurance that covers the medical expenses of low-income American citizens and certain foreigners.

What then are the consequences of not paying medical expenses?

Without prior notice, both parent’s visas could get canceled or revoked .

Sometimes, it happens that parents go to the United States embassy in their country to renew the visa and by doing this they are automatically denied . Parents who enter with a laser visa or without a visa may also lose this benefit.

I hope you liked this information and it has been of value! We invite you to visit our page at Vargas Law Group

New Visa Rule Could See Pregnant Travelers Denied Entry to the U.S.

New regulation regarding b visas puts more scrutiny on so-called birth tourism and gives consular officers increased power to turn women away..

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The new rule impacts pregnant women traveling to the United States from countries that aren’t in the Visa Waiver Program.

Photo by Shutterstock

Pregnant women traveling to the United States from certain countries could now be denied tourist visas if it’s believed that they’re traveling to give birth. The new U.S. State Department rule, which went into effect on Friday , targets the practice of so-called birth tourism—when women travel to the United States to give birth there so that their children can be citizens.

In recent years, there’s been an uptick in women traveling from countries such as Russia, China, and Nigeria to give birth, the Associated Press reports , and now the State Department says that the practice is not “a legitimate activity for pleasure or of a recreational nature.”

Earlier this year, Hong Kong Express airline apologized after making a pregnant Japanese woman take a pregnancy test at Hong Kong International before flying to the U.S. Pacific island of Saipan.

So who would be affected by this new rule, how will it be enforced, and is this kind of move even legal? Here’s what we know so far.

Which travelers could be affected?

The amended regulation applies to travelers who need a visitor visa (known specifically as a B-2 visitor visa ) to visit the United States, including those traveling from countries such as Russia or China. B visas cover temporary travel for vacation, visiting friends or family, medical treatment, or business.

The regulation does not apply to visitors from the 39 countries—including France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Chile—that participate in the Visa Waiver Program , which allows travel to the States for up to 90 days without a visa. Nor does it affect travelers from Canada or Bermuda .

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that some 10,000 foreign residents gave birth in the U.S. in 2017.

How will the process actually work?

Right now, it’s hard to say. Basically, the new regulation gives consular officers the power to deny travelers short-term B visas if they believe the person is traveling for the “primary purpose” of giving birth.

The State Department also reports that if a consular officer believes that any applicant will give birth during her stay in the United States, it can be “presumed” that the person is “traveling for the primary purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for the child.”

But it’s unclear how exactly that process would work—or be enforced. Officers won’t ask all female visa applicants of childbearing age if they’re pregnant or intend to get pregnant, the AP reports , and they would only ask the question if they had reason to believe they are pregnant and likely to give birth in the United States.

What’s the reaction been?

Not surprisingly, there’s been pushback on this amendment. “Young women already have a difficult time securing visas for travel,” Shannon Kowalski, director of advocacy and policy at the International Women’s Health Coalition, told Vox . “These guidelines will make it harder for women, particularly young women, to travel to the United States for any purpose.”

There’s also a broader concern that the change could lead to discrimination against pregnant women and women in general. In response to the new visa restrictions, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted : “Pregnant women. This administration is now targeting pregnant. Women. When you single out the most vulnerable, the cruelty is the point.” Former Obama administration official Doug Rand also told Vox that the policy is “designed to cast basically all women of childbearing age as presumptive lawbreakers.”

The B visa currently allows for pregnant women to visit the United States “for the primary purpose of obtaining medical treatment for reasons related to childbirth for maternal or infant health. ” But there’s worry that this exception wouldn’t be honored —and that traveling mothers could be turned away, putting their health and their baby’s health in jeopardy.

>>Next: Surprising Countries Where U.S. Citizens Need an Advance Visa

Update April 12, 2024

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Medical Examinations FAQs

General questions, are children required to have chest x-rays or blood tests.

Chest X-ray and blood tests are not usually required for children under the age of fifteen.

What if the applicant has an intellectual or learning disability?

Applicants with an intellectual or learning disability must present a report of their condition and any special educational or supervision requirements.

What is the legal basis for requesting medical information for visa applicants?

Medical eligibility is a requirement of INA Sections 212(a) and 221(d). Failure to provide required information may cause delay or denial of immigrant visas. If an immigrant visa is not issued, all medical eligibility forms will be treated as confidential under INA Section 222(f).

What should the applicant expect at the medical examination

The applicant must show his/her passport (or other photo identification) and appointment letter to the doctor during the medical examination.

The medical examination will include a medical history review, physical examination, chest X-ray and blood tests for syphilis.

The physical examination will at least include examination of the eyes, ears, nose and throat, extremities, heart, lungs, abdomen, lymph nodes and skin.

In some countries, the panel physician will send the results to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate directly. In other countries, the panel physician will give the applicant his/her medical exam results in a sealed envelope and an x-ray which the applicant must bring to the interview.

Note:   The medical examination is not a complete physical examination. Its purpose is to screen for certain medical conditions relevant to U.S. immigration law. The panel physician is not required to examine you for any conditions except those the U.S. Public Health Service specifies for U.S. immigration purposes, nor is the physician required to provide you with diagnosis or treatment even though other matters related to your health might be discovered. This examination is not a substitute for a full physical examination, consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by your primary health care provider.

Medical Conditions/History

What if the applicant had a positive tuberculosis skin test.

Applicants with a previous positive skin test for tuberculosis should provide a certificate from the attending doctor (giving the circumstances of the positive test result, and indicating any treatment prescribed, and its duration) to the panel physician. If the applicant has ever been diagnosed with tuberculosis, the applicant must present a written certification, signed by the attending doctor, proving that the applicant was adequately treated. The certificate must include dates and types of medications taken. Applicants who ever had an abnormal chest X-ray should borrow the last X-ray films taken and bring them to the panel physician. The actual films, not the typed reports, may be required to compare with the X-rays that will be taken at the medical examination.

What if the applicant had syphilis?

Applicants who have had syphilis must present the panel doctor with a written certificate, signed by a doctor or public health official, proving that the applicant was adequately treated. Applicants who ever had a positive VDRL or other blood test for syphilis, and were not treated must give a written explanation signed by the applicant’s doctor to the panel physician.

If the applicant is pregnant must she have a chest x-ray?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires that women who are pregnant and required to have a medical examination in connection with the issuance of a visa, and are examined in a country currently using the 2007 TB Technical Instructions must have a chest x-ray examination conducted. Pregnant women will have to provide the panel physician with consent to conduct the chest x-ray. For the health of the applicant and her unborn child, CDC instructs panel physicians and laboratories to provide abdominal and pelvic protection with double layer, wrap-around lead shields when they receive the chest radiographs. 

What if the applicant has a history of harmful or violent behavior?

Applicants with any history of harmful or violent behavior resulting in injury to people or animals, or harm to inanimate objects must provide information that will allow the panel physician to determine if the behavior was related to a psychiatric or medical problem, or to drug or alcohol use. Harmful behavior includes attempted suicide or self-harm, no matter how minor in nature.

What if the applicant has been treated or hospitalized for psychiatric or mental illness, or alcohol or drug abuse?

Applicants treated or hospitalized for psychiatric or mental illness or alcohol or drug abuse must present written certification including the diagnosis, duration of treatment rendered, and prognosis.

What if the applicant is being treated for a chronic medical condition or is taking medication on a regular basis?

Applicants being treated for chronic medical conditions, or those taking medications on a regular basis, should be familiar with the medical conditions being treated, and the names of the medications they are taking. Applicants unsure of their diagnoses must present a certificate describing the condition(s), the current treatment, and prognosis with a list of prescribed medications.

Can the applicant have a medical examination if she is having her menstrual period?

Yes, the applicant may have the examination even if she is having her menstrual period.

Can the applicant have his/her physician perform the medical examination?

The medical examination must be performed by an approved panel physician.

Can the medical examination take place in the United States if the applicant is pursuing a visa application abroad while physically present in the United States?

Visa medical examinations may not be conducted in the United States. An alien pursuing a visa application abroad while physically present in the United States must have the medical examination conducted by a panel physician approved by the visa issuing U.S. Embassy/Consulate.

Vaccinations

What vaccinations are required.

The following vaccinations are required for immigration purposes:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Influenza type b (Hib)
• Meningococcal
• Pneumococcal
• Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids

For the Panel Physician Technical Instructions relating to the vaccination requirements, please visit the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  website.

What do I do if the applicant does not have a vaccination record?

The panel physician will work with the applicant to determine which vaccinations the applicant may need to meet vaccination requirements.

What if there is a medical reason for the applicant to not receive a listed vaccination?

Certain waivers of the vaccination requirement are available upon the recommendation of the panel physician.

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Can Pregnant Women Travel to the United States?

Following the Department of State’s amended regulations addressing birth tourism in January 2020 , questions continue to be raised whether a pregnant woman may travel to the U.S. on a valid B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa for the sole purpose of giving birth regardless of whether she was issued the B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa prior to the new regulations taking effect or afterwards. While there are no specific regulations prohibiting pregnant women with valid B-1/B-2 Visitor Visas from entering the United States, such entry is at the discretion of the admitting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) Officer at the Port of Entry (“POE”).

If the CBP officer determines that you are entering for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States to obtain U.S. citizenship for your child, you may be denied entry.   Moreover, if the CBP officer determines that you are likely to become a public charge, meaning that you will not be able to afford medical care because of either insufficient funds or lacking health insurance and would have to rely on public assistance, you may be denied entry.

When determining if you will be allowed to enter the United States at the POE, the CBP officer will take into consideration the date your child is due for delivery and the length of time you intend to stay in the United States. In addition, they want evidence that you have sufficient funds or medical insurance to cover any medical necessities while you are in the United States.

If it is determined that you do not have sufficient funds or medical insurance to cover any unexpected or expected medical care while in the United States, you may also be denied entry.

For more information contact us at [email protected] and speak with a U.S. immigration attorney in Ho Chi Minh City, Manila and Taipei.

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US imposes new ‘birth tourism’ visa rules for pregnant women

It is unclear how officials would determine if a pregnant woman is travelling to US primarily to give birth.

President Donald Trump ‘s administration on Thursday published new visa rules aimed at restricting “birth tourism”, in which women travel to the United States to give birth so their children can have a coveted US passport.

Applicants will be denied tourist visas if they are determined by consular officers to be coming to the US primarily to give birth, according to the rules in the Federal Register. It is a bigger hurdle to overcome, proving they are travelling to the US because they have a medical need and not just because they want to give birth in the country.

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Those with medical needs will be treated like other foreigners coming to the US for medical treatment and must prove they have the money to pay for it – including transportation and living expenses.

The practice of travelling to the US to give birth is fundamentally legal, although there are scattered cases of authorities arresting operators of so-called birth tourism agencies for visa fraud or tax evasion. And women are often honest about their intentions when applying for visas and even show signed contracts with doctors and hospitals.

The State Department “does not believe that visiting the United States for the primary purpose of obtaining US citizenship for a child, by giving birth in the United States – an activity commonly referred to as ‘birth tourism’ – is a legitimate activity for pleasure or of a recreational nature,” according to the new rules, which take effect Friday.

Trump’s administration has been restricting all forms of immigration, but Trump has been particularly plagued by the issue of birthright citizenship – anyone born in the US is considered a citizen, under the Constitution. The Republican president has railed against the practice and threatened to end it, but scholars and members of his administration have said it is not so easy to do.

Regulating tourist visas for pregnant women is one way to get at the issue, but it raises questions about how officers would determine whether a woman is pregnant to begin with and whether a woman could get turned away by border officers who suspect she may be, just by looking at her.

Consular officers do not have the right to ask during visa interviews whether a woman is pregnant or intends to become so. But they would still have to determine whether a visa applicant would be coming to the US primarily to give birth.

Critics say in addition to a rule that is hard to enforce, such restrictions unfairly target women. 

“Pregnant women. This is administration is now targeting pregnant. women,” tweeted US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “When you single out the most vulnerable, the cruelty is the point.” 

Pregnant women. This administration is now targeting pregnant. women. When you single out the most vulnerable, the cruelty is the point. #AbolishICE #BreakUpCBP https://t.co/urb9WdOexV — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 23, 2020

Actress and activist Alyssa Milano called the rules a “new low”.

“Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse,” she tweeted. “This is a new low.” 

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse. This is a new low. U.S. to impose visa restrictions for pregnant women https://t.co/vOOIWuArRq — Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) January 23, 2020

Birth tourism is a lucrative business in both the US and abroad. Companies take out advertisements and charge up to $80,000 to facilitate the practice, offering hotel rooms and medical care. Many of the women travel from Russia and China to give birth in the US.

The US has been cracking down on the practice since before Trump took office.

“An entire ‘birth tourism’ industry has evolved to assist pregnant women from other countries to come to the United States to obtain US citizenship for their children by giving birth in the United States, and thereby entitle their children to the benefits of US citizenship,” according to the State Department rules.

There are no figures on how many foreign women travel to the US specifically to give birth. The Center for Immigration Studies, a group that advocates for stricter immigration laws, estimated that in 2012 about 36,000 foreign-born women gave birth in the US and then left the country.

“This rule will help eliminate the criminal activity associated with the birth tourism industry,” according to the rules. “The recent federal indictments describe birth tourism schemes in which foreign nationals applied for visitor visas to come to the United States and lied to consular officers about the duration of their trips, where they would stay, and their purpose of travel.”

US Imposes Visa Rules for Pregnant Women on ‘Birth Tourism'

The rules would make it more difficult for pregnant women to travel to the united states on a tourist visa, by matthew lee and colleen long • published january 23, 2020 • updated on january 23, 2020 at 2:23 pm.

The Trump administration is imposing new visa rules aimed at restricting “birth tourism," in which women travel to the United States to give birth so their children can have U.S. citizenship. The regulations, which take effect Friday, address one of President Donald Trump's main political priorities.

The regulations seek to chip away at the number of foreigners who take advantage of the constitutional provision granting“birthright citizenship” to anyone born in the United States, a particular peeve of Trump's. Under the new rules, pregnant applicants will be denied a tourist visa unless they can prove they must come to the U.S. to give birth for medical reasons and they have money to pay for it or have another compelling reason — not just because they want their child to have an American passport.

Officials said that consular officers will not be asking all female visa applicants of child-bearing age whether they are pregnant or intend to get pregnant. Rather, they said consular officers would ask the question only if they had reason to believe the applicant is pregnant and likely or planning to give birth in the U.S.

Visual cues such as appearing to be pregnant or listing “medical treatment” as a reason for wanting to travel to the United States might trigger such questioning, the officials said. Even if a woman is found to be pregnant and likely to deliver her child in the United States, she could still be granted a visa if she was able to demonstrate a valid reason for the travel such a visiting an ailing relative or attending a business meeting or conference, they said.

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Officials said the rule will not apply to foreign travelers coming from any of the 39 mainly European and Asian countries enrolled in the Visa Waiver Program, which allows citizens of those countries to come the U.S. without a visa for temporary stays. The rule will only apply to applicants for so-called “B” class visas that permit short-term stays for business or pleasure.

“Closing this glaring immigration loophole will combat these endemic abuses and ultimately protect the United States from the national security risks created by this practice,” White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement. “It will also defend American taxpayers from having their hard-earned dollars siphoned away to finance the direct and downstream costs associated with birth tourism. The integrity of American citizenship must be protected.”

The practice of traveling to the U.S. to give birth is fundamentally legal, although there are scattered cases of authorities arresting operators of birth tourism agencies for visa fraud or tax evasion. And women are often honest about their intentions when applying for visas and even show signed contracts with doctors and hospitals.

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The State Department "does not believe that visiting the United States for the primary purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for a child, by giving birth in the United States — an activity commonly referred to as ‘birth tourism’ — is a legitimate activity for pleasure or of a recreational nature," according to the new rules, which were published Thursday in the Federal Register.

Birth tourism is a business where companies for a steep fee offer foreign women the chance to come the U.S. on a tourist visa, have a baby, get medical care, get citizenship, have a place to stay with their newborn, and then leave. It's distinct from what Trump and his allies deride as "anchor babies," referring to poor women who enter the U.S. illegally at the U.S.-Mexico border to give birth to a child and then stay in the U.S. illegally. But the end result is the same: a coveted U.S. passport.

The Trump administration also has turned away pregnant women coming over the U.S.-Mexico border as part of a broader immigration crackdown. Those women were initially part of a “vulnerable” group that included others like small children who were allowed in, while tens of thousands of other asylum seekers have been returned to Mexico to wait out their cases.

The Trump administration has been restricting all forms of immigration, but the president has been particularly troubled by birthright citizenship. Trump has railed against the practice and threatened to end it, but scholars and members of his administration have said it's not so easy to do.

Birth tourism is a lucrative business in both the U.S. and abroad. Companies take out advertisements and charge up to $80,000 to facilitate the practice. Many of the women travel from Russia and China to give birth in the U.S.

The U.S. has been cracking down on the practice since before Trump took office.

“An entire ‘birth tourism’ industry has evolved to assist pregnant women from other countries to come to the United States to obtain U.S. citizenship for their children by giving birth in the United States, and thereby entitle their children to the benefits of U.S. citizenship,” according to the State Department rules.

Elena Balmiler, the founder of the Florida firm AIST USA, which caters to Russian mothers-to-be, said she did not expect the new rules would stop her business. She said her business gets about 60 queries a month and had 45 clients last year, because Trump has been unable to end birthright citizenship.

“So far it has resulted in nothing but intentions, guesses, publications and projections,” she said. “Not a single person has changed their mind to fly to the USA because Trump plans to stop (birthright) citizenship."

There are no figures on how many foreign women travel to the U.S. specifically to give birth. The Center for Immigration Studies, a group that advocates for stricter immigration laws, estimated that in 2012 about 36,000 foreign-born women gave birth in the U.S. and then left the country.

“This rule will help eliminate the criminal activity associated with the birth tourism industry,” according to the rules. “The recent federal indictments describe birth tourism schemes in which foreign nationals applied for visitor visas to come to the United States and lied to consular officers about the duration of their trips, where they would stay, and their purpose of travel.”

Associated Press writer Ellen Knickmeyer contributed to this report.

This article tagged under:

• Immigration

Travelling While Pregnant with a CR1 Visa: Air Travel Regulations and FAQs

Planning on travelling while pregnant with a cr1 visa ensure you have a doctor's note stating you can fly. immigration officers may question but entry denial is unlikely..

Key Takeaways:

• Learn about traveling to the U.S. with a CR1 visa while pregnant, including air travel regulations and entry requirements.
• Most airlines allow pregnant women to fly until around 36 weeks, but policies vary. Carry necessary documents and take precautions.
• As a CR1 visa holder, your intention to permanently reside in the U.S. is already approved, making entry smoother.

Traveling to the U.S. with a CR1 Visa While Pregnant

Flying can be stressful at the best of times, and traveling while pregnant brings an additional set of considerations. If you have a CR1 visa and are planning to join your spouse in the United States, you may have questions about how your pregnancy might impact your travel and entry into the country. Let’s explore what you need to know about CR1 visa travel and pregnancy air travel regulations.

Understanding the CR1 Visa

Firstly, it’s important to distinguish the CR1 visa from other types of U.S. visas. A CR1 visa is an immigrant visa issued to a foreign national who is married to a U.S. citizen and is seeking to enter the United States to live permanently with their spouse. Contrary to nonimmigrant visas like the B1/B2 visa, which is for business or leisure travel, the CR1 visa signifies the intention to immigrate.

Pregnancy and Air Travel

When it comes to air travel during pregnancy, most airlines allow pregnant women to fly up to a certain point in their pregnancy, typically around 36 weeks, but it varies among different carriers. It’s important to check with your airline for their specific policy. Around 28 weeks, some airlines require a note from a doctor indicating that it is safe for you to fly. Having this paperwork, as you mentioned you already have, is a proactive step.

Entry to the U.S. While Pregnant

As a CR1 visa holder, you’re already vetted to enter the U.S. and settle with your spouse. It’s unlike visitor visas, where immigration officers might be concerned about visitors intending to give birth in the U.S. to gain citizenship for their child—commonly referred to as “birth tourism.”

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Upon arrival, while it is ultimately at the discretion of the immigration officer at the port of entry to allow travelers into the United States, having a CR1 visa means that your intent to reside in the U.S. is clear and approved. Immigration officials understand that incoming CR1 visa holders, including those who are pregnant, are coming to the U.S. with a vetted purpose – to live with their American spouses.

Tips for Smooth Travel

While the likelihood of being questioned solely due to pregnancy is low, especially on a CR1 visa, here are a few tips to ensure a smooth experience:

• Doctor’s Note : Carry the doctor’s note indicating your fitness to travel. Make sure it’s dated close to your departure date and clearly states the expected due date.

Medical Records : Having a copy of your prenatal medical records could be helpful in case further evidence of your pregnancy’s progress and health is required.

Travel Insurance : Consider getting travel insurance that covers pregnancy-related issues, just in case you need medical care while you’re en route.

Know Your Rights : Familiarize yourself with your rights as a pregnant traveler. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) does not have a policy that prohibits entry to pregnant women. You can find more information on the U.S. Department of State website or the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website .

Final Thoughts

Traveling while pregnant, especially internationally, can be nerve-wracking, but rest assured that your CR1 visa signifies your clear intent to immigrate. Immigration officers are not in the practice of denying entry to CR1 visa holders because they are pregnant, especially when the proper documentation is presented.

Remember, the goal of the CBP is to ensure safe and legitimate travel; they are not there to make your already special circumstances more difficult. Prepare your documentation, know your rights, and look forward to starting this new chapter with your spouse in the United States.

May your journey be smooth, and may you find a warm welcome at the end of your flight. Safe travels!

Learn Today:

Glossary or Definitions

• CR1 Visa: A CR1 visa, also known as an “Conditional Resident Spouse Visa,” is an immigrant visa issued to a foreign national who is married to a U.S. citizen and wishes to live permanently in the United States with their spouse. Unlike nonimmigrant visas, the CR1 visa signifies the intent to immigrate rather than engage in temporary travel.

Immigrant Visa: An immigrant visa is a type of visa that allows individuals to enter the United States with the intention of residing there permanently. Immigrant visas are typically issued to individuals who are sponsored by a family member or have an employment-based opportunity in the country.

Nonimmigrant Visa: A nonimmigrant visa is a type of visa that allows individuals to enter the United States for a temporary period, such as for tourism, business, education, or temporary work purposes. Nonimmigrant visas have specific expiration dates and are non-permanent in nature.

Birth Tourism: The practice of birth tourism refers to individuals traveling to another country, such as the United States, specifically for the purpose of giving birth to a child in that country. The goal of birth tourism is often to obtain citizenship for the child by virtue of their place of birth.

Port of Entry: A port of entry is a designated location, such as an airport, seaport, or border crossing, where individuals enter a country. At the port of entry, immigration officials review documents, conduct inspections, and determine whether individuals are admissible to enter the country.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is a federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws, conducting border security operations, and facilitating legitimate trade and travel. CBP officers are stationed at ports of entry and play a role in inspecting and admitting individuals into the United States.

U.S. Department of State: The U.S. Department of State is a federal agency responsible for managing the country’s foreign affairs, including the issuance of visas to foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States. The Department of State sets policies and procedures related to visa processing and provides information and resources on immigration matters.

Doctor’s Note: A doctor’s note, also known as a medical certificate, is a document provided by a healthcare professional that verifies an individual’s medical condition or fitness to undertake a specific activity. In the context of travel, a doctor’s note may be required for pregnant women to confirm their ability to fly safely during pregnancy.

Prenatal Medical Records: Prenatal medical records are a collection of medical documents that chronicle the medical care and progress of a pregnant woman. These records provide information about the pregnancy, including prenatal visits, test results, and any medical interventions or treatments received.

Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is a type of insurance coverage that provides financial protection against unexpected events or emergencies that may occur during travel. It may cover medical expenses, trip cancellations or interruptions, lost belongings, and other travel-related mishaps.

Rights as a Pregnant Traveler: The rights as a pregnant traveler refer to the legal protections and entitlements afforded to pregnant individuals who are traveling. These rights may include non-discrimination, access to necessary medical care, and the ability to travel freely, as long as they comply with any safety guidelines or requirements set by airlines or immigration authorities.

So that’s the lowdown on traveling to the U.S. with a CR1 visa while pregnant! Remember, while it may seem overwhelming, the process is straightforward and immigration officers are understanding. For more helpful tips and information, check out visaverge.com. Safe travels and best wishes for this exciting new chapter in your life!

This Article in a Nutshell:

Flying while pregnant with a CR1 visa requires some planning. Most airlines allow it up to 36 weeks, but check their policy. Get a doctor’s note, carry medical records, consider travel insurance, and know your rights. CBP won’t deny entry for pregnancy. Relax and enjoy the journey!

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Home » Visas » USA Tourist Visa » Visa for Pregnancy Help

Tourist Visas for Helping with the Pregnancy of a Daughter/Daughter-in-Law/Sister

Can I Get a US Visa to Help My Pregnant Daughter?

Many people want to invite their parents or in-laws to visit the US on a tourist visa to help them when they are expecting a baby. However, it is important to note that visiting the US to assist with a pregnancy or new baby may affect your ability to get approved for a US tourist visa.

While it is not true that you will definitely not get a visa if you say you’re going to the US to help your daughter or daughter-in-law with a pregnancy, it does reduce your chances. There are many people who have still received a US tourist visa after mentioning pregnancy as the reason, but the situation must be handled carefully to be successful.

This article aims to provide guidance to people preparing themselves to travel to the US to assist with a pregnancy. Please note that this website is not for or against using this reason to invite relatives to the US. We have no bias or personal opinion on the issue. The guidance is not meant to be anti-immigrant, anti-family, or anything of the sort. It is strictly provided from the perspective of US immigration law for a tourist visa.

Why American Culture Matters with Tourist Visas

In the US, family is defined much more narrowly than in other countries and cultures. An American family is considered the parent(s) and their minor children under 18 years of age. For most purposes, grandparents and in-laws are not considered part of the immediate family.

This is an important distinction, because it influences how American culture regards pregnancy. In the US, most females get six to eight weeks of maternity leave from their job. After that period, they are expected to report back to work. Their parents or in-laws do not generally stay with the family to assist in delivery, or care for the new child. There is simply no concept of a joint family, where the new mother’s parents or in-laws would assist in childcare. In fact, many single parents in the US deliver and raise children all by themselves.

From the US perspective, it does not seem necessary for a mother or mother-in-law to be present during or after the delivery of a new child.

Babysitting and Maid Work on a Tourist Visa

If your relatives are visiting the US to take care of you and the baby, you won’t be hiring the services of a daycare provider. Therefore, you are considered to be depriving US workers of jobs. Working on a tourist visa is not allowed, so your relatives babysitting is considered work. Babysitting is considered a job and the baby sitter is considered to be working, whether the person is getting paid for it or not. In other words, the grandmother is working for free, which is not allowed.

If your relatives are helping you to take care of housework, you are depriving US workers of their maid jobs. 

If the intention of the relatives is to indeed help with babysitting and the housework, many of them end up extending their stay and want to come frequently and stay excessively. All of these factors are against the actual intentions of a tourist visa, and the consular officers know this. That is why it is a bad idea to mention a pregnancy as the reason to visit the US.

Expectations

The consular officer is looking to improve the US economy through people spending money on tourism and shopping, rather than a loss to the economy in terms of babysitting and maid work. There is also an additional concern about unauthorized work.

Arguments in Favor

It is completely understood that no matter what babysitter or nanny you hire, she can not provide proper moral and emotional support, and will not be present 24/7 with you. This is where the mother or mother-in-law can provide what you need. If the infant is awake all night or wakes up a dozen times, you are not going be able to use the daycare service providers for that. Close relatives like a mother or mother-in-law cannot be compared with professional providers.

It is also understood that no matter what cleaner or cook you can hire, it is not the same as family members living together in a joint family. It simply can not be compared with. 

However, such cultural and social matters have no place in US immigration law for a tourist visa.

The Solution

A tourist visa is primarily for tourism and visiting family. It is best to maintain that as the reason for applying for a tourist visa. There is absolutely nothing wrong in spending quality time with the family, including the newly arrived baby. You would like to share the joy of the new arrival in your family. It allows the grandparents to develop family bonds with the grandchild and to give their cultural values to them.

If the consular officer asks whether your daughter/daughter-in-law is pregnant or asks about their kids and their ages or any related questions, you can not lie. Otherwise, it will be a major problem, your visa will be rejected, and you may have a very difficult time getting the visa again in the future.

Even if the question of babysitting arises during the interview, the parents should maintain the position that babysitting may be considered a job in the US, but not in their country. Spending quality time with grandchildren should be allowed and it is invaluable family time that can not be measured in terms of money. In our culture, it is customary to provide all types of support and be present during and after delivery because the expectant mother is generally nervous and scared, being inexperienced with this. That is the reason it is customary in our country for the expectant mother to go to her mother’s house for the first delivery. If the expectant mother cannot do that due to work, career issues, herself, or her husband, it is the duty of mother or mother-in-law to travel to the US and help them out.

Also, while staying in the same place, it should not be considered a job, if the visitors help occasionally to clean the house or cook food for everyone. You should firmly say that you are visiting your family as prospective grandparents, not as a daycare provider, cook or healthcare employee.

In other words, you should stress that your primary intention is to visit the US is for tourism. If you end up occasionally helping with household matters anyway, that is not the primary intention for visiting the US. 

Pregnancy or even high-risk pregnancy is not a valid reason for getting an emergency visa appointment.

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Pregnancy During Visa Application or Stay in the UK

By Amar Ali, Immigration Solicitor

Last updated: 11 April 2024

If you are a foreign national who has submitted a UK visa application or is in the UK and becomes pregnant, the immigration options available and the steps you will need to take depend on your individual circumstances. These include the immigration status of your partner and whether you wish to stay in the UK with your child and give birth here.

It is important to note that under the UK’s immigration rules, there is no specific law preventing a person who is pregnant from travelling to the UK. However, depending on your home country, you may be asked to provide additional documentation as part of the visa application process to prove the purpose of your visit and that you have strong ties to your home country.

When it comes to pregnancy during a UK visa application, you do not need to explain that you are pregnant on your application form. As long as the Home Office believes that your application and your reasons for coming to the UK are genuine, there is no reason that being pregnant should hinder your case.

Everyone's circumstances are different, if you want to discuss your case , please speak to one of our friendly and approachable immigration solicitors in complete confidence at 020 3744 2797 or email [email protected] .

Pregnant on a UK visitor visa

If you are currently in the UK as a visitor and have become pregnant while here, the immigration options available to you will depend on the immigration status of your partner. If you have a partner who lives in the UK and they are a British or Irish citizen (i.e. you are pregnant with a British citizen), or they hold indefinite leave to remain or another form of permanent residence, you can consider applying for any of the following visa types under the family migration scheme:

Fiancé visa

Spouse visa.

It is important to note, to switch to one of these visas, in most cases, you have to be outside the UK. That said, it may be possible to ask the Home Office to exercise discretion if you are unable to leave the UK, e.g. if you are medically considered unfit to fly on the basis that your pregnancy has passed 6 months or you have certain medical conditions.

It is important to seek the advice of an immigration solicitor in this situation to ensure you have the right information based on your circumstances.

The UK fiancé visa is specifically for people who are planning to get married or enter into a civil partnership within 6 months with a British or Irish citizen, or a person who has the right to remain indefinitely in the UK. Once married or have a civil partner, fiancé visa holders can apply to switch to a spouse visa from within the UK (see details below on the spouse visa). As mentioned above, it is not normally possible to switch to a fiancé visa from a visitor visa within the UK unless. This is the case even if you are pregnant unless you can make a case that leaving the UK is not possible on medical grounds.

The UK spouse visa enables foreign nationals to enter and remain in the UK to live with a partner who is a British or Irish citizen or a person who has indefinite leave to remain. You will be able to switch to a spouse visa from within the UK if you currently hold a fiancé visa and are now married or in a civil partnership with your UK-based partner. Alternatively, if you are in the UK and do not hold a fiancé visa, you will normally need to leave the country to submit your spousal visa application.

To qualify for a spouse visa, you will need to show that you:

• Are married, in a civil partnership, or have lived with your partner for at least 2 years
• You and your partner has a combined income of at least £29,000
• Meet the English language requirements

If your application is approved for a spouse visa, you will be able to stay for up to 33 months initially. This can then be further extended by 30 months. After 5 years of continuous residence in the UK, you will be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Pregnant on limited leave to remain visa

If you are currently in the UK on a valid (i.e. non-expired) limited leave to remain visa and you become pregnant (e.g. pregnancy as a Tier 4 student visa holder), you are not required to inform the Home Office and will be able to continue your stay.

If your visa is due to expire, it is important to understand that you will not be permitted to stay on the basis that your child was born in the UK. Under the UK’s immigration and citizenship rules, even if your child is born here, they will not automatically become a British citizen unless their other parent is a British citizen or holds indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

If you choose to leave the UK and later return on another limited leave to remain visa (e.g. student visa or work visa ), you will need to apply for a child dependant visa if you wish to bring your child with you.

Documentation required to stay in the UK while pregnant

As explained above, it may be possible for you to stay beyond the expiry of your visitor visa and switch to another visa while in the UK if you are pregnant. It is important to note that the exact documents you need will to provide to the Home Office depend on your personal circumstances. Documents that may be used to prove that you are genuinely unable to leave the UK in order to apply for a family visa (and hence need to switch inside the UK) may include:

• A letter from your doctor explaining that you are not fit to fly on medical grounds
• A marriage certificate
• A civil partnership certificate
• Proof you have been living together for 2 or more years (e.g. bills, tenancy agreement)
• Proof you intend to get married or enter into a civil partnership within 6 months if applying for a fiancé visa

When to take action

Exactly when you need to apply for a visa to remain in the UK depends on how long you have to remain on your current visa and the remaining term of your pregnancy. Regardless of your personal circumstances, it is essential to take action before your current visa expires. If your child is born in the UK during the term of your visitor visa, it is advisable to take action as soon as is reasonably possible after the birth to ensure you have a proper plan of action in place to ensure your immigration status.

If you want to discuss the best actions to take and the exact timings, speak to one of our experienced immigration solicitors in complete confidence at 020 3744 2797 or email [email protected] .

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• Paying for maternity care

If you are pregnant and apply for a temporary visa to visit, study or work in NZ you must tell us how you will pay for your maternity care while you are here.

Financial arrangements

• Sponsorship
• Funding your study
• Investing and investment funds

Covering the cost of your maternity care

Depending on the visa you are applying for and your nationality you may be eligible for publicly funded health care during and after your pregnancy.

If you are not eligible you must cover the costs of your own maternity care — when you apply for your visa, you need to provide evidence of how you will pay.

Maternity care includes looking after you:

• before your baby is born
• during labour and birth, and
• after your baby is born.

Who can get publicly funded maternity care

Some women can get maternity care no matter what visa they have for New Zealand. You are eligible if you:

• have a partner who is eligible for publicly funded health care
• are claiming refugee or protection status
• are a victim of people trafficking
• have an Interim Visa and you were eligible for publicly funded health care immediately before we issued your Interim Visa
• are a citizen of the United Kingdom — although the range of health services New Zealand offers is limited.

Pregnancy services — Te Whatu Ora — Health New Zealand

Getting public health care in New Zealand

If you have a Limited Visa, you cannot get publicly funded maternity care.

Paying for your maternity care

If you are not eligible for public health care and have a temporary visa to visit, study or work in New Zealand, you must show you have a minimum of NZD $9,000 to pay for your maternity care. You can:

• pay these costs yourself
• come to New Zealand under sponsorship — your sponsor is responsible for you in New Zealand, and can guarantee to pay the costs, or
• use a guarantor if you have a student visa — a guarantor is a relative, friend or organisation that can guarantee they will pay the costs.

Evidence that you can pay for your care

With your visa application, you must include evidence you have:

• a minimum of NZD $9,000 to pay for your health and medical costs, and
• additional funds for your accommodation, living costs and travel out of New Zealand.

You can include evidence such as:

• bank statements in your name
• bank drafts
• recognised credit cards with enough credit available, or
• travellers' cheques.

If you have a sponsor or guarantor

Your sponsor or guarantor must be able to show they:

• are an acceptable sponsor or guarantor, and
• can pay a minimum of NZD $9,000 for your care.

Who can sponsor a visa applicant

Your sponsor or guarantor must complete a form to send in with your visa and provide evidence of how they will meet the cost of your maternity care.

Sponsorship form for temporary entry (INZ 1025) — if you have a sponsor that will be responsible for you and pay your costs while you visit, study or work in New Zealand

Financial undertaking for a student (INZ 1014)  — if you have a guarantor that will pay your costs while you study in New Zealand

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Pregnancy on Visit Visa – A Detailed Guide

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Getting a Pregnancy test

If you suspect you might be pregnant, you can buy a pregnancy kit over the counter from any pharmacy to find out for sure. These kits cost around SAR 20 . If the test is positive, it’s time to book an appointment for your urine and blood tests.

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Finding a Doctor

Most of the hospital websites list resident medical specialists like gynecologists, as well as visiting doctors. Details such as country of origin, qualifications, and languages will be listed as well.

Another alternative is to request recommendations from your friends or social media platforms for hospitals and doctors with strong OB/GYN department in your area. Whoever you choose will be with you for your entire pregnancy, so be sure you’re comfortable with them.

?Pro Tip: You can get to know if a doctor is famous or not by checking their booking schedule

Maternity Packages on Visit Visa

For those who are on visit visa, the health insurance card isn’t available and are not accepted in most of the hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The visit visa insurance is applicable only in Emergency pregnancy cases and you need to have paid the visit visa insurance fee (~SAR 5000) to avail this.

But nevertheless, it will not help you in non-emergency cases (natural or cesarean).

The best option for an expat with visit visa is to look for hospitals that offer maternity packages to provide antenatal care . These packages usually cover all the tests and consultations that are required throughout your pregnancy. You would need to pay the hospital bill upfront, in cash.

?Pro Tip: Most hospitals offer huge discounts (25% or more) for cash patients. Make sure to request them for the same.

Usually the cost of these packages are split into two

Cost of Antenatal care

Cost of delivery.

Therefore the total cost for pregnancy ranges from SAR 5500 -SAR 9500 . And obviously these costs varies depending upon the hospital type and location you are in. Below is an example of a maternity package and the tests that are conducted.

Doctor Appointments

Make sure you plan to book your appointment at-least a week before the appointment date. And once you are at the hospital, select the right maternity package as per your requirement and proceed to consult the doctor.

During these appointments, you’ll visit with your OB-GYN or a maternity team member who will follow your pregnancy. In case if you choose not to opt for maternity packages for whatever reasons, you will be charged a regular consultation fees for every visit. The cost for this ranges from SAR 50 – SAR 300 per visit with 1 or 2 follow-up visits for free.

Tests, Scans and Checks

In every visit, your doctor will let you know how regular your appointments will be and they will likely take your vitals (temperature, weight, blood pressure) as well as a short ultrasound.

At around 6 months, you’ll have to take ultrasound test where the technician makes sure that everything is normal and can let you know the gender if you’ d like. If there are any abnormalities at this point, you’d be referred to a specialist.

?Pro Tip: Get advise from the doctor regarding nutrition, exercise, pain management, among others.

Delivery and Childbirth

As your delivery date nears, it’s wise to have a concrete birthing plan that you’ve discussed with your doctor. Discuss if it will be an induced birth or natural birth and what sign that you need to wait to visit the hospital.

When it’s time to go to the hospital, be sure to bring all your identification documents as well as all the normal essentials (clothes for you and baby, toiletries, diapers, etc.). Be sure to ask your doctor to confirm what you need to bring with you to the hospital. Generally, you need the following

• Passport or Iqamah
• Marriage certificate

Discharge from Hospital

If it is a natural birth, you are likely to be discharged the next day. But if it is a cesarean section, you might be required to stay 3 or more days depending upon the complications.

Make sure to collect the Discharge summary paper which will be required for you to apply for birth certificate for your newborn. Being born in Saudi Arabia does not grant you residency, your little baby needs a Saudi Residence Permit. This is only possible after their registration.

Checkout our detailed guide on how to apply for the birth certificate your newborn baby.

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Immigration help for your business

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Can I Visit My Spouse in the United States While Waiting for My Green Card?

Precautions to take when visiting your spouse with a pending green card application.

In this guide

• What to Expect
• Other Factors Affecting Visa Approval
• Preparing Your Visa Application
• The 90-Day Rule
• Boundless Reviews

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For many couples who live in different countries, a big question is: can my spouse visit me while the CR-1 visa (marriage green card) is pending? In general, yes, it is possible to visit your spouse in the United States while your  marriage-based green card  application is pending. Depending on which country you’re from, you would need to apply for a B-2 tourist visa first. But before pursuing this option, it’s important to understand the challenges and risks involved.

First, you would need to convince an immigration officer that you plan to stay only for a short time and would leave the United States  before  your tourist visa expires.

But there’s another hurdle to overcome after that: When you arrive in the United States, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent will “inspect,” or question, you at the border or “ port of entry ” (where visitors first physically enter the United States). You’ll be asked to explain why you’re visiting. The CBP agent would then decide — at their discretion — whether to let you enter (known officially as “admission”).

You must never misrepresent your reason for visiting the United States, either on an immigration form or before an immigration officer or a CBP agent. You also must never lie about being married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder.

Any kind of misrepresentation could jeopardize your future eligibility for a green card.

Even with a valid tourist visa, however, you will  not  be guaranteed admission. In many cases, spouses seeking a green card are denied entry at the border or port of entry when a CBP agent discovers they are married to a person living in the United States and have a pending  marriage green card  application.

In this guide, we’ll discuss those risks in greater detail, as well as how to apply for a tourist visa and typical issues encountered in the process.

Boundless can help you avoid common pitfalls in the immigration process with unlimited support from our team of immigration experts.  Learn more.

Boundless reduces your risk of application rejection or denial by 25%

Spouses of U.S. citizens or green card holders — especially those with a pending  I-130 petition  (the first step in obtaining a  marriage-based green card ) — often face additional scrutiny when traveling to the U.S. If you visit your spouse on a travel visa, the immigration officer processing your application could suspect that you’re trying to bypass the green card process to be with your spouse sooner.

Here’s what you can expect based on your situation:

If you have a pending I-130 petition

Visiting the U.S. while you have a pending  I-130 petition  is complicated. Although you intend to live permanently in the U.S. once you receive your green card, right now you must convince the immigration officer or CBP agent that you will not be settling in the country permanently  yet .

That can be difficult to do if you’ve already quit your job and sold all of your property in your home country. That’s why many people choose to visit the U.S.  before  severing ties back home.

It’s therefore important to present  strong evidence  that you plan to return to your home country after your short visit — though there is still always a risk of denial, as admission is never guaranteed.

If you don’t have a pending I-130 petition

If you haven’t started the  marriage-based green card process  yet — by filing an  I-130 petition  — you won’t have to prove that you’re  not  rushing to settle in the U.S.

You might still face additional scrutiny when applying for a travel visa or when arriving in the U.S., however. This is because the immigration officer or CBP agent could suspect that you intend to avoid the whole  I-130 process  — by entering on a tourist visa and then applying for a  marriage-based green card  once you’re in the U.S. (a process known as “ adjustment of status ”).

If you don’t have any immediate plans to live permanently in the United States, it’s best to be clear about that in your B travel visa application. You might also want to prove that:

• You have employment or educational commitments in your home country that prevent you from moving permanently to the United States at the present moment.
• You have a confirmed travel plan with a clear date of return to your home country.

Again, you should  never  lie about the fact that your spouse is a U.S. citizen or green card holder because lying could jeopardize your ability to get a green card in the future.

Boundless helps set you up for immigration success during the marriage green card process.  Learn more about what Boundless can do to help.

There are at least three other factors that can make a big difference in whether your tourist visa application will be approved (and whether you will be admitted to the U.S. upon arrival):

Your Immigration History:  If you have a history of coming and going to the United States without any  immigration violations  on your record, the immigration officer or CBP agent will be more likely to believe that you intend to visit the United States temporarily and return to your home country  on time . On the other hand, if you have ever had an immigration violation — even if you only  overstayed  a previous tourist visa for one day — your chances of approval will be much lower.

Your Country of Origin:  If you come from a country with high rates of immigration fraud, you will be less likely to convince the immigration officer or CBP agent that you intend to visit only as a tourist. (Although there is no official list of such countries,  Brazil ,  China , the  Dominican Republic ,  India , and  Mexico  were among countries that were subject to relatively high rates of immigration fraud in past years.) This is all the more reason to establish that you have strong ties to your home country , as detailed in the “ Preparing Your Visa Application ” section below.

Other Relatives in the United States:  If you have a lot of family already in the United States — especially immediate family members — this could attract additional scrutiny. The immigration officer or CBP agent may be inclined to believe that you are less likely to return to your home country if you have strong family ties in the United States. In addition to the list outlined in the “ Preparing Your Visa Application ” section below, it’s a good idea to have a round-trip ticket demonstrating your plan to return home on a specific date.

What you must prove

When an immigration officer reviews your tourist visa application, they will look for proof that:

• You plan to return to your home country after visiting the United States.
• Your visit will be temporary and short.
• You will be able to support yourself financially during your visit.

This is true for anyone applying for a tourist visa or entering the United States under the  Visa Waiver Program , which allows citizens of  certain countries  to visit  without  a visa for up to 90 days.

You’ll also be required to establish that you have  strong ties to your home country . This is to ensure that you will return home before your tourist visa expires.

Some examples of documents that can help prove strong ties to your home country include the following:

• Copy of an unexpired lease or a home mortgage
• Letter from your employer stating the dates of your vacation, including when you’ll return to work
• School enrollment confirmation in your home country for either yourself or your children
• Proof that your children are staying in your home country during your visit, such as a letter giving a grandparent consent to make decisions for your children
• Title deeds for any property you own in your home country

Boundless put together a detailed guide on how to prove strong ties to your home country, which can be helpful to reference when completing your travel visa application and interview. It’s also generally a good idea to provide copies of your bank statements, credit card statements showing healthy spending limits, or other proof that you’ll be able to support yourself financially during your visit to the United States. (Check out our detailed guide on  how to scan and copy documents the way immigration officials prefer .)

Boundless tip

Remember: For the best chance of gaining temporary admission to the United States, it’s important to take extra care in preparing your tourist visa application and assembling the right documents to take with you.

What if I change my mind about going home?

The U.S. government recognizes that life doesn’t always go according to plan.

What if you come to the United States to visit your spouse, fully intending to return to your home country, but then decide to stay and apply for a green card from within the United States (technically an “ adjustment of status ”)?

Your green card application will not necessarily be denied. But you will need to prove that you changed your mind for legitimate reasons — that you intended to return home but a significant change in circumstances forced you to alter your plans. For example, if you intended to visit your spouse in the United States for a short period, but a sudden decline in your spouse’s health prompted you to remain in the United States, it would be in your best interest to explain this during your green card interview .

Applying the “90-Day Rule”

For spouses who apply for a marriage-based green card after entering the United States on a tourist visa, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will apply the “90-day rule” as a guideline to decide how much extra scrutiny to give the green card application.

Under this guideline , any of the following conduct within the first 90 days of entering the United States may be considered a violation of your temporary visitor status:

• Engaging in unauthorized employment
• Enrolling in an unauthorized course of study (without a proper student visa)
• Entering into a marriage with a U.S. citizen or green card holder
• Filing an  “adjustment of status” green card application (Form I-485)

If any of the above activities takes place within 90 days of entering the United States on a temporary visa — such as a B-1 (business visitor) or B-2 (tourist) visa — USCIS will presume that you “willfully misrepresented” your intention for visiting. In this case, you will need to disprove such a presumption and submit evidence to overcome it. Otherwise, a USCIS officer could deny your marriage-based green card application or even revoke your tourist visa.

USCIS will not presume willful misrepresentation, however, if you do not engage in the above activities for at least 90 days after entering the United States on a tourist visa. While observing the 90-day rule doesn’t guarantee a successful marriage-based green card application, it’s probably a good idea to play it safe.

We understand that this process can be confusing and intimidating at first. But by always telling the truth and being prepared, you can take charge of your immigration journey.

With Boundless, you get the peace of mind that comes with having an independent immigration attorney who answers your confidential questions and reviews your entire green card application. Get started today!

The short answer is yes, you can. The same rules for spouses of U.S. citizens (as described above) also apply to engaged partners with a pending K-1 fiance visa . You can read more about this process here . If you’re unsure about which immigration process is right for you, Boundless also has a detailed guide on the differences between a fiancé visa and a marriage-based green card .

The processing time for a CR1 visa varies depending on whether you are married to a U.S. citizen or a green card holder. If you are married to a U.S. citizen, the average wait time is typically between 13.5 and 15 months. If you are married to a green card holder, the wait time is typically between 29 and 40 months.

The CR-1 is a temporary green card valid for two years, after which the couple must apply to “remove the conditions” to obtain a permanent green card.

Deciding between a K-1 fiancé visa and a CR1 spousal visa depends on your specific situation. While K-1 processing times may be longer and the fees will increase in late 2023, the K-1 may be more suitable if you and your fiancé want to get married in the United States. On the other hand, if you are already married and want to enter the U.S. as a couple, the CR1 may be the better option.

Yes, CR1 visa holders are authorized to work in the U.S. upon arrival. They do not need to apply for a separate work permit.

Yes, as a permanent resident, CR1 visa holders are free to travel outside of the United States. However, they should not leave the U.S. for more than one year, as this may affect their eligibility for citizenship or reentry into the country.

You can only sponsor a spouse, children, parents, and siblings for immigration to the United States. Girlfriends or boyfriends do not qualify for sponsorship under current U.S. immigration laws. However, there may be other visa options available depending on your specific circumstances, such as a fiancé visa or a student visa.

During the CR1 interview, the immigration officer will evaluate the authenticity of your marriage. You will be asked questions about your relationship, daily life as a couple, and future plans. For more details on what to expect during the interview, check out Boundless’ comprehensive guide on the marriage green card interview .

Most U.S. sponsors are required to have an income of at least 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for their household size and location. For couples with no children residing in the 48 contiguous states, the current minimum annual income requirement is $25,550.

Immigration guides

Related information.

• Boundless Visa Questionnaire
• US Visa Applications, Explained
• Marriage Green Cards, Explained
• How is a Fiancé Visa Different from a Marriage-Based Green Card ?
• How Long Does It Take to Get a Marriage Green Card in the U.S.?
• What Are The Costs of a Marriage-Based Green Card?
• What Documents Do I Need for a Marriage-Based Green Card?
• What is an Affidavit of Support?
• Preparing for the Green Card Interview
• Adjust of Status Vs Consular Processing
• Direct Consular Filing for Sponsors Abroad
• IR1 and CR1 Spouse Visas

No time for research? We provide an easy, guided application experience, with 4 anti-rejection checks and a lawyer review. Get started for free .

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Pregnant with visitor visa

• Thread starter Vasikt
• Start date Jul 25, 2011

Hello, i'll like to know, if a pregnant woman is having a baby (while she is Canada with visitor visa). which are the costs for having baby in Canada (for a visitor)? i'll be able to take my child back to my country (or the Canadian gov. won't let me)? or how much time will it take untill a will be able to take the baby? how much time takes to make all the documents for baby? is it true that baby till 3 months of bith aren't allowed to go with airplane? gover. of Canada pays any compensations to visitors for having baby in their country? or the compensations are just for citoyens and residens?  

Since you are a visitor - no compensation will be provided. You will be responsible for paying all of the costs associated with the birth (including both the birth itself and any doctor visits you required in advance). I would recommend that you set aside $8-$10K to cover these costs (although costs can be higher if there are complications). You can take your child back to your country. You should check with the airlines to confirm how soon after birth your child will be allowed to fly. You should also check with your doctor to determine how soon it will be safe for your child to fly.  

Champion Member

Vasikt said: Hello, i'll like to know, if a pregnant woman is having a baby (while she is Canada with visitor visa). which are the costs for having baby in Canada (for a visitor)? i'll be able to take my child back to my country (or the Canadian gov. won't let me)? or how much time will it take untill a will be able to take the baby? how much time takes to make all the documents for baby? is it true that baby till 3 months of bith aren't allowed to go with airplane? gover. of Canada pays any compensations to visitors for having baby in their country? or the compensations are just for citoyens and residens? Click to expand...

I would do the same.  

Hero Member

If a pregnent woman is on Visitor visa of canada and she birth his baby in Canada than Canada will give Citizenship to his baby or not?  

If the parents are from another country and they have got citizenship for Canada, do they also require to apply a visa for baby too or not.  

Sohailh said: If a pregnent woman is on Visitor visa of canada and she birth his baby in Canada than Canada will give Citizenship to his baby or not? Click to expand...

but the parents do not get citizenship or PR  

when u have baby in canada and he/she becomes a citizen by birth, does this put the parent at an advantage towards becoming a PR. Tanx house for the anticipated response.  

BKY said: when u have baby in canada and he/she becomes a citizen by birth, does this put the parent at an advantage towards becoming a PR. Tanx house for the anticipated response. Click to expand...

Star Member

Sorry for bringing this old topic up. What about the costs of the delivery is by a pregnant woman on visit visa and her partner is a legal PR/Citizen?  

You should expect that you will have to pay for the costs of the pregnancy out of your own pocket. I would budget $7-10K to be safe. You can lower the costs significantly if you have a home birth with the assistance of a mid-wife.  

So if my girlfriend were pregnant in Canada (on visit visa), and I am an immigrant and I am the father of the baby - I have to pay out of pocket?  

Technically the mother has to pay because she dosen't have any coverage and the baby is coming out of her. So there is an expense for that. There is a reason they ask for mothers health card at the hospital and not the fathers  

New Greek Resorts, Golden Visa Countries And More Travel News

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5 New Greek Hotels For Summer

W ith summer fast approaching, there are recently opened hotels and resorts in Greece to consider. From popular escapes such as Mykonos and Santorini to the lesser-known islands across the Aegean chain, here are five new Greek hotels worth checking out —and into.

10 Incredible Cruise Ship Features

For many years, the trend in cruise ship design has been that “bigger is better”—with vessels such as Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas setting new passenger records. But many cruise lines are also competing by offering innovative features to the high seas. From kart racing on multi-level courses to multiscreen movie theaters, here are some of the most incredible activities on cruise ships right now.

Disney World Earns Its First Michelin Star

Victoria and Albert’s at the Grand Floridian Resort—which has been a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star restaurant since 2018—added a new star to its constellation this month: It became the first Disney restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star . Located at the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World, Victoria and Albert’s is known for its opulent Victorian era-inspired meals. A prix-fixe dinner is $295 per guest, with optional wine pairings starting at $155 per person. Unlike the rest of the theme park, a formal dress code is encouraged for all diners, who must be 10 years of age or older.

Golden visas—which grant residency and/or citizenship through an investment—may be disappearing from Europe, but many EU countries are now luring travelers with digital nomad visas, which grant travelers the legal right to work remotely for an extended period. Italy recently became the latest country to offer the visa and here are other EU countries with digital nomad visas .

America’s Best Airlines 2024

The personal-finance website WalletHub recently announced its annual ranking of the best U.S. airlines . The study evaluates the nine largest national airlines and one regional carrier across a range of criteria, including safety, on-time records and overall service. This year, Alaska Airlines was named the best airline in America, beating out Delta, which ranked first in 2022 and 2023. The survey also ranked U.S. carriers based on reliability and comfort.

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European Union adopts more favourable Schengen visa rules for Indians

Indian Nationals can now apply for a multiple entry Schengen visa with longer validity

On 18 April 2024, the European Commission adopted specific rules on the issuing of multiple entry visas to Indian nationals, which are more favourable than the standard rules of the Visa Code that applied to date. This new visa ‘cascade’ regime for Indian nationals residing in India who apply for Schengen (short-stay) visas in India will provide easier access to visas with multi-year validity for travellers with an established travel history, if the passport validity allows. 

According to the newly adopted visa “cascade” regime for India, Indian nationals can now be issued long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas valid for two years after having obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years. The two-year visa will normally be followed by a five-year visa, if the passport has sufficient validity remaining. During the validity period of these visas, holders enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals.

This decision comes in the context of strengthened relations under the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, which seeks comprehensive cooperation on migration policy between the EU and India, with facilitation of people-to-people contacts being of key aspect due to the importance of India as a partner for the EU. 

Schengen visas allow the holder to travel freely in the Schengen area for short stays of a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. The visas are not purpose-bound, but they do not grant the right to work. The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries (of which 25 are EU states): Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Why Idaho's hospitals are having pregnant patients airlifted out of state

Since January, Dr. Stacy Seyb, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Boise, Idaho, has had at least four of his patients wheeled onto emergency flights and airlifted out of the state while experiencing severe pregnancy complications.

One of them was a woman whose water broke around 20 weeks into her pregnancy, putting her at risk of infection. In these types of emergencies , ending the patient’s pregnancy can be part of the standard of care. But doctors at the hospital where Seyb works say they have been forced to transfer patients who have these complications out of state to comply with the state’s abortion ban.

“This has become the new normal, which is sad,” he said.

Idaho bans all abortions, with criminal penalties of up to five years in prison for anyone who performs one or assists. The law includes limited exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of a mother, but there is no exception to protect her health.

After oral arguments Wednesday, the Supreme Court is now considering whether Idaho’s abortion ban violates a federal law that requires hospitals to offer emergency care to patients in crisis. Thus far, the justices seem split on that question, with some of the more conservative justices appearing to lean toward the state of Idaho, which has argued that federal law should not supersede its own laws on health care.

St. Luke’s Health System, which includes the hospital where Seyb works, filed an amicus brief in the case, noting that an abortion may be critical to protect a patient from nonfatal harms like loss of organs, permanent disability, severe pain or loss of fertility. It also said the ban forces patients to endure potentially risky out-of-state transfers.

Since Jan. 5, when the Supreme Court lifted an injunction that had shielded doctors providing emergency care, six pregnant patients at St. Luke’s have had to be airlifted out of Idaho, according to Dr. Jim Souza, the chief physician executive for St. Luke’s. Last year, the system saw only one such transfer, he said.

In a news conference after Wednesday's arguments, Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, a Republican, questioned accounts of doctors’ transferring patients. “It’s really hard for me to conceive of a single instance where a woman has to be airlifted out of Idaho to perform an abortion,” he said.

“Our law is very clear,” he said. “It protects doctors, it protects women, it protects unborn children, and it ensures that the doctors can use a subjective standard if they believe that the life of the mother is in jeopardy.”

Out-of-state medical transfers can delay needed care and carry immense financial and emotional costs for pregnant patients, who may wind up far from home during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. The cost of the flights can exceed $10,000, and the transportation may also be considered out-of-network by insurance, increasing the share patients must shoulder themselves.

One of the most common complications is when a patient’s water breaks in the first two trimesters of pregnancy, according to Souza. Last year, the hospital system had 54 such cases, most occurring before fetal viability.

Physicians for Human Rights, an organization that has advocated for abortion rights, also filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case. It cites a March report for which the group interviewed several doctors who practice or practiced in Idaho, along with doctors based in neighboring states who received patients who were transferred.

Dr. Sarena Hayer, a physician in Oregon, described receiving a patient from Idaho who was gravely ill when she arrived by air. The patient was 18 weeks pregnant with twins when she suffered a severe pregnancy complication. The patient also had a history of kidney issues and had previously received a transplant.

Doctors at her Idaho hospital determined that one of her fetuses had died and her lab results were troubling. She told her doctors she “wanted them to do whatever they had to, including termination,” according to the report. But she was ultimately airlifted to Oregon. The following morning, she lost her other fetus too.

If the woman had started her care in Oregon, she would have been offered a termination almost immediately, Hayer said.

“What other medical condition can we think of that would require a patient who’s sick to get transported to another state for a legal reason?” Hayer told NBC News. “It just really feels unjust.”

“In a way, you’re torturing the women because you’re not providing the definitive care until you can say they’re at the brink of death,” Dr. Michele Heisler, the medical director for Physicians for Human Rights, said in an interview. “I think that’s the stake here.”

Doctors in Idaho also described situations in which patients with severe pregnancy complications were unable to leave the state to seek treatment.

Dr. Michael Schneider, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Boise, recalled a patient whose water broke around 20 weeks but declined to be airlifted out of state, in part because she could not leave her family. Expenses were another concern. The woman left the hospital, he said, then returned once she experienced contractions. She went into labor, but her fetus did not survive.

Over his decades in medicine, Schneider has learned that vulnerabilities for pregnant women are acute. On his first night of a residency at a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, a patient with sepsis died.

“That’s what keeps me up — that somebody’s going to be placed in harm’s way, or a transport is going to go bad and there’s going to be a significant injury to the mother,” he said. “It doesn’t get any worse than losing two.”

Bracey Harris is a national reporter for NBC News, based in Jackson, Mississippi. 

World Cup 2026: Concerns over fans’ U.S. visa wait times – ‘Your window might already be closed’

Concerns have been raised with the United States government, including an official meeting in the White House, over fears supporters may be deterred from the 2026 men’s World Cup owing to excessive wait times to process visa applications to visit the country.

The tournament begins in 777 days and it will be at least another 18 months before many countries will be assured of qualification, yet the wait times for U.S. visa interviews in two Mexican cities are already in excess of 800 days, while it is 685 days in the Colombian capital of Bogota.

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In a statement to The Athletic , the U.S. Department of State (which oversees international relations) insisted it is determined to reduce wait times but also encouraged supporters in affected countries to start applying for visas now, over two years out from the tournament and with the line-up still unknown.

The 2026 edition of world football’s governing body FIFA ’s flagship tournament will include 48 nations for the first time and will be held in 16 cities in the U.S, Canada and Mexico.

It will also be the first World Cup without an overarching local organising committee, which means FIFA is tasked with pulling everything together, in conjunction with the many layers of stakeholders and bureaucracy across three nations and 16 host cities, each of which have differing levels of private and taxpayer support.

The three host countries also have differing entry criteria for visitors, which has the potential to create visa confusion for fans seeking to follow their team deep into the tournament across multiple borders.

Several host cities, including the location for the final — New York/New Jersey — are also concerned about the wait times for visas, and the potential impact on income from tourism during the tournament, but the cities are currently allowing FIFA and the travel industry to lead the conversations with the government. Some of those who have spoken to The Athletic wished to remain anonymous, owing either to sensitivity around discussions or to protect working relationships.

Travis Murphy is the founder of Jetr Global Sports + Entertainment and a former American diplomat who also once ran international government affairs for the NBA .

“My concern is this could be a disaster (in 2026),” he said. “The concerns are absolutely there on the city level. The cities are thinking, ‘They are FIFA, so they must have it under control.’ But when you realise how FIFA worked in the past with previous hosts in Qatar and Russia, it doesn’t necessarily work in the United States.

“We’re just a completely different animal in terms of how our government operates and how we communicate. And frankly, the emphasis that we place on soccer as a sport in our country.

“If this was the Super Bowl, the World Series or the NBA finals, we’d be having a different conversation. Soccer is not the biggest sport in our country. And I think that’s a fundamental lack of understanding by FIFA, perhaps just taking it for granted that it is the case everywhere in the world. But it’s not yet in the United States.”

In recent months, U.S. travel industry representatives and FIFA have raised concerns with the U.S. Department of State and the White House as the respective groups seek to organise how millions of tourists will enter the U.S. during the five-week tournament in June and July 2026. In January 2024, FIFA strengthened its staff in D.C. when it hired Alex Sopko, the former chief of staff for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House, to be its new Director of Government Relations.

In a statement to The Athletic , a FIFA spokesperson said the organisation is working closely with U.S. Government in the planning and preparation for the World Cup, including regular discussions on critical topics such as immigration and visas, and adding it recognises “the urgency of these matters.”

The visa delays ahead of the World Cup were raised in a meeting at the White House on Wednesday, April 17, with senior administration officials in conversation with the United States Travel Association (U.S. Travel).  

Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of U.S. Travel, was present in the meeting. He describes visa wait times as a “massive issue” but added: “We came away confident that the White House recognises the significance of the 2026 World Cup and will take concrete steps to streamline aspects of the travel experience for the more than eight million anticipated visitors.”

Freely available data on the website of the Department of Consular affairs details the lengthy wait times currently impacting visitor visas from markets that may be highly relevant during the World Cup, which begins in 778 days.

Forty-one countries, including much of Europe, Japan, South Korea and Australia, are part of a visa waiver programme — ESTA — to enter the United States, which means citizens of these countries can travel without obtaining a visa, so as long as their trip for tourism or business does not exceed 90 days.

However, many people, estimated by U.S. Travel to represent 45 per cent of those who visit the States, do require visas for entry. These documents, called a B1/B2 visa, also require in-person appointments at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to take digital photographs and fingerprints, as well as an interview, in which the candidate must state their intention to return to their home countries and explain their reasons for visiting the United States.

Wait times for a visa interview at a U.S. consulate in the Mexican cities of Mexico City and Guadalajara are currently 878 days and 820 days respectively, so an application made today may not be approved before the World Cup begins. In the Colombian capital of Bogota, the current wait time is 685 days, while Panama City is 477 days and Quito in Ecuador is 420.

The 2026 World Cup is guaranteed to include the U.S, Mexico and Canada as hosts but five more nations may yet qualify from North and Central America, while up to seven may enter from the South American Football Confederation. Wait times are also dramatic in the Turkish city of Istanbul, where it takes 553 days for an appointment, as well as in Morocco, semi-finalists at the World Cup in 2022, where the wait time is 225 days.

In a statement to The Athletic, the state department said: “We encourage prospective FIFA World Cup visitors who will need U.S. visas to apply now – there is no requirement to have purchased event tickets, made hotel reservations, or reserved airline tickets to qualify for a visitor visa.”

Freeman attributes the current visa delays to the shutdown of consular offices during the coronavirus pandemic but also outlines long-standing issues.

“The U.S. is the world’s most desired nation to visit, but our market share is slipping and it’s in a large part due to long visa wait times,” he said. “If you are Colombian and want to come and bring your kids in 2026, your window might already be closed.”

A World Cup is further complicated because many supporters may wait until their nations have secured qualification to organise their trip. For the Americas, this will largely be in winter 2025 — the play-offs may be as late as March 2026 — while nations will only know the cities in which their teams will be competing following the draw, which is usually held eight months out from the tournament.

During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, visitors were able to expedite their entry into the country by applying for a Hayya card, effectively a fan pass for World Cup ticket holders that acted as a visa for the tournament. A repeat pass is not expected to be approved by the U.S, particularly at a time of global tensions both in the Middle East and following Russia ’s invasion of and continued war against Ukraine .

Freeman warned: “The U.S. is not going to change its visa policies in the short term to frankly cater to FIFA. I think where you may see the U.S. adjust some of its approach is in cooperation with Mexico and Canada . So once teams have qualified within the tournament, how do we streamline their ability to cross borders and attend games in other markets later in the tournament? I believe that’s where there will be greater cooperation and some of those discussions are already taking place.”

The answer may simply be additional staff and investment, such as deploying more consular officers at embassies, a method which has helped significantly reduce wait times from Brazil and India over the past year. Congress set aside $50million for the U.S. State Department to “reduce passport backlogs and reduce visa wait times” in a bill signed into law by U.S. President Joe Biden in March but it was not specified how and where the money will be invested.

There is a precedent for visa issues causing delays at major international sporting events in the United States. Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, who set the African 100metres record of 9.77 seconds in 2021, only received his visa documentation the day before the men’s 100 metres heats began at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon in 2022.

After securing his visa in Kenya, he took a five-hour flight to Qatar, endured a six-hour layover, then a 14-hour flight to Seattle, another three-hour layover and last of all, a one-hour flight to Oregon. He landed at 4.15 pm and immediately went to the track, where the heats commenced at 6.50pm.

The sprinter said: “If you are hosting a championship, you need to waive (visa requirements) for athletes. It’s a lesson for the host country in the future, and the U.S. is hosting the Olympics in 2028 (in Los Angeles), so they need to learn from this and do better next time.”

Murphy added: “There were hundreds of athletes who were unable to travel. The World Athletics Championships was was a relatively small event compared to the magnitude of what we’re talking about with the 48-team World Cup and the millions and millions of people involved, in terms of what needs to happen.”

Playing rosters are usually only approved in the final months before a tournament, but the U.S. is expected to expedite processing to ensure players and support staff from federations are able to arrive in time for the World Cup.

The U.S. Department of State attributes the issues at World Athletics to the pressures felt by consular officers coming out of the pandemic and told The Athletic that wait times for “P-visas”, generally used by members of professional sports teams coming to participate in athletic competitions, are “low worldwide”.

Murphy said the National Security Council has established a working committee on the matter for the White House but caveated his optimism with a reminder that more instant priorities are Israel, Gaza and Ukraine. He said: “This is not a priority beyond the host cities, FIFA itself and the members of Congress who represent those host cities. But in terms of there being a broad approach that is all-encompassing and has a wide swath of support in Congress, there’s just nothing there. There’s no bills or initiatives in Congress that are focused on this.”

He added: “The conversations that needed to have started a year plus ago are not at a point where they need to be. And when you’re talking about the U.S. Government, it is essentially at a state of standstill in terms of any major movement that needs to happen from now until November of this year (when there is a Presidential election).”

The Department of State insisted it is “committed to facilitating legitimate travel to the United States while maintaining high national security standards.”

Its statement continued: “We are pleased to be an active participant in a working group with FIFA and other stakeholders on plans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Bureau of Consular Affairs recognizes the importance of international inbound tourism, including for mega sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup, and is working tirelessly to facilitate secure travel to the United States. We have significantly reduced visa wait times over the past two years.”

One of the peculiarities of the U.S. political system is that there is no sports ministry to facilitate such discussions. In its absence, Murphy calls for a special envoy to be appointed, with the World Cup likely to be followed by the women’s edition in 2027 before the Olympics in LA in 2028.

He said: “There has to be somebody centralised to organise those conversations. That’s relatively easy to do. If it’s somebody that has the respect and attention of the cabinet agencies, they can have a conversation with Capitol Hill and that’s going to go a long way to getting things done.”

(Top photo: Patrick Smith/FIFA via Getty Images)

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Adam Crafton covers football for The Athletic. He previously wrote for the Daily Mail. In 2018, he was named the Young Sports Writer of the Year by the Sports' Journalist Association. His debut book,"From Guernica to Guardiola", charting the influence of Spaniards in English football, was published by Simon & Schuster in 2018. He is based in London.

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Trump called this visa ‘very bad’ for Americans. Truth Social applied for one

Former president Donald Trump speaks to the media after the first day of opening arguments in his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court for falsifying documents related to hush money payments, in New York, NY, on Monday, April 22, 2024. The former President is expected to spend the next 6 or so weeks in attendance at his trial for falsification of business records, to cover up payments to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star who allegedly had an encounter with the President before he was in office. Photographer: Victor J. Blue for The Washington Post/ Pool

Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump, center, walks through the courthouse, as his attorney, Todd Blanche, left, looks on, on the first day of his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, at Manhattan state court in New York, Monday, April 22, 2024. (Brendan McDermid/Pool Photo via AP)

Former president Donald Trump speaks after leaving the courtroom at Manhattan criminal court, Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. Opening statements in Donald Trump’s historic hush money trial are set to begin. Trump is accused of falsifying internal business records as part of an alleged scheme to bury stories he thought might hurt his presidential campaign in 2016. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, Pool)

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MIAMI (AP) — The social media company founded by former President Donald Trump applied for a business visa program that he sought to restrict during his administration and which many of his allies want him to curtail in a potential second term.

Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social, filed an application in June 2022 for an H-1B visa for a worker at a $65,000 annual salary, the lowest wage category allowed under the program. Federal immigration data shows the company was approved for a visa a few months later. The company says it did not hire the worker.

Filing for the visa sets the image of Trump the candidate, who has proposed a protectionist agenda for companies to “hire American,” in conflict with Trump the businessman, who has said his companies will use every tool at their disposal. Records show the investment firm started by Trump’s son-in-law and White House adviser, Jared Kushner, also filed an application and was approved to hire a foreigner as an associate under the same visa program.

Trump Media & Technology Group said in a statement the application “was made under prior management,” even though the current CEO, former House Intelligence Committee chairman and longtime Trump ally Devin Nunes, was already leading the company at the time the application was first filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.

“The company has never hired — and has no plans to hire — an H-1B visa program worker. When current management learned of this application, which was made under prior management, it swiftly terminated the process in November 2022,” the company said in a statement.

An H-1B visa petition can cost companies about $5,000 per employee. Companies can withdraw petitions even after being approved. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services records data doesn’t note when visas are revoked. But a spokeswoman for the Labor Department, which also tracks H-1B applications, said they had no records of Truth Social requesting a withdrawal.

A COMMON TOOL FOR TECH COMPANIES

Tech companies commonly hire employees using the H-1B program. Trump never hid the fact he used the visas before he became president, using them mostly to bring in foreign models and a few workers for his hotels and resorts, per a review of petitions filed since 2009.

But with exceptions to renew existing applications, his companies appeared to have no longer petitioned for H-1B visas until Truth Social was created.

Data from the Labor Department shows that an application was filed by Trump Media & Technology Group for an employee to earn $65,000. It lists as the employer Will Wilkerson, a company co-founder and former senior vice president of operations, and an Atlanta address as the job’s location.

Wilkerson filed a whistleblower complaint in August 2022 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, alleging securities violations by the company. He was fired, according to The Washington Post, and is cooperating with federal authorities. His lawyers said he would not comment.

‘I SHOULDN’T BE ALLOWED TO USE IT’

Trump frequently talks about the arrivals of migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, but his policy proposals while in the White House also included curbs on legal immigration such as family-based visas and the visa lottery program.

In a 2016 primary debate, Trump spoke about the H-1B visa program and said it was “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers.

“First of all, I think and I know the H-1B very well. And it’s something that I frankly use and I shouldn’t be allowed to use it. We shouldn’t have it,” he said. “Second of all, I think it’s very important to say, well, I’m a businessman and I have to do what I have to do.”

Three months after taking office, Trump issued his “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest reforms to ensure that H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. He has previously said the program was used by tech companies to get foreign workers for lower pay.

During his administration, a study by the nonpartisan National Foundation for American Policy found the government was scrutinizing cases more by launching requests for more information from companies filing to hire foreign workers and denying more petitions.

The “Project 2025” handbook, compiled by allies preparing for Trump’s potential transition to power, says the H-1B program should be transformed “into an elite mechanism exclusively to bring in the ‘best and brightest’ at the highest wages while simultaneously ensuring that U.S. workers are not being disadvantaged by the program.”

Companies in the professional, scientific and technical services fields account for more than 60% of the total visas granted, said Nicolas Morales, an economist at the research department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond who specializes in labor and migration. Morales said he has found the visa program has been beneficial for small companies to stay in business.

“Winning the H-1B lottery actually helps them. It increases their chances of survival,” he said. “In the next five years, they are more likely to stay active, particularly small companies that are very dependent on skilled labor.”

The applications require companies to attest they will provide the foreign workers the same benefits offered to U.S. workers and pay more than what they pay others with similar experience and qualifications or more than the typical wage for that type of occupation. Companies also have to provide a notice of the filing to the workers by posting a notice in two locations at the place of employment.

Much of the criticism regarding the H-1B program is about companies offering salaries in the lower wage categories to foreign workers. The application filed by Kushner’s investment firm to hire a foreign employee appears to satisfy that complaint.

The Labor Department certified a document where Kushner’s investment firm specified it would pay this employee a $200,000 salary, which falls under the highest wage level for the H-1B visas typically reserved for those who are experts in their field and have senior responsibilities. Recent data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shows the company was approved for a visa.

Kushner has not joined the Trump campaign and has been pursuing his own business interests applying for tourism projects in the Balkans.

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Golden Visa Programs, Once a Boon, Lose Their Luster

Spain is the latest European country to end its program, which brought in billions of euros from real estate investors seeking residency status but worsened a housing crisis for locals.

Apartments in Madrid. Golden visa programs are being phased out or shut down around Europe. Credit... Emilio Parra Doiztua for The New York Times

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By Liz Alderman

Liz Alderman, who writes about economics, has widely covered Europe’s financial crisis and the aftermath.

• Published April 21, 2024 Updated April 22, 2024

When Ana Jimena Barba, a young doctor, began working at a hospital in Madrid last year, she moved in with her parents half an hour outside the city until she could save enough to buy her own home. But when she started looking at houses in the same village, almost everything was priced at more than 500,000 euros.

The amount — nearly 20 times more than the average annual salary in Spain — happens to correspond to the cost of the country’s “golden visa,” a program that offers residency to wealthy foreigners who buy real estate there. After a decade, the program has reeled in billions of euros in investments, but it has also helped fuel a wrenching housing crisis for its own citizens.

“There’s nothing I can afford,” said Dr. Barba, an allergist who has been working 100 hours overtime every month to save up a nest egg. “If foreigners inflate the prices for those of us who live here, it’s an injustice,” she said.

Faced with growing pressure to address its housing crunch, Spain said this month that it would scrap its golden visas, the latest in a wider withdrawal from the program by governments around Europe.

Half a dozen eurozone countries offered the visas at the height of Europe’s debt crisis in 2012 to help plug gaping budget deficits. Countries that needed international bailouts — Spain , Ireland , Portugal and Greece among them — were especially desperate for cash to repay creditors, and saw a path to bring in investors while reviving their moribund real estate markets.

Countries reaped a windfall: Spain alone has issued 14,576 visas linked to wealthy buyers making real estate investments of more than €500,000. But the prices that they can afford are squeezing people like Dr. Barba out of a market that had already been highly inflated by the rise of Airbnb and the draw of Wall Street investors.

“Access to housing needs to be a right instead of a speculative business,” Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, said in a speech this month as he announced the end of the country’s golden visa program. “Major cities are facing highly stressed markets, and it’s almost impossible to find decent housing for those who already live, work and pay their taxes.”

The visas make it easy for people outside the European Union to buy the right to temporary residency, sometimes without having to live in the country. Investors from China, Russia and the Middle East flocked to buy real estate through them.

In recent years, British nationals have followed suit in the wake of Brexit, snapping up homes in Greece, Portugal and Spain, joined by an increasing number of Americans looking to enjoy a lifestyle they can’t afford in major U.S. cities.

But golden visa programs are now being phased out or shut down around Europe as governments seek to undo the damage to the housing market. And after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, E.U. officials urged governments to end them, warning they could be used for money laundering, tax evasion and even organized crime.

Portugal, which has reaped more than €5.8 billion in investment from the visas, modified its program in October to remove real estate as an investment to reduce speculative buying and cool an overheated housing market. An influx of foreigners has displaced thousands of low-income Portuguese citizens from homes in cities like Lisbon.

The government in Lisbon is trying to fix the affordable housing problem with new rules that would require landlords to rent empty flats to families, capping rents and converting some commercial real estate to housing.

Ireland shut down its program last year, in part to address concerns that Russian nationals were laundering money through it.

Greece , one of the last countries in Europe to offer a golden visa, is raising its foreign investment threshold to €800,000 from €500,000 in the Athens area and on popular islands including Mykonos and Santorini. The country’s prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, acknowledged severe housing shortages and pressure on rental markets, especially around Athens, but he said the government still wanted to draw investors. Greece raised €4.3 billion in investment from the visas from 2021 to 2023 alone.

A report released by the Institute of Labor Economics in March said the visa programs had helped spur economic development in countries offering them. But governments need to strike “a delicate balance between reaping economic benefits and safeguarding against potential risks,” including money laundering and rampant gentrification, the report said.

The pullback is coming as a broader housing crisis grips Europe , after years in which its real estate markets have undergone a profound metamorphosis that has increasingly pushed out modest-income workers, including doctors, teachers and police officers.

Gentrification has spread throughout European cities for decades, but the rise of Airbnb and other short-term rental providers has accelerated the affordability crisis. That was especially the case in countries affected by Europe’s debt crisis, where property owners discovered they could make more by renting to tourists than to locals whose finances had been squeezed by austerity programs.

Golden visa programs compounded the strain. In Greece, which initially granted foreigners a five-year residency visa if they invested €250,000, many apartment and home listings around Athens and on breezy Greek islands suddenly shot up from bargain-basement prices to €250,000, well out of reach for most Greeks.

Laura McDowell, an agent at the Athens-based Mobilia real estate agency, said that short-term rentals had made rents unaffordable in city centers, and the problem was worsened when investors from numerous countries converted homes purchased through golden visa programs to vacation rentals, further squeezing the supply of affordable housing.

The scheme lured Chinese nationals in particular, with many flying to Athens carrying suitcases loaded with cash . Chinese investment companies also bought buildings in low-income neighborhoods and areas with student housing, renovating apartments and reselling them to visa seekers. Today, entire apartment blocks even in once undesirable zones in and around Athens are owned largely by foreigners.

“Prices driven up by golden visas haven’t come down,” Ms. McDowell said. “Greeks have been priced out.”

In Spain, Chinese investors made up nearly half of visa seekers, followed by Russians. Low interest rates set by the European Central Bank compounded the problem in recent years by drawing more real estate investors outside the visa program, said Ernest Urtasun, Spain’s culture minister.

The Spanish government plans to construct 40,000 social housing units for people with limited resources as part of a broader plan to restore affordable lodging.

But it is uncertain that will help people like Dr. Barba quickly. Despite Spain’s recovery from the financial crisis, wages have failed to keep pace with the growth in the real estate market. Nearly a fifth of workers earn the minimum wage of €1,134 a month, while rents in Madrid jumped 15 percent in 2023. A 3.2 percent inflation rate has added to the strain.

Dr. Barba has been saving money for the past three years for a down payment on a home. She rented a room in a shared apartment in Barcelona when she began training as an allergist at a downtown hospital. But her monthly income was consumed by basic living expenses including food, rent and transport.

To save more, she transferred to the hospital in Madrid and now lives with her parents rent-free outside the city, working overtime to bump up her salary to €1,900. But with homes even in her parents’ village priced at half a million euros, she feels hopeless.

“It would take years to save up enough to put down a deposit on a home,” Dr. Barba said. “Buying a home is just a dream.”

Rachel Chaundler contributed reporting from Madrid, and Niki Kitsantonis from Athens.

Liz Alderman is the chief European business correspondent, writing about economic, social and policy developments around Europe. More about Liz Alderman

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Reporting by Manya Saini and Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar

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