Chinese flock to USA to give birth to U.S. citizens

Chinese flock to USA to give birth to U.S. citizens: "BEIJING — Business is booming here for companies that coach pregnant women on how to deceive U.S. immigration authorities so they can enter the United States for the sole purpose of giving birth to American citizens.

At least 500 companies offered "birth tourism" services in China last year, the Shanghai newspaper National Business Daily reported. While there are no official statistics, the number of Chinese citizens heading to the USA to give birth likely is in the tens of thousands each year. The cost of a trip, including medical expenses, runs from $20,000 to $80,000.

The business is legal in China, but the tactics for entering the USA are not. The women are coached to lie about the purpose of their visit by listing "tourism," which makes it easier to get a visa. They also are told to hide their pregnancies when going through U.S. immigration and avoid declarations that they're traveling for medical treatment.

In early March, California authorities raided dozens of maternity hotels for Chinese women in Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties for alleged immigration and tax fraud.

The raids did not prompt crackdowns on the business in China. Six birth tourism companies, including ABC Baby and Precious Beauty Baby, told USA TODAY that business continues as normal. Six others declined comment.

There are legitimate reasons for Chinese citizens to travel to the United States to give birth, such as if one parent is American or a high-risk pregnancy requires medical care from a specialist.

The State department says there is no law barring foreigners from traveling to the U.S. for the purpose of giving birth. The tourism visa they usually travel on, known as a B-2 visa, allows foreigners to enter the U.S. for "medical treatment."

As long as applicants are truthful about their intentions, prove they can afford their medical care, explain why they can't have the procedure done in their home country and assert that they will abide by the time restrictions of their visa, such travel is generally allowed under U.S. law, according to the department."



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