Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, is located in the Western Pacific and is part of the United States territory. As is well known, fierce battles took place here during World War II. At the same time, the island is also famous for its silvery-white beaches and the long-standing culture of the indigenous Chamorro people.
However, for some Chinese parents, Saipan is famous because it has become a popular destination for birth tourism in recent years, where children automatically acquire U.S. citizenship upon birth.
In 2009, the local government introduced a 45-day visa-free entry policy for Chinese and Russian tourists. Since then, the Northern Mariana Islands, to which Saipan belongs, has become the only U.S. territory that Chinese citizens can enter without a visa.
“It’s like God opened a window for you,” said a Chinese father who came to Saipan several years ago to ensure his child would become an American citizen at birth.
The economy of the Northern Mariana Islands relies on tourism, especially Saipan's casinos and associated hospitality venues, which is why locals strongly pushed for the visa-free policy. It takes only four to five hours to fly from Shanghai or Guangzhou to Saipan. Since 2009, the number of Chinese tourists on the island has increased significantly, currently accounting for 36% of the island's total visitors. Tourism accounts for 72% of Saipan's total economy.
According to statistics from the Northern Mariana Islands government, the number of American babies born to Chinese mothers here has also surged—rising from 8 in 2009 to 472 last year. Last year, the number of Chinese pregnant women giving birth on the island exceeded that of Americans for the first time.
The U.S. government does not track how many people travel to the U.S. annually to give birth for citizenship purposes. According to estimates by associations of overseas birth service providers in China, approximately 10,000 Chinese tourists traveled to the U.S. to give birth in 2012.
Many travel agencies in China provide comprehensive services for Chinese mothers traveling to the U.S. to give birth, such as accommodation, medical care, and housekeeping services. Jaime Ruiz, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, stated that if tourists have the ability to pay for the relevant medical procedures and do not intend to overstay their visas, then birth tourism is not illegal.
As is well known, “birthright citizenship” allows babies born in the United States to be U.S. citizens from birth. Therefore, Saipan, which grants U.S. citizenship and offers visa-free access, has become a popular destination for Chinese parents to give birth.
So why do more and more people want their children to have U.S. status? The reason is simple: they want to provide their children with a better future. As a global superpower, the United States possesses world-class educational resources, a comprehensive social welfare system, and a comfortable living environment, making it one of the most favored countries for Chinese citizens and one of the most sought-after immigration destinations for investors.
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