US plans to revoke up to 200,000 business and tourism visas

TechFlow: On August 25, according to Jinshi Data, the Trump administration is preparing to revoke business and tourism visas (B1/B2) of up to 200,000 foreign nationals who have applied for or are seeking U.S. asylum status. If implemented, this would constitute the largest single-instance visa revocation in U.S. history and is highly likely to face legal challenges.

State Department documents and officials indicate that the revocation of affected visas issued between 2016 and 2026 is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The measure will be advanced in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. A State Department spokesperson stated that the department is working to identify and revoke nonimmigrant visas from individuals who claim short-term visits but apply for asylum to secure permanent residency, with exact numbers to be processed on a rolling basis.

Officials noted that visa revocation does not mean immediate deportation. Currently, most asylum applicants will be reclassified, but will lose their status as business or tourism visitors.