How To: Give Birth in the USA (For Nigerians)

It is probably well-known that there are Nigerians who, in a bid to find better 'shores' for their offspring, deliberately set the ball rolling for their children to be born in the United States of America and in the process clinch that American citizenship for their heir.

At least that is the sentiment that was expressed by Nairaland user skelemba when he asked the question below:

"Good day, my wife and I intend to give birth in the USA as we know that gives the child automatic citizenship. "

Some of the key questions asked when it comes to these things are:

1. Which are the best American states to have a child
2. How much would the hospital fees cost?
3. What is the best procedure for securing both Nigerian - and US - passports for the child.

(Other things to consider might include the cost of the visa and flight tickets, etc, but I assume you already have those covered

The cost of having a child in the United States can vary immensely from hospital to hospital and from state to state - with Portland generally considered to have reasonably affordable healthcare for newborns.

(Click here to read the typical questions asked during a visa interview)

Here's something to note: if you contact a US hospital beforehand informing them that you intend to travel there to put to bed, you will most likely be turned away. The general policy is that they do not receive international patients. The issue of them attending to you when you are already on their soil is another matter entirely.

A social commentator, Kalango, observed that with more foresight and better planning, you can have the cost of having a child abroad halved - her first deliver cost $12,000, but the second cost $5,800.

(Related: Book a hotel close to the Lagos or Abuja Visa Embassy)

Myth-buster: There is a worry that being pregnant will disqualify you from getting a visa. This, it has been proven, is false. As long as you can prove that are tightly and permanently linked with your home country - Nigeria - and will be returning after the delivery, your visa can - and should - be issued to you.

Read more about this on this thread