U.S. State Department to Consider Revoking Up to 200,000 B1/B2 Visas Linked to Asylum Applications
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The State Department is reviewing a proposal to cancel business and tourist visas for as many as 200,000 foreign nationals who have applied for asylum, a move that would be the largest mass revocation of visas in U.S. history.
The United States is preparing a plan to cancel up to 200,000 B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for individuals who have applied for or are seeking asylum, according to State Department documents and interviews with officials cited by the Associated Press. The State Department expects to announce the proposal in the coming weeks and will work with the Department of Homeland Security to identify the affected visas.
"We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.
The revocation would not automatically lead to removal proceedings; most individuals with pending asylum cases would be moved to a different immigration status, losing their business or tourist designation while their asylum claims continue.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticized the practice of using short-term visas to seek asylum, posting on the social media platform X that asylum should not be used as a loophole to bypass immigration law.
The proposal follows a broader trend of tightened visa policies under the Trump administration, which has increased scrutiny of applicants, required additional documentation, and previously revoked about 175,000 visas for criminal convictions or political speech.