How Russian maternity tourism works for the sake of US citizenship

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

For some Russians, homeland means less and less. They project their attitude to the country on the future of their children, trying to provide them with a second citizenship literally from the moment of birth. Perhaps, mercantile considerations also play an important role in this scheme.

So, among the wealthy residents of Russia, childbirth in the American Miami, Florida is becoming more and more popular. A report on "maternity tourism" aired on NBC. One of the goals of such tourism is American citizenship for newborns, granted automatically in accordance with the 14th amendment of the US Constitution.

“An American passport is a big plus for a child. Why not? - says one of the women in labor, Olesya Reshetova. Another - Ekaterina Kuznetsova, draws attention to the high level of medicine and education in the United States. “I am one of those mothers who want to give their child the best they can,” another woman explains her choice.

The born child will thus receive the lifelong right to live and work, as well as receive social benefits in the United States, the channel notes. In addition, when he turns 21, he will be able to apply for an American green card for his Russian parents. That is, in old age they can become "almost" Americans.

In this case, wealthy Russians fit into the global trend. People from other countries also come to give birth to Miami. Since 2000, the number of such women in childbirth has tripled. And this despite the fact that the cost of a package of services, including preparation for childbirth, transfer, translator, assistance in the selection of housing and obtaining documents for a child can reach tens of thousands of dollars.

In the opinion of future women in labor, their rate is almost a win-win. After all, their children will not lose Russian citizenship. The current Constitution allows Russians to have two citizenships. “I don't know what my daughter will choose in the future. But if I can spend money - my money - to choose her, why not? - quoted by NBC as one of the calculating moms.

Moreover, an example of such an attitude towards their country is given to them by "stars" of the first magnitude. For example, the Russian tennis player and fashion model Anna Kournikova or the wife of Artil & Asti soloist Artem Umrikhina. But Olga Rapunzel from "House-2" plans to give birth in Miami fell through. Although she prepared herself, believing that American citizenship "opens any doors."

Some paradox of the situation is that many Russian women live in Miami in residential complexes built by the Trump Organization. At the same time, the US President is an ardent opponent of "maternity tourism". While still a candidate for the top post, he called for an end to the granting of citizenship by birth, as it is "the most powerful magnet for illegal immigration."

Anna Kolevatykh, a representative of the company engaged in this business, told about some details of the "maternity tourism" "SP".

- Yes, American citizenship is automatically granted to those born in the United States. This is a formal thing. There is no need to achieve this. You just need to arrange the paperwork. We provide just such services. Tourists from Miami, do not go anywhere, do nothing, we deliver the documents ourselves, make a passport, birth certificate, translations, and in two weeks we will hand over a full package of documents.

"SP": - Does the father need to be in America at the time of the child's citizenship?

- This is optional. There is no such obligation.

"SP": - And how much will it cost to give birth in Miami for a Russian mom and her husband?

- We have a package offer - 17 thousand dollars. This is the final price, in which everything is already included.

"SP": - How many people from Russia travel to Miami to give birth?

- I cannot tell you the exact statistics. But, actually, there are fifty such companies on the market. By the way, our company has representatives not only in Moscow, but also in the Russian provinces - Yaroslavl, as well as in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. From there they also go to give birth to America.

"SP": - In recent years, the economic crisis in Russia. How has this affected your business?

- Well, of course, when the dollar cost 30 rubles and the prices for childbirth in Miami were like in Moscow, the demand was higher. Then some decline began. And besides, in the last six months, some problems began with the issuance of visas … That is, politics influences our affairs.

- I met these people. Of course, the idea of American citizenship for a child exists somewhere in the subcortex. Because all parents want to play it safe, and if there is such an opportunity, they keep it in their heads. But most of them go to Miami for a comfortable childbirth.

"SP": - But a comfortable childbirth, probably, can be organized in Europe?

- With Europe, this direction of tourism did not work out, but in Florida, somehow everything was organized in due time. First one, then the second … As a result, they trod the path.

"SP": - Is it really comfortable to give birth there? They remember, come on, the film "There are only girls in jazz" …

- Certainly. Besides, they want to live in America … Then, Miami, it's warm, there is no snow. By the way, there are many Russians living there. There are intermediaries. All the necessary channels have been developed. For many, this is a business.

"SP": - But this is not a cheap pleasure …

- It depends on who. Overall, it is not that expensive. Comparable with Moscow prices. After all, here, if you want some conditions, giving birth is phenomenally expensive. You can't fit in tens of thousands of rubles. We are talking about hundreds of thousands.

That is, a woman in Miami not only gives birth, but also travels, and even receives a wonderful bonus - American citizenship for the child. It's full of bonuses. You can, for example, collect a child's dowry, because everything is cheaper there. Therefore, those who can go there. In a word, this is a whole complex of reasons. Citizenship is just the icing on the cake.

"SP": - Apparently, the level of medicine is also important? Pain relief and so on …

- It's all there, but you have to understand that all this has nothing to do with natural childbirth. It's just a comfortable delivery.

"SP": - Explain, please, the difference …

- Natural childbirth is when there is no interference in the biological mechanism - stimulation, pain relief, when loved ones are present. Women have given birth like this for millions of years and nothing … This is the ideal.

And a comfortable childbirth is when people "dance" around the woman in labor, administer various painkillers, and until recently they even had a caesarean section at will. In Miami, it is more about comfortable childbirth. Although those who wish to carry out everything naturally and there can go to a meeting.

"SP": - Any whim for your money?

- There, before doing anything, you will be explained the consequences a thousand times and asked for consent. Everything can be discussed and no one will fight you. And Russian doctors have a paternal position. Even in the most expensive clinics, no one explains anything. Like, you are not a doctor and you do not need to know. Partly because of this, our citizens go to receive treatment or give birth abroad.

In addition, there is a huge stratification in Russia by regions. In the provinces, the quality of medicine can be significantly lower.

- I am extremely negative about the fact that Russian women use medical services from foreign countries. After all, people go to give birth not only to the United States, but also to other countries, for example, to Finland. It's just that America also grants citizenship. In general, advertising of foreign medicine is off the charts in our country. Although the country has its own high quality medical facilities.

As for the citizenship acquired by a child at birth in the United States, the economically active population takes out children there. This suggests that they do not associate the further life of the children and, possibly, their own, with Russia. Because then children can "automatically" drag their parents there. This means that with the help of their children, they are preparing for themselves a "alternate airfield" in the USA.

Another point is political. We have children in America not only by those who gave birth to them there, but also by many of our politicians, including those of the highest rank. Their children are “soft hostages”. You will never take tough measures either in the foreign exchange market, or to withdraw Russian funds, you will not toughly defend the interests of the country while your children live there.

"SP": - What to do?

- We need to limit this practice. Those born in the United States must not be eligible for government service. After all, civil servants make decisions on social issues, education, and the same medicine. If everything that connects an official with the future is abroad, he will not take care of his country. In general, Russia should, in principle, renounce dual citizenship.