The Trump administration is preparing a major overhaul of how the United States deals with foreign nationals who enter the country on temporary visitor visas and later seek asylum, with potentially up to 200,000 people facing visa revocations.
The planned action targets holders of B1 and B2 non-immigrant visas issued between 2016 and 2026 whose holders subsequently applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States.
B1 visas are generally issued for temporary business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism and other short-term visits. Under the proposed policy, the State Department would work with the Department of Homeland Security to identify individuals who entered the country under those categories before seeking to remain through the asylum system.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed that the process is being prepared but stressed that the number of affected people has not been finalised.
“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,” Pigott said.
He added that the revocations would be carried out on a rolling basis, meaning the eventual number could change as the government continues reviewing cases.
The administration argues that some foreign nationals have used visitor visas to enter the country temporarily before filing asylum claims that allow them to remain for longer periods.
However, losing a B1 or B2 visa would not automatically mean immediate deportation for everyone affected. Officials cited by the Associated Press said some people with pending asylum applications could instead have their immigration status recategorised.
The proposed measure is nevertheless significant because it could affect people who originally entered the country legally before seeking protection through the asylum system.
If the reported figure of up to 200,000 is reached, the move would represent an unprecedented mass revocation of US visas, according to reports citing government officials and State Department documents.
The proposal comes amid a wider tightening of US immigration policy under Trump. The administration has increased scrutiny of visa applicants, including examination of social media activity, introduced visa-bond requirements for nationals of certain countries and imposed other restrictions on foreign nationals.
Nigeria is among the countries currently subject to US visa-bond requirements, with the measure taking effect on January 21, 2026.
The visa review also comes as the State Department temporarily paused immigrant visa appointments worldwide while consular officers undergo additional training aimed at strengthening applicant screening.
The proposed revocations are expected to face legal scrutiny, particularly because seeking asylum is a separate legal process from obtaining a temporary visitor visa.
For affected visa holders, the central question will be how the revocation of their visitor status could interact with pending asylum applications and whether it could alter their ability to remain in the United States while their claims are considered.
For now, the State Department has not announced a final number of affected visas or a comprehensive timetable. The process is expected to proceed gradually as individual cases are reviewed.
