An expert has said that babies born to Indian surrogate mothers for gay and single Australians may be left stateless and unable to leave the country after New Delhi changed the rules on surrogacy.
Foreign Gay Couples, Singles Barred from Surrogacy In India
New rules barring foreign gay couples and single people from using surrogate mothers to become parents were issued by India.
New rules barring foreign gay couples and single people from using surrogate mothers to become parents were issued by India.
Surrogacy law expert Jenni Millbank said the sudden change of guidelines could leave parents currently waiting for their babies to be born in breach of Indian law and may cause problems for Australian immigration officials.
"If they (Australian officials) refused to grant citizenship by descent then we would be facing the prospect of children born in India to Australian parents being stateless... with no Indian citizenship, with no Australian citizenship and without the ability to travel across any international border," she told ABC television late Monday.
India's Surrogacy Industry Hard Hit by Global Recession
The global economic downturn has hit businesses around the world, from big banks to local shops, leaving millions in fear of losing their livelihoods and desperate to cut down on spending.
The global economic downturn has hit businesses around the world, from big banks to local shops, leaving millions in fear of losing their livelihoods and desperate to cut down on spending.
Expectant father Paul Taylor-Burn travelled to India in July with his male partner to organise a surrogate and said that at that time there was no restrictions on doing so.
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Medical Visas Needed by Foreigners Visiting India for Surrogacy
The Indian Consulate in the United Arab Emirates has said that foreigners visiting India for surrogacy purposes can only travel on medical visas.
The Indian Consulate in the United Arab Emirates has said that foreigners visiting India for surrogacy purposes can only travel on medical visas.
"We know that we don't meet the new criteria. We know our contracts have been signed after the cut-off date. But we don't really know what's going to happen," he told the broadcaster.
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Investigation Reveals the Depth of Surrogacy in India
A recent investigation has revealed that a surrogate baby is born in India to a British couple every 48 hours.
A recent investigation has revealed that a surrogate baby is born in India to a British couple every 48 hours.
"Are the babies going to actually get their visas to exit the country? Is there any possibility of the babies not being able to leave? Are we potentially going to be prosecuted?"
The new rules stipulate that would-be parents must provide proof that their home country will grant citizenship to any baby born to a surrogate mother.
The move follows several publicised cases in recent years of babies born through cross-border surrogacy who have been trapped in citizenship limbo because their parents' countries refused them passports.
Australia's Immigration Department said Tuesday it was aware of the new Indian rules and was advising those affected to familiarise themselves with the legal issues affecting overseas surrogacy.
"On request, the Australian government is providing clients with a standard letter outlining Australia's surrogacy laws and citizenship and passport requirements," a departmental spokesman said.
Source-AFP
