The United States has suspended a visa waiver program that allowed Chinese citizens to enter the Northern Mariana Islands without a traditional visa, citing birth tourism and people smuggling concerns.
The Department of Homeland Security announced the suspension of the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP), effective October 30 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, according to a Federal Register notice. The program was launched in January 2024 as an electronic visa alternative for Chinese citizens visiting Saipan and other islands in the US territory.
Under the program, Chinese nationals could apply online and, once approved, travel to the Northern Mariana Islands for up to 14 days. It was the only visa-free pathway for Chinese citizens to enter any part of the United States.
The Reasons
DHS said the suspension was necessary while it evaluates the program with the State Department and the Interior Department. The notice cited national security threats, law enforcement interests, and immigration enforcement needs as grounds for the suspension.
The move follows years of concerns about “birth tourism” — pregnant women traveling to Saipan specifically to give birth so their children acquire US citizenship. Between 2008 and September 2024, foreign tourists gave birth to about 3,706 babies in Saipan, of whom roughly 3,358 — over 90% — were born to Chinese mothers.
The program has also been linked to smuggling. In 2023, nine Chinese citizens were rescued by the US Coast Guard after their speedboat ran out of fuel while attempting to travel from Saipan to Guam. Since 2022, Guam customs has reported over 100 attempts by Chinese citizens to enter illegally or being intercepted.
The Political Pressure
Three Republican senators — Rick Scott, Jim Banks, and Markwayne Mullin — wrote to DHS and the Interior Department in January demanding the program be terminated, calling it a “veritable industry” for birth tourism that posed “significant security threats” to the US.
President Trump also weighed in, saying during a January press conference: “Chinese people are making a big business out of this. They come to this country, have a baby who becomes a US citizen, and get all the benefits”.
In February, Scott introduced the “One Country, One Visa” bill, which would require all Chinese citizens to hold a valid visa to enter any US territory, effectively ending the Saipan waiver.
What Happens Next
Chinese citizens who wish to visit the Northern Mariana Islands after October 30 will need to apply for a regular tourist visa at a US embassy or consulate in China. Existing EVS-TAP authorizations will no longer be valid after the suspension takes effect.
The suspension comes as the Trump administration has also moved to restrict birth tourism more broadly. In August, Trump signed an executive order directing the State Department and DHS to deny visas and entry to foreigners whose primary purpose is to give birth in the US .
The Bottom Line
The US has suspended the EVS-TAP visa waiver for Saipan, ending the only visa-free pathway for Chinese citizens to enter American territory. DHS cited birth tourism, smuggling, and security concerns. Over 90% of babies born to foreign tourists in Saipan between 2008 and 2024 were to Chinese mothers. Chinese citizens must now apply for regular visas to visit the islands.
My Opinion
The visa waiver for Saipan was supposed to boost tourism and the local economy. Instead, it became a loophole for birth tourism and smuggling. The DHS is right to close it because the numbers are damning.
Between 2008 and 2024, over 90% of babies born to foreign tourists in Saipan were to Chinese mothers. That is not tourism but a systematic exploitation of American citizenship. And the smuggling concerns are even more serious. There have been over 100 attempts by Chinese citizens to enter Guam illegally since 2022.
The Trump administration has been criticized for its broad crackdown on birth tourism. Some of that criticism is fair. But this specific program was clearly being abused. The EVS-TAP waiver was the only visa-free pathway for Chinese citizens to enter any part of the United States and it was being treated as a business opportunity.
