- Administration plans to revoke 200,000 visas.
- Plan could affect more than 70,000 Indians.
- Screenings, bond requirements tightened.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION plans to revoke up to 200,000 business and tourist visas held by foreigners who have sought asylum in the U.S. If implemented, it would be the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history.
The plan covers B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who have sought or are seeking asylum, according to The Associated Press, which cited State Department documents. The State Department is coordinating the action with the Department of Homeland Security.
“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,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.
The proposed action could affect more than 70,000 Indians, according to The Print. India issued 70,903 B1/B2 visitor visas in September 2025, the most of any South Asian country.
The figures do not show how many Indians have sought asylum and could lose their visas. The AP said it was unclear how many B1 and B2 holders covered by the plan have sought or are seeking asylum.
U.S. officials said some foreigners enter on visitor visas for short stays and later file asylum claims to remain in the country. B1 visas cover business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits and medical care.
The revocations would not necessarily lead to immediate deportation. Officials said many people with pending asylum cases could be recategorized and lose their B1 or B2 visa status while their asylum cases continue.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau defended the policy on X, saying asylum should not be used to bypass immigration rules. B1 and B2 applicants must affirm they will not seek asylum in the U.S. and show they intend to return home.
The proposed revocations are part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown. The State Department has reviewed more than 55 million visa holders and revoked more than 175,000 visas in the past 18 months over crimes, visa violations, fraud, calls for violence and national security threats.
The administration has tightened visa screening and introduced bond requirements for applicants from 50 countries. It has also targeted birth tourism and foreign students, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying more than 6,000 student visas were revoked between January and August 2025.
The State Department had not formally announced the mass revocation plan when AP published its report. The White House later acknowledged the report on X, saying the U.S. planned to revoke up to 200,000 visas, with the process to proceed on a rolling basis.
In June, a federal judge overturned the $100,000 fee imposed by President Donald Trump on H-1B visa applications, ruling it was unlawful because Congress had not approved it. The fee had sharply increased the cost of hiring foreign workers under the visa program.
