The US government is preparing a sweeping operation targeting holders of B1 and B2 visas, used respectively for business travel and tourism in the United States.
According to State Department documents obtained by the Associated Press, as well as information from two US officials, up to 200,000 visas could be revoked. The measure would affect foreign nationals who obtained visitor visas between 2016 and 2026 and later applied for asylum after arriving in the United States.
If carried out on the scale currently under consideration, the operation would represent the largest mass visa revocation ever undertaken in the United States.
B1 and B2 visas held by asylum applicants are being targeted
The State Department has confirmed that it is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify individuals who could be affected.
Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said authorities are seeking to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of people who entered the United States as temporary visitors before later filing asylum claims in order to remain in the country long term.
The visas primarily affected are B1, B2 and combined B1/B2 visas.
The State Department notes that the B1 visa is intended for temporary business travel, while the B2 visa covers purposes including tourism, visiting family or friends, and receiving medical treatment. The combined B1/B2 visa covers both types of travel.
These are nonimmigrant visas, meaning their issuance is based in part on the temporary nature of the intended stay and the applicant’s intention to leave the United States once that stay ends.
Up to 200,000 visas could be affected, but the figure is not final
The figure of 200,000 visas should be viewed as an upper estimate for now.
The State Department has not officially confirmed that total. Pigott said the number of revocations would remain fluid as the review is carried out progressively.
According to the Associated Press, US authorities are expected to announce the revocations in the coming weeks, unless the policy is changed or legal challenges delay its implementation.
The review process reportedly began after US immigration authorities shared asylum-application data with the State Department. Those records are being cross-checked to identify people who had previously been issued B1 or B2 visas.
A visa revocation does not necessarily mean immediate deportation
Having a visa revoked would not automatically result in the immediate removal of the individuals concerned.
According to US officials cited by the Associated Press, foreign nationals with pending asylum cases could see their immigration status reclassified, while their tourist or business visas would nevertheless be canceled.
A distinction must be made between a visa, which allows a foreign national to travel to a US port of entry and seek admission, and the immigration status of someone who is already physically present in the United States.
The practical consequences may therefore vary depending on the stage of each asylum case and the individual circumstances of the person involved.
No change for travelers using ESTA
The announcement does not change the travel requirements for ordinary tourists heading to the United States.
It is neither a blanket revocation of B1/B2 visas nor a change to the Visa Waiver Program, which allows citizens of several dozen countries to travel to the United States without a visa for short stays, provided they meet the requirements and, in most cases, hold a valid ESTA authorization.
British, Irish, Australian and New Zealand travelers who normally use ESTA for tourism or business travel are therefore not affected simply because they are traveling to the United States.
The State Department officially states that foreign nationals traveling to the United States for tourism must generally hold a B2 or B1/B2 visa unless they are eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver Program.
The United States is tightening visa oversight
The planned operation comes amid a broader tightening of US visa controls.
In recent months, Washington has introduced a series of changes affecting both visa issuance and post-issuance screening, including expanded social media vetting for several categories of applicants, restrictions affecting certain nationalities, new financial requirements, and closer scrutiny of whether visa holders comply with the conditions attached to their visas.
According to the Associated Press, about 175,000 visas have already been revoked over the past 18 months for a range of reasons. The new operation targeting B1/B2 visa holders who later applied for asylum would be separate and could alone affect as many as 200,000 people.
The State Department has not yet published a specific notice on its visa website detailing the operation. The initial information comes from statements by its spokesperson and internal documents obtained by the Associated Press. The final number of visas actually revoked will therefore need to be confirmed as the policy is implemented.
VisasNews Take
The figure of 200,000 does not refer to a blanket revocation of US tourist visas. The measure currently being prepared specifically targets B1/B2 visa holders who later filed asylum applications in the United States. For travelers entering the country normally with a valid visitor visa or, when eligible, an ESTA authorization, the entry rules remain unchanged at this stage. VisasNews will continue to monitor the publication of official details and the actual number of visas ultimately affected.
