On August 12, 2026, the U.S. Department of State announced a new Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force that works with the Department of Homeland Security to review the activities of visa holders worldwide. As of the announcement, the task force had revoked more than 600 visas.
Many families who hold tourist visas are now asking: Can I still visit the U.S. while pregnant? If I gave birth in the U.S. before, will that be looked into? What should I watch for in future visa applications?
The core issue this enforcement targets is concealing the true purpose of travel in a visa application or at entry. Each question is addressed below.
In short: the purpose stated on your visa must match your actual trip. Willfully misrepresenting the purpose of travel can lead to visa revocation, and even permanent ineligibility for a visa or entry.
What Does the Task Force Do?
According to the State Department, the task force focuses on three things:
- Reviewing the activities and travel histories of visa holders worldwide to identify birth tourism;
- Revoking the visas of those who engage in or facilitate birth tourism; and
- Dismantling the networks that profit from it.
The task force connects information held by the State Department, DHS, and other federal agencies. This means what you wrote on your visa application, what you said at entry, and your actual travel records may be compared.
The State Department says it generally revokes a visa when there are indications of a potential ineligibility, and the Secretary of State has broad discretionary authority to revoke visas.
Three Cases the State Department Released
The State Department described several cases in which visas were revoked. They share one feature: the stated purpose did not match what actually happened.
- A couple applied for visas twice, citing a conference one time and a vacation and shopping trip the other. Both times the real purpose was to give birth in the U.S. On the second application, they concealed that they already had a child. Their visas were revoked.
- A foreign government official applied for a visa for one week of official travel but stayed three months and gave birth in the U.S. before leaving. The visa was revoked.
- A traveler applied for a visa to vacation in Orlando but instead went to Los Angeles and gave birth five days after arriving. The visa was revoked.
Let’s use Emily’s family to look at what this means in different situations.
Scenario 1: Emily is pregnant. Can she still visit family on a tourist visa?
Background: Emily holds a valid U.S. tourist visa. While pregnant, she plans to visit her sister, who works in the U.S., stay for two weeks, and return home.
Analysis: The fact sheet targets birth tourism carried out by concealing the true purpose of travel. It does not say that pregnant travelers can never enter on a tourist visa. Keep in mind, however, that applying for a tourist visa primarily to give birth in the U.S. is not a permitted purpose, and consular and border officers may look closely at a pregnant visitor’s actual plans.
Emily should:
- Answer truthfully about her travel purpose, length of stay, and itinerary when applying and at entry;
- Keep her actual trip consistent with what she stated and leave on schedule; and
- Keep records of her travel plans, such as round-trip tickets and the details of the family visit.
- ❌ Risky: Stating a “short tourist trip” while actually planning to stay through delivery, or traveling to a different city after entry to give birth.
- ✅ Safe: Truthfully stating the purpose and timing of the trip, and traveling as planned.
Attorney’s note: If your plans change, or you are unsure whether your situation is appropriate, consult an attorney before you travel, not after you arrive.
Scenario 2: Emily sees an agency advertising “full-service birth in the U.S.” What are the risks?
Analysis: The State Department specifically notes that birth tourism has become a for-profit industry. Some facilitators market themselves as doulas, midwives, or wellness advocates while openly advertising “birth in the U.S.” services, visa coaching, and hospital arrangements. Some forge medical documents, coach clients to conceal their true travel purpose, or even help them avoid paying hospital bills, often promising “automatic citizenship” for the child.
The State Department says it will dismantle these networks and hold all participants accountable. In other words, it is not only facilitators who face consequences. Applicants who follow a facilitator’s coaching to hide their purpose also risk visa revocation and other consequences.
- ❌ Risky: Filling out the visa application or answering entry questions from an agency’s script, or using documents the agency prepared.
- ✅ Safe: Basing every application and statement on the true facts, and being wary of any service that “guarantees” a visa or citizenship.
Scenario 3: Emily’s friend gave birth in the U.S. a few years ago. Will that affect future visa applications?
Background: A few years ago, Emily’s friend traveled to the U.S. on a tourist visa and gave birth there.
Analysis: The State Department says the task force reviews travel histories of applicants from around the world, and the revoked visas include people with past U.S. births. Whether a particular person is affected depends on whether their stated purpose matched what actually happened, and on whether there are other eligibility issues.
Two points deserve special attention:
- Foreign nationals who willfully misrepresent the purpose of their travel or entry may be permanently ineligible for a U.S. visa or entry; and
- Future visa applications must truthfully disclose family members and other information. In the first case above, the couple concealed an existing child on their second application, which was a problem in itself.
Attorney’s note: Anyone who has given birth in the U.S. and plans to apply for a visa or travel again should have an attorney review their past visa applications and travel records first, so that the new application is truthful and consistent. Concealing or changing your account in a new application to avoid trouble usually makes the problem worse.
Practical Steps
1. Keep your visa application and entry statements truthful and consistent. Your travel purpose, length of stay, and destination should match your actual trip.
2. Stay consistent across applications. Family members, past travel, and other information on each visa application must be truthful every time and consistent with earlier records.
3. Avoid agencies that promise guaranteed results. Don’t use medical documents of unknown origin or “standard answers” supplied by others.
4. When in doubt, ask before you travel. If you are traveling while pregnant, or have a past U.S. birth on record, assess the risks before you apply or travel.
Conclusion
The focus of this enforcement is misrepresentation. When the stated purpose doesn’t match what actually happened, that is what leads to visa revocation and even permanent ineligibility. The State Department has also said plainly that “this is only the beginning,” so scrutiny may continue to increase. Truthful applications and travel that matches your plans are the best way to protect your family’s future access to the United States.
The LYD Law immigration team can help applicants review past visa applications and travel records, assess the risks of applying for a visa or traveling again, and advise on options after a visa revocation. If you or your family have questions about this issue, we welcome you to contact us to plan next steps for your situation.
