- B1 visa is for temporary business travel, such as attending meetings, conferences, negotiations or consultations and B2 for tourism and personal visits, including vacations, visiting family or receiving medical treatment.
The administration of US President Donald Trump plans to revoke the visas of non-immigrant foreigners who entered the United States as short-term visitors but subsequently applied for asylum, the latest step in its broader immigration crackdown.
A State Department spokesman said the department is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke visas held by non-immigrants who entered the US on the basis of temporary visits but later sought asylum to remain in the country.
The State Department did not disclose how many visas could be affected. However, The Associated Press, citing State Department documents and two US officials, reported that the number could reach 200,000, potentially making the measure the largest mass visa cancellation in US history.
The reported action would target B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to holders who have applied for asylum or are currently seeking asylum status. B1 and B2 visas are generally issued for business and tourism travel.
B1 visa is for temporary business travel, such as attending meetings, conferences, negotiations or consultations and B2 for tourism and personal visits, including vacations, visiting family or receiving medical treatment. However, many travelers receive a combined visa allowing both business and tourism visits. These are temporary visitor visas, not visas intended for permanent residence or asylum.
Visa cancellation would not necessarily result in immediate deportation, according to the AP report. Most people with pending asylum cases would reportedly be reclassified, while losing their status as business or tourism visitors.
The move comes as the Trump administration expands measures aimed at tightening immigration controls and limiting the use of temporary visas by foreigners seeking to remain in the United States permanently.
