350,000 won online guide to giving birth in US raises legal questions
From navigating US immigration procedures to making hospital arrangements, a Korean mother's e-book offering a roadmap to giving birth in America has sparked heated online debate.
According to posts circulating on online communities Tuesday, the 12-chapter e-book, "A pregnant woman's solo journey to give birth in the US on a 30 million won ($22,000) budget," has been put up for sale online for 350,000 won.
The author says on the book's sales page that she recently traveled to the US while pregnant, gave birth there and returned to South Korea afterward.
In the book, she shares practical tips on finding accommodation, arranging medical care and securing insurance coverage in Los Angeles.
The guide also details postbirth procedures, including obtaining proof of US citizenship and a passport for the newborn, along with paperwork required upon returning to Korea. It further offers a long-term roadmap for raising a child with US citizenship.
"I wasn't fluent in English, and I didn't know anyone in the US. But I managed to give birth there and opened up another world of opportunities for my child," she wrote on the website.
The e-book has drawn criticism online, with some questioning whether the guide could encourage violation of US immigration rules.
"This makes American citizenship sound like a product you can purchase. I'm also concerned that it could encourage people to travel to the US to give birth through illegal means," one user wrote on Threads.
Legal experts say giving birth in the US is not inherently illegal, but the legal implications depend largely on the type of visa or travel authorization used to enter the country.
"Under US immigration rules introduced in 2020, a pregnant woman can be denied a B-2 tourist visa if her primary purpose is to give birth in the country to secure US citizenship for her child," said a Seoul-based lawyer surnamed Kim, who was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2024.
"If she deliberately conceals her true intentions or provides false information during the visa application or entry process, she could face serious immigration consequences."
The e-book does not disclose what type of visa or travel authorization the author used to enter the US. The author could not be reached for comment as of press time.
Others, however, defended the guide, viewing giving birth abroad as a matter of personal choice.
"As long as everything is done legally, a guide like this could be genuinely helpful for those navigating language barriers, medical care and complicated administrative procedures abroad," another user commented.
The controversy comes amid a broader US crackdown on birth tourism under US President Donald Trump.
On Aug. 6, Trump signed an executive order titled "Ending Birth Tourism," directing US authorities to tighten visa and entry restrictions on foreign nationals traveling to the country to give birth. The order also allows authorities to revoke visas, bar entry and take action against individuals or agencies facilitating birth tourism, including those operating outside the US.
cjh@heraldcorp.com