Trump Administration Plans Historic Visa Revocation: Up to 200,000 B1/B2 Holders Could Be Affected

The Trump administration is preparing a major expansion of its immigration crackdown that could lead to the revocation of up to 200,000 U.S. business and tourism visas, according to State Department documents obtained by The Associated Press and two U.S. officials.

If the plan is carried out at that scale, it would represent the largest single mass revocation of U.S. visas in history, although the final number could change as the government reviews individual cases.

The planned action targets certain holders of B1 and B2 nonimmigrant visas who have applied for asylum or are currently seeking asylum in the United States.

Which visas are being targeted?

The State Department is expected to review and potentially revoke B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 when the visa holder has sought or is seeking asylum in the U.S.

B1 visas are generally used for business travel, while B2 visas cover purposes such as tourism, family visits and medical care.

The State Department said it is working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify people who entered the country as short-term visitors but later filed asylum claims.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the agencies are coordinating to identify and revoke the relevant nonimmigrant visas.

However, the department has not confirmed that 200,000 people will ultimately lose their visas.

Pigott said the process will remain ongoing and that the number of revocations is dynamic and will be handled on a rolling basis.

A visa revocation does not automatically mean immediate deportation

One of the most important details of the planned action is that revoking a B1 or B2 visa does not necessarily mean the person will be immediately deported from the United States.

According to U.S. officials cited by AP, many people with asylum cases currently pending could be recategorized while losing their status as business or tourism visitors.

That distinction matters because the proposed action concerns the validity of the underlying nonimmigrant visa and a person’s immigration status; the consequences for each individual can depend on their specific case.

The final implementation could also face legal challenges.

Why is the administration targeting asylum filings by visitors?

The administration argues that some foreign nationals have used temporary visitor visas to enter the United States and subsequently seek asylum.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticized what he described as the use of asylum claims as a way to circumvent immigration restrictions.

In a post on X, Landau said the system had been overwhelmed by what he called frivolous asylum claims and argued that asylum should not be used as a loophole in immigration law.

The State Department’s documents indicate that screening of existing B1 and B2 holders began after information about asylum applications was provided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Applicants seeking new B1 or B2 visas are already required to affirm that they will not apply for asylum in the United States and demonstrate that they intend to return to their home country.

The administration has already revoked 175,000 visas

The potential 200,000-visa action would come after a much broader series of visa cancellations.

The State Department has revoked approximately 175,000 visas during the past 18 months, according to AP, involving people accused or convicted of offenses ranging from drunken driving to rape and robbery, as well as some people who publicly opposed U.S. policies.

The administration has also increased scrutiny of visa applicants, including examination of social-media histories, introduced or expanded visa bond requirements, and restricted visa issuance for nationals of certain countries.

It has also pursued measures targeting so-called birth tourism, which the administration says is used by some foreign nationals seeking to give birth in the United States.

What happens next?

The State Department is expected to continue reviewing affected B1 and B2 visa holders before any final revocations are completed.

Because the process is expected to happen on a rolling basis, the eventual number could be lower or higher than early estimates, and individual cases may have different outcomes.

The scale of the proposed action also makes legal challenges likely. The administration’s broader immigration policies have already faced challenges in federal courts.

For now, the central issue is whether the government proceeds with the full-scale review and how many B1 and B2 visas are ultimately revoked.

Related immigration development: New $103,265 H-1B fee proposal

Separately, the Department of Homeland Security has proposed a $103,265 fee for certain new H-1B workers subject to the annual statutory cap.

That proposal is not part of the B1/B2 visa revocation plan, but it represents another major change affecting legal immigration.

The standard annual H-1B cap is 85,000, consisting of 65,000 regular slots and 20,000 additional slots for applicants with qualifying U.S. master’s degrees or higher. The proposed fee is therefore a separate issue from the potentially historic B1/B2 revocation effort.