US Visa, July 30 -- Amid the US Department's tightening of its visa policies, the US Mission to Nigeria has issued a stern warning that visa applications will be cancelled if applicants are found travelling to US primarily to give birth in the US for citizenship purposes.

"Using your visa to travel for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States so that your child will have US citizenship is not permitted. Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent," the US Mission to Nigeria announced, in a social media post.

Birth tourism in the US refers to the practice where foreign nationals travel to the country to give birth so that their off springs get direct US citizenship,...