The Associated Press (AP) on Monday, 24 August, 2026 reported that in what could become the largest mass visa revocation in US history, the country government is planning to revoke the business and tourism visas of as many as 200,000 foreigners who have sought or are seeking asylum in the country.
The news medium reported on Monday, 24 August, 2026, through a document obtained from two US officials, that the planned action targets holders of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 who entered the US as short-term visitors but subsequently applied for asylum.
B1 visas are generally issued for business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits and medical treatment.
Applicants are required to demonstrate that they intend to return to their home countries
According to the report, the State Department is expected to begin announcing the revocations in the coming weeks in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed the planned action but said the number of affected people could change.
“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, just as he also added that “the number of revocations remains dynamic” and that the action would be carried out “on a rolling basis.”
The revocations would not automatically lead to immediate deportation, according to the officials. People with pending asylum applications would instead lose their B1 or B2 status while their cases are considered.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau defended the proposed policy, arguing that visitor visas should not be used as a route into the US asylum system.
“Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law,” Landau wrote on his official X handle post.
