The United States’ embassy in Nigeria seems to have perfected the art of denying well-meaning and legitimate non-immigrant Nigerian mothers visa for reasons best known to it. At the end of visa interview sessions, what one hears is, ‘’You are not qualified at this time’’! Women of child-bearing age are asked questions such as: Are you pregnant at this time? How many children do you have? Do you plan to have more children? And if the response to any of these questions is in the affirmative, then the next set of questions may be: Do you plan to have the baby in America? Can you afford to pay the medical bills? You are probably asked to show evidence and even after showing evidence you are told mostly that you do not qualify at this time or that you should reapply after having your baby.
Please note that there have been cases when female applicants did not even know they were pregnant during the interview and later discovered in the weeks to follow! Obviously, a married woman who is sexually active can become pregnant at anytime even with the use of contraceptives. Asking these kinds of questions during interviews is not a way to determine the purpose of the interview, which is to determine if the visa applicant is an intending immigrant. Finding out if an applicant is pregnant or plan to become pregnant soon, has nothing to do with the application but is an unnecessary invasion of privacy.
Moreover in Africa, questions like these are very sensitive as people like to keep such information private until the pregnancy becomes advanced. If one may ask, is the visa meant to be an agreement to celibacy in marriage? In my own case, I had used my American visa many times for holiday and even business before deciding to make use of the medical facilities available in the US to have my baby. I also decided to do this because I developed some complications during the pregnancy and decided to seek better health care. Why then would a consular officer overlook all the business transactions done and deny an applicant for the simple reason of having a baby in America?
Is it wrong for a mother to seek better medical treatment for herself anywhere in the world if she can afford it? Or, could it be that it is a crime under American laws? Let us examine the major issues in this matter because I really do not understand the thinking.
The B-1/B-2 visitors visa is for people travelling to the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2). Generally, the B-2 visa is for travel that is recreational in nature, including tourism, visits to friends or relatives, medical treatment and activities of a fraternal, social or service nature often the B-1 and B-2 visas are combined and issued as one visa: the B-1/B-2 visa.
So, can we safely assume that if you are issued a visa in the B-1/B-2 category, you can use the visa for any of the purposes stated above during the duration of the visa (which is usually 2 years validity) without fear that you will be denied another visa during renewal for using it for any of the above stated purposes? Let us say, for instance, during the interview, you stated to the consular officer that you were travelling to America on holiday. If sometimes during the validity of your visa, you use same visa for business purposes or medical purposes, should you be penalised?
Using one’s visa for medical treatment can be in form of the following: Any form of surgery both medical, cosmetic surgeries , having a baby or any gynaecological related procedure, general medical check-up e.t.c
I have tried to find out several reasons why mothers are being denied visas to the US. Could it be because there is a law in place saying people cannot have their babies in America? In fact, I can say after much investigation that there is nothing like that. Everyone is allowed to go everywhere in the world for medical treatment so long as they can afford it. Nigerians still go to South Africa, the United Kingdom, and other European countries to have their babies so long as they can afford it and they do so because they believe they will get better medical care.
Could the issue be that the women that are having babies in America can cause overpopulation in the future? I still do not think that is the issue as the American government still runs the visa lottery every year in which thousands of people all over the world are granted immigrant status to live and work in America.
Denying mothers of American citizen children visa’s during renewal is indirectly denying the American citizen child entry to America because the child cannot travel unaccompanied at a minor age without either of his or her parent.
•Mrs. Juyinlo Toluwalase
(Punch)
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We should equip our hospital .
ReplyDeleteBut who will do this ?
America is about to face population explosion,so they are using that fact to checkmate the occurrency.You know giving birth in America is entitled to citizenship for that child.Therefore, it is their projection we should not blame them.
ReplyDeleteI think it boils down to poor image of the Country called Nigeria. It is totally wrong for the US Consulate to deny mothers a visa during renewal most especially where she is able to prove that she settled her bills during the time she recieved medical attention.
ReplyDeleteMay God help Nigeria to find it's place eventually.
See I want to apply oooo Abeg if this is a play pls let US stop it.Why do we have US Embassy in Nigeria if they cannot accomodate us.President Goodluck pls reconcile with them because I'm planning to have my baby abroad. I love it and I shouldn't be denied pls pls oooooooooooo
ReplyDeleteOur nigerian women @ times do not pay or complete their bills and its rubbing on innocent ones who can afford it. We nigerians should also do it right.
ReplyDeleteIf you can afford your medical bills in America, remember thousands can not and this behavior drains their medical provision account for their citizens. Besides most people go there to deliver for the citizenship, so it is their right to deny or grant visas to pregnant women and we can blame our govt for that. Good luck in the future
ReplyDeletePersonally, I do not support mothers being denied visas into the United States, to me its an action that looked down on the country-Nigeria. But can it be worse than the actions of our leaders? I don't think so.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I wish to state even as the writer has herself stated is the libralism of the country-America. America is probably the only nation in the world that is so Libral. They uphold the freedom of people and practise it. As a line in their anthem says: "...the land of the free and the home of the brave". And even in several programs like the Visa Lottery, we can see liberty being uphold. Now, considering the arguments of the writer, I will say their are several reasons a country like America will decide to deny mothers or intending mothers visas. Most of these reasons even though we might attempt to guess is best known to the consulars and for all I know will be in the best interest of their country.
Foremost, presenting a bank statement etc. as an evidence to demostrate your ability to support yourself on the trip without becoming a burden to the goverment is not enough. The consular still will want to pry further into your motives and will wish to be conviced beyond doubts. I have heard of several people taking advantage of the country, travel down and have their babies and leave without paying their medical bills. Ofcourse, such persons may not be granted visas the next time but what of the unpaid bills? We can see the liberty in the law governing her medcal care system which protects every one be you legal or illegal in receiving medical attention even when you cannot pay at that time. So all you need is to walk in, but does that calls for us to abuse it?
Part of the free nature of the country gave the right to any child born on the soil of America to instantly carry their passport unlike what we see in other countries like U.K. Now people take advantage of that to have their babies in the U.S., to me I think we are the ones that uses our actions to block all these chances. And like the saying: "when the sinners are suffering the just might also be a partaker". The reasons goes on and on, so I will not want us to quickly blame the country, their is more to it and I believe this decision is in their best interest.
God bless Mother land Nigeria and God bless United States of America.
Adeyinka Fadehan
I'm a victim of US Visa denial. I'm an expectant mother and just last September i was denied Visa. Its obvious that ones your pregnancy becomes conspicious, your chances of being granted a US Visa becomes dim. What i have learnt from my past experience is to declare your pregnancy, get a hospital in US involved, pay their bills in advance and they will inturn invite you and process your Visa.
ReplyDeleteGladys, Portharcourt
Nigerians give birth and escape without paying their bill!!
ReplyDeleteGood thing you want to prepare a better future for your children, it is your decision! Just like American have the right to decide what is good for them. It is their country after all. Make Nigeria to work as a system or perhaps look like America that you are so crazy about then their will be no need traveling abroad just for the sake of citizenship and not health ground. Nigerians be proud of yourselves!
ReplyDeleteHello my good friends i want to say a big thanks and appreciation to the great man Dr ukpoyan of dr.ukpoyanspellhome@gmail.com who bless my womb, i have been married for the past 10year without a child i have look for all kind of help that can make me get pregnant but nothing works, but through an insight i came across Dr ukpoyan profile at the internet when i was searching for help on how i can get a baby, Quickly i contacted him to help me out, he said he will cast a spell that will make me sleep with my partner and get pregnant so he told to have the faith and believe in him, as everything will be fine, and which i did, my friends after doing all the instructions given to me by Dr ukpoyan, a couple of weeks later i went for test and i was detected positively pregnant of 2weeeks and now i am here taking care of my baby girl all this i never believed will happen but with the help of Dr ukpoyan my problems where solved..
ReplyDeletewell if you need any help with your problem of delivery issue just log on to Dr ukpoyan on:
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