In a bid to curtail such indiscriminatepractice, the U.S Embassy has
outlined conditions which have to bemet before such a visa which falls
under medical tourism category is issued.
The applicant has to show proof of available funds of at least
$140,000 (about N22 million) to pay medical fees, and secondly, the
applicant has to show proof of the need for medical attention in the
US such as high risk pregnancy and the likes.
US Embassy Chief of Consular Section,Ms. Carol Cox, in an interview
with select journalists in Abuja, Thursday, disclosed that it would
cost at least $60,000 to have a baby in the US. Theamount may go as
high as $140,000 if complications arise from delivery.
Cox said the proof of availability of such funds became necessary so
as not to pass the bills of non-citizens while in the country on
American taxpayers.
"We owe the American public who pay taxes to make sure that those who
seek medical services in the US pay for such services. This is
essential because there are those who have the money and are not
willing to pay.
"It is very frustrating when you see awoman who is obviously pregnant,
sometimes seven months gone, tell you during a visa interview that she
is just going to the US for a vacation," she said.
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