Traveling on a Tourist Visa to have a Baby and Return to China

[Mitch0526 1]

Hello,

My Chinese wife has already obtained a 10 year tourist visa to the US and is now about 6 weeks pregnant. We are living in China and have no plans on returning to the US to settle down, but we are considering going to the US to give birth because of better and more familiar medical care where my family is.

One plan we are considering, which is doubtful it can work out, is to fly to the US in July when she is about 7 months pregnant, give birth in September (if that works out), and then fly back to China as soon as we are able.

My question and concern is, what would we need to do in order to get the baby back to China and how long would that take approximately? Apply for the birth certificate and a passport and visa? Wouldn't that take several weeks? Is there any other way?

I'm a university teacher and need to get back to my job for the Fall semester, which begins in September, but I could possibly wait until October if necessary to return.

Does anyone have any ideas on any of this?

[Boiler 45,525]

A teacher job in China pays enough to cover the medical costs of giving birth in the US?

Wow

[Mitch0526 1]

I have enough saved up to where we could cover around $10,000 and my parents would help for anything more. Money is not really the main issue in the decision.

[Ischnura 285]

If you don't receive the birth certificate at the hospital then it would be up to a couple of weeks before it arrives at your US address.

Passport - https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/information/processing-times.html clicky.

So at least a month, assuming your child arrives within your time frame for being in the US and without any complications.

[Boiler 45,525]

I have enough saved up to where we could cover around $10,000 and my parents would help for anything more. Money is not really the main issue in the decision.

Might be an issue for the Consulate.

[R2B 2]

I assume you are USC so your child has no issue to get US citizenship on birth in China.

Since you have no issue on money , you may be affordable for in a world-class hospital in China to get same / better delivery service than in US. Chinese new mother has the tradition to receive care like a queen in the first month of newborn.... Plus it's cheap in China to hire nanny(s) to help. and her family members would be around.

In addition to the time applying US passport, you need Chinese visa for your baby , it also takes a while , if your child is going to stay in China for long time, you may need to send birth certificate to state for notarization, then send state notarized birth certificate to Chinese consulate in US for another notartization. Otherwise , the birth certificate might not be recognized in China.

Another immigration benefit is that your Child might get Chinese Citizenship if born in China, that offers your child another opportunity in the future considering Chinese citizenship is very difficult for a foreigner to apply.

[R2B 2]

Another thing need to be put into consideration is that how your wife get through POE smoothly.

there is high chance she will be refereed to Secondary. There are some cases pregnant ladies were deport on POE by CBP.

Were she married on B2 visa application? How will you convince CBP that's a visit only while she has a USC husband?

[JFH 12,190]

There are some very good western hospitals (German, American, and others) in the major cities in China. I worked in Beijing for a while and we had a very good international hospital nearby. Your wife was safely born in China, why would it be different for your child? I don't think it's a good idea to put your wife through a long haul flight when she's heavily pregnant. If something were to happen mid-air you would never forgive yourself.

$10,000 is not going to get you very far after buying flights and if the baby needs any specialist or NICU treatment. It can run into the six figures to keep a baby in NICU for an extended period of time. Not to mention any treatment your wife might need if there are complications. Hopefully everything will go well. But my mother has been a midwife for 35 years so I've heard of everything that could go wrong. And it happens more often than people think. Even in the west.

[mnlondon 0]

I gave birth in USA I was like almost 9 months I went to usa we had health insurance coz my husband lives there and I think if you don't have insurance it will charge you around 12,000 dollars.

I had 40 days to come back to UK so we got his birth certificate and social security number in like 2-3 weeks we had then 2 weeks to get his passport we booked an appointment and went to (us travel website or something) we booked his appointment and went to this place where you can get ur passport in just one day or two but you have to show them your ticket and how urgent you need it. We got his passport for the next day.

It will be better if you guys go when she's almost 9 months pregnant so you will have enough time after she gives birth.

Its difficult to give birth and then come home as she would still not have recovered. Plus you need atleast 40 days to sort his passport because getting birth certificate and then getting passport will take at least that amount of time.

I had three months I think your wife's visa will be for 6 months right?

Goodluck.

Edited February 5, 2016 by mnlondon

[Ischnura 285]

I gave birth in USA I was like almost 9 months I went to usa we had health insurance coz my husband lives there and I think if you don't have insurance it will charge you around 12,000 dollars.

I had 40 days to come back to UK so we got his birth certificate and social security number in like 2-3 weeks we had then 2 weeks to get his passport we booked an appointment and went to (us travel website or something) we booked his appointment and went to this place where you can get ur passport in just one day or two but you have to show them your ticket and how urgent you need it. We got his passport for the next day.

It will be better if you guys go when she's almost 9 months pregnant so you will have enough time after she gives birth.

Its difficult to give birth and then come home as she would still not have recovered. Plus you need atleast 40 days to sort his passport because getting birth certificate and then getting passport will take at least that amount of time.

I had three months I think your wife's visa will be for 6 months right?

Goodluck.

The cost can vary greatly, out of pocket can be expensive even if you do have insurance what with deductibles and co pays. I had a smooth 40 minute birth and the hospital bill was $13k plus a separate bill came through pertaining to our Son for $6k ish and he was born on time, healthy as can be. We had Tricare insurance and used a nice hospital. There's plenty to consider that effect the end bill and not to mention the unexpected.

It's also possible to fly as soon as 10 days after giving birth, with Dr's permission and all paperwork in place of course.

Maybe it would be less stressful to find somewhere in China where your wife would be comfortable, as others have suggested.

[mnlondon 0]

Sorry I meant 8 months and if you have longer then she can go even if shes 6 months.

I won't recommend having baby there because its difficult for the mother and child. The plane was cold and my baby's Face around the eyes went blueb coz of cold I didn't know they had to turn the ac/fan off. I couldn't carry him I was still not well. China is a better place for your wife to give birth the rest is up to you.

Good luck

[Anh map 2,098]

What happens if she's refused entry? Could seem like a potential immigrant visa dodge if you and your very pregnant wife come for a "visit."

There are far more babies born in China every year than the US. Lots of western level facilities there.

Weigh all the aspects before boarding the plane.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Being refused entry is entirely possible. My full hospital bill was about $30k. She got stuck. My doctor and hers didn't reccomend flying until about 8-10 weeks after the birth.

[Mitch0526 1]

Thank you everyone. This is all a lot of helpful information. It looks more and more unwise for us to go this path.

[Pennycat 880]

I completely understand the concern over quality of medical care but there are definitely as good or better and more affordable options either in China or closer than the US. What if she needs a C-section? What if there's something wrong with the baby post-delivery (the delivery itself, a normal delivery will be well over $10,000 and that's before a single complication). Not only is that a lot more money than you're imagining, but depending on the timing of all of it, you could be in the position to choose between remaining employed or remaining with your (potentially) sick wife and child.

If this is a veiled concern about the citizenship of the child-- do not worry. If you are a US citizen, your child will be too.