US could revoke up to 200,000 visas: Who could be affected
Photo: many will have to say goodbye to their visas (from open sources)
The administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing to revoke up to 200,000 tourist and business visas of foreigners who, after entering the country, have filed or are currently filing applications for asylum, according to the Associated Press.
This concerns B1 and B2 category visas issued between 2016 and 2026. The US State Department could announce their revocation in the coming weeks.
Relevant US agencies are identifying foreigners who entered the US as short-term visitors but later filed asylum applications.
At the same time, the exact number of visas that may be revoked has not been specified. The process will take place gradually, so the number of revoked documents will vary.
Visa revocation does not mean deportation
US officials emphasized that losing a visa does not in itself mean immediate deportation from the US.
Most people whose asylum applications are currently under review will be transferred to another category of status. At the same time, they will lose their status as individuals present in the country on tourist or business visas.
A final decision on the mass visa revocation has not yet been made. Officials who spoke about the administration's plans did so on condition of anonymity.
US is tightening visa requirements
As is well known, under the Trump administration, the United States has been consistently tightening requirements for US visa applicants.
Applicants are being asked, among other things, to provide more information about their social media activity and, in some cases, to pay significant cash bonds.
Deputy US Secretary of State Christopher Landau also criticized people who use tourist and business visas to enter the country and then apply for asylum.
"Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law," he wrote on social media platform X.
US authorities now also require new B1 and B2 visa applicants to confirm that they do not plan to seek asylum in the US and intend to return to their country of residence.
In 18 months, the U.S. revoked 175,000 visas
Over the past 18 months, the US State Department has already revoked approximately 175,000 visas.
Among their holders were individuals who had been convicted or charged with crimes, including driving under the influence, rape, and robbery. Visas were also revoked for some individuals who publicly opposed US policy.
The review of current B1 and B2 visa holders began after the State Department received information from US Citizenship and Immigration Services about filed asylum applications.
As is known, Trump's immigration policy is stringent. Recall that in the US, unions and human rights organizations have filed a lawsuit challenging the new rules regarding visa validity periods for foreign students.
