Why do you need to visit US to give birth?

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/cover-story/Why-do-you-need-to-visit-US-to-give-birth/articleshow/28112958.cms?

Why do you need to visit US to give birth?

The High Court has refused a plea by an assistant professor at the College of Horticulture (CoH), Kolar, to sanction maternity leave and overturn the denial of her request by the Administrative Officer (AO) of the University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot. The HC felt that she was trying to go the US for delivery so that the child could get US citizenship. The court rejected her plea for an interim order, and said taking leave for months together would jeopardise the interests of students. Instead, it orally instructed her to opt for childbirth in Bangalore itself.

Roopa Ananta Reddy, 33, is an assistant professor in the Seed Science and Technology Improvement Department at the College of Horticulture, Kolar. The college functions under the University of Horticultural Sciences. She filed the petition in the HC against the AO of the university and the Dean of the CoH.

The case came up before the vacation bench on Thursday. Roopa's counsel argued that her husband and his family were residents of Philadelphia, US. She wanted to go to the US for her childbirth since her husband and relatives could take good care of her. The university counsel responded that she had already taken more than the allotted leave and was now seeking extended leave in the middle of the academic year. If she took leave for months together before completing the syllabus, students would be put to hardship, the counsel said.


'We will appoint caretaker'

The court asked why she could not arrange for the childbirth in Bangalore, instead of going to the US in advance. The court also offered to appoint a caretaker for her in Bangalore itself. The court noted that people from all over the world are coming to Bangalore for medical treatment, which showed that the quality here is comparable to the best in the world. The court observed that going to the US on the pretext of joining her husband did not seem to hold water and it looked like she wanted to get her child a US citizenship. Such cases are increasing, the court said.

The US grants birthright citizenship to all persons born there under Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment of that country's constitution.

Roopa wanted to fly to the US on December 27 and her counsel said that she needed to go to the US a few months in advance as airlines would not allow her to travel during advanced stages of pregnancy. If she missed her flight, it would be impossible to go through the process again, the counsel claimed.

Anchor babies

The phenomenon of going to the US for childbirth so that the child gets a US citizenship is rampant among the Chinese. Recently, Time magazine estimated that 10,000 Chinese parents came on 'birth tourism,' to the US. The children became US citizens just for being born there (Jus soli). But their parents continue to be Chinese nationals. Such 'baby tourism' is nothing new. The child, when it turns 21, can sponsor its parents for US citizenship as well. Such children, who are planned to be born in the US by citizens of other countries are called 'Anchor Babies.' The babies acquire US citizenship and passport for being born there. They get all the benefits of being a US citizen.

Rishi wrote:http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/cover-story/Why-do-you-need-to-visit-US-to-give-birth/articleshow/28112958.cms?

Why do you need to visit US to give birth?

The High Court has refused a plea by an assistant professor at the College of Horticulture (CoH), Kolar, to sanction maternity leave and overturn the denial of her request by the Administrative Officer (AO) of the University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot. The HC felt that she was trying to go the US for delivery so that the child could get US citizenship. The court rejected her plea for an interim order, and said taking leave for months together would jeopardise the interests of students. Instead, it orally instructed her to opt for childbirth in Bangalore itself.

Roopa Ananta Reddy, 33, is an assistant professor in the Seed Science and Technology Improvement Department at the College of Horticulture, Kolar. The college functions under the University of Horticultural Sciences. She filed the petition in the HC against the AO of the university and the Dean of the CoH.

The case came up before the vacation bench on Thursday. Roopa's counsel argued that her husband and his family were residents of Philadelphia, US. She wanted to go to the US for her childbirth since her husband and relatives could take good care of her. The university counsel responded that she had already taken more than the allotted leave and was now seeking extended leave in the middle of the academic year. If she took leave for months together before completing the syllabus, students would be put to hardship, the counsel said.


'We will appoint caretaker'

The court asked why she could not arrange for the childbirth in Bangalore, instead of going to the US in advance. The court also offered to appoint a caretaker for her in Bangalore itself. The court noted that people from all over the world are coming to Bangalore for medical treatment, which showed that the quality here is comparable to the best in the world. The court observed that going to the US on the pretext of joining her husband did not seem to hold water and it looked like she wanted to get her child a US citizenship. Such cases are increasing, the court said.

>>> I am confused. Shouldn't the court have just ruled on the issue of the extent of the absence, rather than get into the quality of medical care in Bangalore or the ethics of going to the US for childbirth? Why are these matters of concern to the court?

I am confused. Shouldn't the court have just ruled on the issue of the extent of the absence, rather than get into the quality of medical care in Bangalore or the ethics of going to the US for childbirth? Why are these matters of concern to the court?
>>>
I am surprised too. Someone doesnot like this professor and has some influence in court. May be she is separated from family due to visa/immigration issues and if the child is born in US that issue might get resolved and she may get to stay in US along with the baby and other family..

FluteHolder wrote:I am confused. Shouldn't the court have just ruled on the issue of the extent of the absence, rather than get into the quality of medical care in Bangalore or the ethics of going to the US for childbirth? Why are these matters of concern to the court?
>>>
I am surprised too. Someone doesnot like this professor and has some influence in court. May be she is separated from family due to visa/immigration issues and if the child is born in US that issue might get resolved and she may get to stay in US along with the baby and other family..

>>> There could be some personal reasons for her wanting to have the child in the US, but the court citing this issue altogether sounds weird. It may be that she cited this as the rationale for the her request for the prolonged leave of absence, to which the court could have responded ' Well, that's nice, but the school is within it rights to deny you this considering the adverse impact. Period."

Couple of my relatives did the same a few years ago. They are both sisters and had a doctor sister living in the US at that time. They would come to the US, give birth and then go back to India so that their child gets US passport. And they are both very well off in India with their wealth exceeding a few million dollars each.

Hmm....  The judge looks quite sikular. Why is it his business where someone delivers her baby? I wonder if his wife is happy living with such an AH.