The Trump administration is preparing to revoke business and tourist visas for up to 200,000 foreigners who have submitted or are applying for US asylum status. If implemented, this would be the largest single mass visa cancellation operation in US history, and the move is likely to face legal action. According to US State Department documents and two US officials, the US State Department is expected to announce the cancellation of a batch of B1 and B2 visas within the next few weeks, unless legal challenges or policy changes are encountered. This batch of visas was issued between 2016 and 2026. Visa holders have applied for asylum or are currently applying for asylum. This operation will be carried out in collaboration with the US Department of Homeland Security. US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigot said, “We are working with the Department of Homeland Security to carry out screening and revoke nonimmigrant visas for some foreigners. This type of person enters the US as a short-term visitor, then submits an asylum application and seeks to stay in the US for a long time.” He did not comment on the number of visas that may be revoked, saying “related work is still in progress. The exact number of revocations is changing dynamically, and a rolling batch processing model will be adopted.” Relevant officials said that the revocation of the visa does not mean that the person concerned will be immediately deported from the country. Most people whose asylum applications are still being processed will have their status reclassified, but they will lose their status as business or tourist visitors.

The Trump administration is preparing to revoke business and tourist visas for up to 200,000 foreigners who have submitted or are applying for US asylum status. If implemented, this would be the largest single mass visa cancellation operation in US history, and the move is likely to face legal action. According to US State Department documents and two US officials, the US State Department is expected to announce the cancellation of a batch of B1 and B2 visas within the next few weeks, unless legal challenges or policy changes are encountered. This batch of visas was issued between 2016 and 2026. Visa holders have applied for asylum or are currently applying for asylum. This operation will be carried out in collaboration with the US Department of Homeland Security. US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigot said, “We are working with the Department of Homeland Security to carry out screening and revoke nonimmigrant visas for some foreigners. This type of person enters the US as a short-term visitor, then submits an asylum application and seeks to stay in the US for a long time.” He did not comment on the number of visas that may be revoked, saying “related work is still in progress. The exact number of revocations is changing dynamically, and a rolling batch processing model will be adopted.” Relevant officials said that the revocation of the visa does not mean that the person concerned will be immediately deported from the country. Most people whose asylum applications are still being processed will have their status reclassified, but they will lose their status as business or tourist visitors.