New ruling about ‘birth tourism’

[BlueTornado 1]

So all, I have a question for those of you here who keep their ears to the ground.

I have been married legally for about 1 1/2 yrs living in Vietnam. I am an US citizen.

my wife is pregnant and we have a due date in June. I would prefer to have the baby in America for safety sake.

 

my wife has a b1/2 visa and we visited my family for 2 weeks for thanksgiving. We also delivered my packet for cr-1 to my sister to mail as soon as i send her the last pieces(time line and emails)

 

my hope was to return to the USA with my wife on her current visa. Have the child and return to Vietnam (hopefully after Thanksgiving if CBP allows) await the interview and celebrate Tet with her family in VN.

 

Does the new stricter rules about ‘birth tourism’ affect me? My child already has a right to a US passport and we plan to complete the cr-1 for my wife all above board. We plan to return to VN just we wanted to try and get an extension to November for Thanksgiving(my family’s reunion day) It gives her relatives a chance to see the baby and for her to celebrate Tet again.

 

i am open to any thoughts or suggestions,

thanks

 

sorry for being long winded

[zochu 255]

I've seen how strict CBP are with pregnant women and entering the US. I was pregnant when I last flew over, I was allowed in for two reasons. The first, I had US health care that covered the birth *if we stayed* and secondly, I had a return flight back home. I did see another pregnant woman who was denied entry as she did not have health insurance and the means to pay for the hospital bill - she was only 32 weeks too. 

 

People are born everyday in Vietnam. I am sure it's safe. I wouldn't risk travelling so far, and being so heavily pregnant to be denied entry. 

 

Just my idea ... having gave birth in June 2019. Flying whilst pregnant sucks butt.

 

 

[Boiler 45,912]

Some calculations suggest she is leaving it very late, otherwise she should ensure she can show the funds to cover the costs.

[BlueTornado 1]

Early may puts her at 35weeks. Both japan air and Korean air allow women to fly up to 36 weeks.

 

we both work at an English center and my contract is until the end of May so we were trying to reduce the early termination fee, and try to make it closer to November if at all possible.

 

her b1/2 is good until September so we can always visit my family after the birth. I was an EMT and i know in a healthy birth the doctor just a referee, but if something goes wrong and in general i am much more comfortable with US hospitals.

 

i was shocked when i traveled in November for thanksgiving the cbp were really nice and the process was simple and painless.

[Boiler 45,912]

So how will the be funded?

[BlueTornado 1]

We have money saved and i am working on appling for insurance. Staying in the USA my father kindly offered his basement apartment for the summer. I will most likely temporarily return to landscaping during the summer. I keep in contact with my former boss.

unfortunately this means on paper i will only have(hopefully my insurance card) our joint savings and a letter of support from my dad.

[Boiler 45,912]

Travel Insurance does not cover birth costs.

[Ryan H 3,819]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to Tourist Visas forum.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

The intention behind the ban, in its simplest form, is to stop new US citizens being made by non-citizens. As you point out this child will be born a citizen regardless, so I don’t think it should be an issue from that perspective. Cost/funding etc are a different issue.

[WandY 430]

On 1/24/2020 at 10:41 PM, SusieQQQ said:

The intention behind the ban, in its simplest form, is to stop new US citizens being made by non-citizens. As you point out this child will be born a citizen regardless, so I don’t think it should be an issue from that perspective. Cost/funding etc are a different issue.

No proof that the child is yours. You're not married. In the eyes of immigration authorities, the unborn baby could be fathered by someone other than an American. Have the baby in VN and do the paperwork for your child. Too much risk in this paranoid atmosphere. Having a baby in VN is no big deal.

[Just Paul 4,595]

On 1/24/2020 at 4:22 AM, BlueTornado said:

We also delivered my packet for cr-1 to my sister to mail as soon as i send her the last pieces(time line and emails)

There is no need to wait.

On 1/24/2020 at 4:22 AM, BlueTornado said:

My child already has a right to a US passport

Yes but there is no is no right to be born in the US.

 

If you are worried about you wife giving birth in the US then go with her and bring your marriage documents.   Don't forget that you child will need a passport to travel back to Vietnam.   How long will it take to get a state issued birth certificate?  Do you need to register the birth at the Vietnam consulate?

 

  https://vnmission-newyork.mofa.gov.vn/en-us/Consular Services/Consular Procedure/Pages/default.aspx

 

It seems to be less stressful to have the birth in Vietnam. After all Vietnamese have been doing it forever.

 

[SalishSea 18,073]

On 1/24/2020 at 5:28 AM, BlueTornado said:

We have money saved and i am working on appling for insurance. Staying in the USA my father kindly offered his basement apartment for the summer. I will most likely temporarily return to landscaping during the summer. I keep in contact with my former boss.

unfortunately this means on paper i will only have(hopefully my insurance card) our joint savings and a letter of support from my dad.

Are you aware of how much it costs to have a baby in the US?